Can a prior Army enlisted commission Navy active duty?

SGT Michael Moore — Sun, 19 Apr 2020 13:46:04 -0400

I am hoping for some imput on this matter because I've heard very different answers by word of mouth. Is it likely to become an active duty officer by being prior service or would I be forced into a reserve role? If possibe/likely, what is the path to selecting your role(branch? Not sure what you'd call it in the Navy) and getting your commission not being an Naval Academy grad? All helpful input is appreciated!

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Apr 19 at 2020 2:31 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Sun, 19 Apr 2020 14:31:59 -0400

I do not know what the current regs are, your best bet is to talk to a number of Officer recruiters. That being said, OCS (Officer Candidate School) and ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) are the 2 accession programs. OCS is a short school, and ROTC is in conjunction with College. When I commissioned back in 1997, we came out as USNR, and were able to switch to USN after getting qualified. We were not Reservists, we were active duty Reserve officers. Kinda big deal about nothing. It was all for accounting and retirement purposes, as I recall. Again, best bet is talk to a number of Officer Recruiters (different stations), or even got to a MEPS station. They can look at your record and maths it to current needs. SGT Michael Moore

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 19 at 2020 6:10 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 19 Apr 2020 18:10:50 -0400

The Navy's Recruiting Command is responsible for getting candidates for OCS. [login to see] Is the email address to ask for more info. The Navy's website is craptastic.

The Navy has ROTC too. https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/requirements.html
Recommend you go sit down with the nearest one and just fact find.

USNA is technically a route, but if you are down the road a ways, this may be too hard at this point.

If you meet a direct commissioning requirement, that could be a route. I'd link you to the list, but it is buried in their Recruiting website, which like the Army's, diverts you t their landing page, ensuring you have to sift through all their other programs first.

Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps - Scholarship Requirements

The NROTC Program was established to educate and train qualified young men and women for service as commissioned officers in the Navy and Marine Corps.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Apr 19 at 2020 7:00 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Sun, 19 Apr 2020 19:00:38 -0400

What is your undergrad in?

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2020 12:34 AM

LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 00:34:28 -0400

Two websites to poke around in for more information.
https://www.navy.com/joining-navy-if-you-have-served

https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/career/careercounseling/Pages/CommissioningPrograms.aspx

If you will have your degree before coming into the Navy, you won't have the ROTC option. Your best bets are OCS and ODS. ODS is a short course for specific fields that commissions into the Navy Reserve. Usually the jobs are available based on quotas and test scores, similar to choosing an enlisted job. Do you know what field (community) you are interested in? I am in Aviation, so that is really all I know. I have friends in the Intel, Medical, Supply, and IT if you need more information.

Have you talked to a recruiter at all yet? Are you still active duty? Good luck no matter what route you choose!

Joining the Navy with Prior Military Service - Navy.com

If you have served in the military before, find out how you can put your prior military service and experience to work with the option to serve in the Navy Reserve.