Highest possible rank right after OCS

[ard]

I'm sorry, but I think you should keep doing that. You seem to be in a profession that has some touch points with young people...yes? If you love the Navy as much as I think you TRULY do...encourage the best and brightest of THOSE folks to "Go Navy"...and share your own life experiences with them.

Best advice I can give. But good luck in this.

I sincerely appreciate your heartfelt advice. Actually, one of my children is preparing for the ASVAB to go enlisted soon. Another one is considering the service academies. However, I am eager to complete an unfinished mission: to become a commissioned officer in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. I'll let the application process run its course and see what happens.

 

[ard]

As going active duty may not be an option for you, at least in the capacity you are seeking, have you ever thought about going into an industry that supports the military as a civilian? When I decided that I was going to put my package together I was coming up with backup plans right and left. If your previous profession was science related, there would conceivably be a multitude of opportunities available to you in the defense industry. That was something I had thought about as a backup plan. However, what I really strongly considered came out of my girlfriend's experience as a Navy nurse. I started researching the Wounded Warrior Project a lot and would have really loved to get involved with them or a similar organization, either doing research or just supporting warriors setting up events and what not. Just my two cents, but if AD does not prove to be an option for you, there are still a number of ways to serve your country if that is what you are truly passionate about.

I have applied to civilian positions within the DOD, as well as FBI, NSA, etc. I'm just more interested in becoming a commissioned officer in the Navy.

 

[Flash]

You may also want to explore the Air Force as an option if being a commissioned officer is your ultimate goal, they have officers who are scientists and professors full time obviously in fields related to USAF priorities. I know the Army and Navy also have scientist/professor officers but they seem to be much more numerous in the USAF. The USPHS and NOAA might also be options depending on your expertise and background.

 

[LFCFan]

I contacted a recruiter online via the chat option at www.navy.com/. She said that it is possible (not necessarily easy) for someone who goes to OCS to get a commission at a rank higher than O-1. She implied that the decision was made by the board. What are the requirements for that?

Also, I qualify for a position as scientist within the Staff Corps, but I'd rather join as a Line Officer (unrestricted, if possible). What are my options? An important point is that as a Staff Officer I might be able to join at O-3 or O-4 due to my experience and credentials.(I have a Ph.D. with about 15 years of professional experience.) Can I graduate OCS and enter as O-3 at least?

What is your Ph.D. in, and what field have you been working in for the last 15 years? That information is key if you'd like the folks on here to point you in the right direction. I'm in a Ph.D. program right now and looked into staff corps jobs for afterwards, but then said to hell with it and applied to OCS for aviation. If your degree is in anything medical-ish, physiology, or psych/cognitive/behavioral sciences, I'd suggest looking up the aerospace psychologist and physiologist jobs. They'd put you at ODS (not OCS) and you'd come out an O-3.

As I'm not in the navy I can't comment on age waivers for the SEALs or anything else, but good luck!

 

[ard]

You may also want to explore the Air Force as an option if being a commissioned officer is your ultimate goal, they have officers who are scientists and professors full time obviously in fields related to USAF priorities. I know the Army and Navy also have scientist/professor officers but they seem to be much more numerous in the USAF. The USPHS and NOAA might also be options depending on your expertise and background.

I was at USAFA and would rather join the Navy, but I'll look into your suggestions. Thanks.

 

[ard]

What is your Ph.D. in, and what field have you been working in for the last 15 years? That information is key if you'd like the folks on here to point you in the right direction. I'm in a Ph.D. program right now and looked into staff corps jobs for afterwards, but then said to hell with it and applied to OCS for aviation. If your degree is in anything medical-ish, physiology, or psych/cognitive/behavioral sciences, I'd suggest looking up the aerospace psychologist and physiologist jobs. They'd put you at ODS (not OCS) and you'd come out an O-3.

I'm working with my recruiter on finishing my application package, since he must submit it by DEC 13 for the FEB Intel(?) board. My Ph.D. is in the mathematical sciences and I have most recently been working on math applications to counterterrorism. I am a tenured math professor.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

I contacted a recruiter online via the chat option at www.navy.com/. She said that it is possible (not necessarily easy) for someone who goes to OCS to get a commission at a rank higher than O-1. She implied that the decision was made by the board. What are the requirements for that?

Not possible, and FYI the people on that chat are enlisted recruiters, and historically they make all field recruiters pull out their hair because most of the time they get information wrong.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Navy Reserve is not an option for me. I'm prior service, so the maximum age for me to enter OCS is 41, not 35.​

negative, maximum age is set by designator, the ONLY designator that you are eligible for that goes to OCS is Intel.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

I'm working with my recruiter on finishing my application package, since he must submit it by DEC 13 for the FEB Intel(?) board. My Ph.D. is in the mathematical sciences and I have most recently been working on math applications to counterterrorism. I am a tenured math professor.

You may actually have a chance at USN Intel with that degree.

 

[ard]

negative, maximum age is set by designator, the ONLY designator that you are eligible for that goes to OCS is Intel.

What about Information Warfare? What is the cutoff age there and how can one get a waiver?

Not possible, and FYI the people on that chat are enlisted recruiters, and historically they make all field recruiters pull out their hair because most of the time they get information wrong.

Thanks. I had been advised to contact you but didn't know how. I'm glad you posted here!

 

[ard]

You may actually have a chance at USN Intel with that degree.

Great. Thanks for giving me some realistic hope!

 

[exNavyOffRec]

What about Information Warfare? What is the cutoff age there and how can one get a waiver?



Thanks. I had been advised to contact you but didn't know how. I'm glad you posted here!

Max age is 35, few designators offer waivers, generally those are the ones that have a low age cutoff Pilot/NFO/SWO/Supply and then they give waivers up to 29-31 depending on the designators.

The waivers for those designators is month for month for AD time, or if reserve they add up the points and convert them to AD equivilant.

SEAL and EOD have waivers but the info from the board is that the only waivers they give are for prior operators.

 

[ard]

Max age is 35, few designators offer waivers, generally those are the ones that have a low age cutoff Pilot/NFO/SWO/Supply and then they give waivers up to 29-31 depending on the designators.

The waivers for those designators is month for month for AD time, or if reserve they add up the points and convert them to AD equivilant.

SEAL and EOD have waivers but the info from the board is that the only waivers they give are for prior operators.

Will there be opportunities to work close to the SEALs as an Intel officer? Also, will my PhD help me at all in getting promoted quickly?

 

[wlawr005]

If you commission as an O-1, all subsequent promotions will occur at automatic intervals. Your civilian experience or degrees won't help you move up faster.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Will there be opportunities to work close to the SEALs as an Intel officer? Also, will my PhD help me at all in getting promoted quickly?

There are some on here that will have a better info, but my understanding from the Intel officers I have known is that your first tour is an operational unit such as a squadron or large ship, then your second tour will be an command that supports the operation units (the name escapes me), after that I couldn't say.