Careers for Navy Officers

Surface Warfare Officer

After graduation and commissioning, the officer who elects to serve in the surface line is assigned to duty at sea after attending Surface Warfare Officers School (SWOS). Surface Warfare Officers are the ship drivers and the ship fighters in the U.S. Navy. As Ensigns they are given grave responsibilities for management of millions of dollars of material and equipment. They are required to perform the day-to-day management of their assigned divisions as well as standing deck and engineering watches to insure that their ship meets its operational commitments.

Those midshipmen who have (or will have prior to the last scholastic year) completed the requisite year of calculus and physics, who show positive leadership traits and meet other qualifying criteria will be identified as potential applicants for the Nuclear Power Program (NPP). Qualified applicants will be given an option to select the NPP field. The Nuclear Power Program Board will then interview midshipmen desiring NPP in Washington, D.C. Applicants successfully screened will first attend Surface Warfare Officer School followed by an approximately two-year assignment aboard a ship to earn their warfare pin. They will then attend the Nuclear Power schools and be assigned to an aircraft carrier.

Aviation Officer

Prior to the final scholastic year, midshipmen desiring aviation duty will make application for assignment. Applicants are screened locally for aptitude, ability and medical qualification. Prior to selection the applicant will receive a full flight physical to determine medical eligibility. Upon graduation and commissioning, officers designated for the Flight Program will commence flight training at Pensacola, Florida. Both Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers (NFO), incur additional obligated service.

Submarine Officer

After graduation and commissioning, qualifying officers will be assigned to duty aboard submarines. Since all U.S. submarines are presently nuclear powered, this group of officers generally is selected from Nuclear Power Program candidates. Midshipmen selected for submarine duty will incur additional obligated service.

Special Warfare/Special Operations

Special warfare (SEAL) officers comprise a very small and highly trained group of officers. Because of their demanding physical fitness regime only the most physically fit individuals are encouraged to pursue this option.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Officers

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officers receive similar training. Midshipmen may apply for these designators in their senior year; available quotas are extremely limited and competition is fierce.

Navy Staff Corps Officer

Navy Nurse Corps

Those midshipmen in the Nurse Corps Program and who receive their bachelor's degree in nursing will be commissioned in the Navy Nurse Corps and assigned nursing duties.

Civil Engineering Corps

The Civil Engineering Corps (CEC) career path is available only to Active Duty personnel in the "Sea-Bees" community who desire a commission via the Civil Engineering Enlisted commissioning Program or to civilians who have already earned a Civil Engineering (or applicable) degree and wish to obtain a commission via Officer Candidates School.

Medical Corps

Midshipmen who desire a career in medicine must first complete their NROTC requirements and Bachelor's Degree. During their senior year, they can apply for the Health Professions Scholarship Program to attend a civilian medical school or the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.

Restricted Line Officer

The Restricted Line communities are open to those Midshipmen who do not meet the physical requirements for commissioning into the Unrestricted Line communities. Some of the possibilities include becoming an Intelligence, Cryptography, or Supply Corps Officer.

Marine Officer Careers