Naval Officer Careers

Surface Warfare Officers (SWOs) are masters of leadership, tactics, and navigation, and are involved in virtually every aspect of Navy missions. As a SWO, you may be in charge of any number of shipboard operations and activities while at sea, working with or within any of these specialized forces:

Aircraft Carrier Forces: Provide and coordinate air, submarine and surface ship defense for aircraft carriers.

Cruiser-Destroyer Forces: Provide ship attack and defensive measures with a wide array of missile and fire power capabilities, providing anti-air, -submarine and -surface warfare support.

Amphibious Forces: Embark and transport vehicles, equipment and personnel for amphibious assault operations.

Combat-Logistics Forces: Provide combatant ships with fuel, ammunition, food and supplies, and provide repair, maintenance and rescue capabilities through Fleet Support Ships.

Mine Warfare Forces: Detect, identify and neutralize threats from hostile use of maritime mines.

Submarines are the cornerstone of the Navy’s conflict avoidance and resolution, and naturally, the Submarine Officers who man them are held to the highest of standards and have extraordinary roles and responsibilities. Only a select group of disciplined and committed Officers are given the opportunity to lead departments up to an entire crew, commanding some of the most technologically advanced equipment in the world.

Submarine Officers are involved in all aspects of submarine operations from supervising the reactor plant to running the ship both in port and at sea. You could be in charge of any of the following:

• Operating a nuclear reactor, power generation and propulsion systems
• Maintaining onboard weapons systems
• Managing all life support systems
• Driving the ship and charting its position
• Operating sonar, radar, fire control, communications and specialized mission equipment

Naval Aviators are the most elite group of pilots in the entire world, and are a crucial piece in the composition of the Carrier Strike Group. As a Naval Aviator, you will find yourself:

• Flying the most innovative and high-tech aircraft in the world like the F/A-18 Super Hornet, E/A-18 Growler, F-35 Lightning II, E-6 Mercury, E-2 Hawkeye, P-8 Poseidon, V-22 Osprey, MH-60 Seahawk, or CH-53 Super Stallion.
• Providing vital attack, defense and logistic support to the Fleet
• Taking part in antisubmarine warfare and mine countermeasures, as well as search and rescue operations and vertical replenishment missions
• Projecting aviation power in fighter, reconnaissance and sea control missions
• Launching from aircraft carriers or surface combatants
• Conducting enemy surveillance by collecting photographic intelligence

Naval Flight Officers (NFOs) are a critical component of naval aviation whose responsibilities primarily concern operation and maintenance of our aircraft's combat systems. As an NFO, additional responsibilities include:

• Studying aerodynamics, aircraft engine systems, meteorology, navigation, flight planning and flight safety
• Training and specializing in EA-18G Growler electronic countermeasures aircraft, E-2C Hawkeye early warning and control aircraft or the new P-8A Poseidon antisubmarine aircraft
• Electronically detecting and tracking ships, submarines, aircraft and missiles

Established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962, the Navy SEALs are a nimble, elite maritime military force suited for all aspects of unconventional warfare. In this role, you will provide immediate military relief in crises around the world. Your duties as a SEAL may include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting insertions and extractions by sea, air or land to accomplish covert, Special Warfare/Special Operations missions
• Capturing high-value enemy personnel and terrorists around the world
• Collecting information and intelligence through special reconnaissance missions
• Carrying out small-unit, direct-action missions against military targets
• Performing underwater reconnaissance and the demolition of natural or man-made obstacles prior to amphibious landings

Service obligation: 5 years

As an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Officer, you’ll receive extensive training to perform missions neutralizing explosive weapons in almost every environment. Your duties may require you to:

• Detonate and demolish hazardous munitions, pyrotechnics and outdated explosives
• Neutralize various ordnance, including sea mines, torpedoes or depth charges
• Work with cutting-edge technology to remotely disable unsafe ordnance
• Perform parachute or helicopter insertion operations
• Support law enforcement agencies
• Clear waterways of mines in support of our ships and submarines
• Lend your skills and support to other military units or offices, such as the U.S. Secret Service or the U.S. Department of State

Service obligation: 5 years