What would be the quickest route to become an officer in the Navy and how would I follow through with it?

2018-04-21T12:31:23-04:00

So, I'm currently at A School as an E-3 and I'm looking into switching to be officer in the future (like my uncle and grandfather). I know of a few catches that apply to me such as age: about to turn 25 and education: high school. What would be the best path to take? What kind of things should I do to make me stand out in a good way? Let me know if more information is needed.

Response by CPT Nicholas D. made Apr 21 at 2018 12:58 PM

2018-04-21T12:58:08-04:00

This is not a Navy specific response, but paths to be an officer are generally universal. You will need a source of commission, education requirements complete, and meet the other criteria regarding citizenship, security clearance, and/if there is an experience or certification requirement. Your options are the Service Academies, ROTC, OCS (or OTS/OTC depending on your service) or a Direct Commission/Direct Appointment. The Army, Navy, and USMC have Warrant Officers as well.

So those are your options to becoming “an officer.” The best and fastest way is going to depend on what kind of officer you want to be. Good luck!

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Apr 21 at 2018 4:50 PM

2018-04-21T16:50:45-04:00

Elaborate if you can, what rate are you, what field, do a very, very thorough, highly detailed bio sketch, incl interests, hobbies, interests, sports, !artiap arts, high school AP coursework you might've done, what college you've done thus far? assocs? Bach? Grad level? Specific actual course titles? Grades? GPA?!have you called DANTES or amer Council on Educ (ACE) office for a military transcript yet? How far are you in your A school? What specific field? How eelp are you doing in it? Let me send this, then I'll send more, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Apr 21 at 2018 5:10 PM

2018-04-21T17:10:25-04:00

You can't just focus on Navy, you need to think about alp svcs, it's not about what you want, which you want, where you want, doing what you want, it's about what you'd be allowed to do, and who'd want you. Do you have clinical interests? Do you want flight at all? The fastest way for you would by Army WOCS going for helicopters, look up the Army Hugh school to flight school program, it'd let you go warrant now, OK? How well did you do in high school? What specific GPA? How well on ASVAB? You're obv fortunate about your uncle and grandfather, however, I can show you a whole host of things that might not overtlyq occur to them to suggest, OK? Domyou want an ROTC? Would you want USMC platoon leaders course (PLC), an alternate way that's lessmwelp known? Would you want to try for VMI, where my nest friend from USAF went? That's in Virginia (VA), what about the Citadel in South Carolina (SC)? There are also the state maritime colleges, I've had sevl friends and acquaintances who went to SUNY Maritime llege innth Bronx, I freq kick myself I didn't apply when I'd been undergrad as I'd thought to, I assure you. There's the USCG MARGRAD program for maritime college grad, also, OK? You could also go USPHS Commissioned Corps, if you want clinical, look up their CaoSTEP, their version of ROTC. Look up the USCG scholarship program, you could also go OCS or OISz which is an indoc program as opposed to an OCS, if you went direct commission. There's also the NOAA Commissioned Corps, pure science, if you want to that route, my next younger brother was USMMA Kings Point, Federal !merchant marine academy, their NOAA Corps OCS, called BOTC, is a tenant on their grounds, I commissionedmmy brother when he graduated. You also can be nominated for an academy, by N ROTC unit commander, though you're obv beyond the academy age range by now, I gather. You can also commission in another SVC besides the one you train for, many finishing with my brother at USMMA, which is an NROTC program under MARAD at Commerce Dept, unlike USNA or USCGA, which are active duty programs, per we, run differently, had gone Army, USMC, USWF, and NOAA Corps, you could even try for USPHS ifmtou want, hough that dependsnon grades and interests, and how well one does in a program. Look at USUHS, the SVC med school, that has nursing grad level, as well as PhD programs that can be done in basic med sci (BMS), and can be done as active duty or civil service. Look at Excelsior College in NY, very SVC friendly, I got a 2nd Bach in math from them, a friend got his Bach in math, and went Navy OCS using it, look at Edison State Univ in NJ, look at Charter Oak State College in CT, look at Unovmofmthe People (UoPeople), though that one isn't regionally accredited, I've just read good things ,they got Vaiptican endorsement, charge no tuition, only admin and exam fees protprated by country, hough I don't know if the svcs, VA, or industry accept them yet, they're not a panacea, I merely mention them as a possible, ask, though, don't take that one on fairpth, the others are regional, UoPeople is accepted by DEAC, formerly NHSC, which is Federally recognized, hough not on the same pefep I thnpink as a regional accredited body. Look at Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), I've read it might not be open tomotyer svcs, however one could always ask, I've wondered if they field questions from enlisted in other svcs for associates. If you want to know more, I could send you the websites, however, what I've told you is aop searchavlez you'll see alp of it, also look up the OCS Foundation website, it only includes the five standard OCS programs, and leaves other options out, however, the website, I think, is onemyoy might welp find useful, honest, hope alpmthwt helps, if you want to ask more, I'm here, anytime,mok?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Apr 21 at 2018 5:11 PM

2018-04-21T17:11:27-04:00

And is FN the acronym for fireman in Navy as a rate? I saw it , I just wasn't certain, I'd be interested to know, of course....

Response by PO2 William Kennison made Apr 21 at 2018 6:18 PM

2018-04-21T18:18:42-04:00

Get your Bachelor's degree in a specialty that is useful in the military such as buisness management or accounting with a potential diversion to NROTC. That would increase your chances considerably. As an E-3 in A school depending on your enlistment you may want to start the associate's degree part while you're out in the fleet then when your hitch is up go directly for your BA or if you work hard enough you may come out with your MA with the Navy paying your tuition for service as a Lt.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2018 11:43 AM

2018-04-22T11:43:06-04:00

As 2Lt Nicholas Dixon indicated, the paths to becoming an officer "are generally universal". However, the Navy has had ongoing programs for warrant and commissioned officer for enlisteds to become "mustang" officers. Most of these are available to E-6 and higher enlisted grades in various specialties. In my own, I was a Hospital Corpsman who was commissioned in the Medical Service Corps. Similar Limited Duty Officer opportunities exist in engineering and other technical areas. For an enterprising E-3, I would suggest you determine exactly what kind of career you desire at this early stage. If you are looking for the quickest way, the methods outlined by Lt Dixon may well be your choice. Do check with your career counselor (or even Division Officer) regarding in-service education programs. In my time of service we had a NESEP Program (Navy Enlisted Study & Education Program). I'm sure something has replaced that due to evolving technology and changing service requirements. Good luck in your search.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2018 1:38 AM

2018-04-23T01:38:19-04:00

OPNAVINST 1420.1 SERIES is your best friend.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Apr 23 at 2018 1:28 PM

2018-04-23T13:28:48-04:00

Your best bet as a sailor is to get to sea, complete all of your qualifications well ahead of time, get top evaluations, get at least one warfare pin quickly, and then apply. You don't have a college degree so you'd need to go to a college program, and there are several.

I applied to NROTC while I was in Nuclear Power School, back in the dark ages, and was accepted. But times are different now.

If you want to be a warrant or LDO, you need to be an enlisted sailor and go up through the ranks first.

Of course, one has to ask, if your goal was to be an officer all along, why didn't you go to college or apply to NROTC and the Academy straight away?

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Apr 23 at 2018 1:43 PM

2018-04-23T13:43:45-04:00

I guess I'll post the obvious. If you have the scores to make the cut, why not shoot for Annapolis/USNA? It's one of the best "free" educations money can buy and will put you in the cream of the crop of Naval Officers. https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/Active-Duty-Service-Applicants.php

Active Duty and Reserve Applicants

The Active Duty and Reserve Applicants page for the https://www.usna.edu/Admissions Site on the USNA Website. This page was last updated on Mar 15, 2018 9:44:53 AM.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2018 8:43 AM

2018-04-24T08:43:04-04:00

FN Andrews-Lots of good "gouge" below; I don't have anything better to add regarding procedures, but here's some advice regarding "follow through" and "standing out"...

Whether you get picked up for a program as a younger sailor, or put in the time to become an experienced enlisted professional before going LDO...dedication and commitment are two watch words to live by. The Navy has you "where they want you" for now...if you earn a degree on your own, while serving, keep your nose clean, show constant and consistent professional development...you'll likely find a COC more than willing to help you on your way to a commission.

Pay close attention to the "differences" between junior officers coming from OCS, ROTC, the Academy...and LDOs and Warrants. Ask yourself which you'd rather be some day, and weigh the "pros" and "cons" adequately. Figure out if you want to be "line", or FSS. Ask yourself if after a few years of enlisted service, if you're "ready" to go back through a selection/training process and in many ways, "start over" again.

Best wishes and good luck.

Response by SSG Jeremy Sharp made Apr 24 at 2018 12:11 PM

2018-04-24T12:11:02-04:00

Use your education benefits and get a degree then select a field commensurate with degree that leads to a commission pathway ie nursing.

Response by SCPO William Akin made Apr 24 at 2018 5:28 PM

2018-04-24T17:28:39-04:00

The burning question here is....
Why would you want to??????
The devil made me ask.. ;-)

Response by Al Reynolds made Apr 25 at 2018 11:04 AM

2018-04-25T11:04:28-04:00

You're lucky to be an FN. That means you have all the Practical Factors needed to look into Google or some other search engine for your answers.... Do it now because you will lose those skills once you are ordained an Ensign...