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OCS Is it possible to go from Cryptologic Warfare Officer (CWO) to Maritime Cyber Warfare Officer (MCWO)?

A

A001

New Member
I am wondering if it is possible to go from CWO to MCWO. If so, what is the process supposed to be? Do I have to retake OCS as well?
If not, can I eventually transfer to a place where I can do cyber operations in the Navy? If so, where? What is the process?
 
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IKE

IKE

Nerd Whirler
pilot
Check out the PERS lateral transfer page. It should have an answer for you. I don't know for MCWO, but usually there's a 2-year min service, or warfare qual, requirement. Then you also have to watch for minimum service requirement (MSR) and see how many out-quotas there are from your source community.
 
N

number9

Well-Known Member
Contributor
IKE said:
Check out the PERS lateral transfer page. It should have an answer for you. I don't know for MCWO, but usually there's a 2-year min service, or warfare qual, requirement. Then you also have to watch for minimum service requirement (MSR) and see how many out-quotas there are from your source community.
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At least on the Reserves side, they were waiving the MSR and the warfare qual requirement for a while when they were trying to stuff people into the MCWO pipeline. Not sure if they still are, though.
 
FormerRecruitingGuru

FormerRecruitingGuru

Making Recruiting Great Again
A001 said:
I have a B.S. degree in Biology with a 3.76 GPA. I also got a 3.95 GPA with Certificate Achievement in Software Development at a community college while getting my degree at a 4-year university.

Although my deadline for my application is on December 2024, I have submitted my application to go into OCS as a CWO (rank one choice), IO (rank 2 choice), and IP (rank 3 choice) (I mainly want to join as a CWO). One of the main reasons why I want to join as CWO is to do cyber operations in the Navy. However, I found out that CWO will no longer have cyber billets as of 2025 and will mainly focus on SIGINT. Instead, MCWO will be the one conducting the cyber operations.

Based on the requirement for MCWO for reserve, I don't think I qualify.
https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Career/OCM/PA-208E_MCWO_Reserve_Jan-2024.pdf?ver=DhVmPyF7yBltK2rQHinIZQ==

Thus, I am wondering if it is possible to go from CWO to MCWO. If so, what is the process supposed to be? Do I have to retake OCS as well?
If not, can I eventually transfer to a place where I can do cyber operations in the Navy? If so, where? What is the process?

If it is absolutely not possible, then I don't mind going in as CWO since it looks like an interesting job.
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Why are you looking up a reserve program authorization when you're applying for active duty/OCS? There is an active duty MCWO PA:

With that said, lateral transfers within the IWC community (i.e. Intel to CW, CW to IP, etc.) do happen, but it is still a process and it is by no means a guarantee. If you only want to be a MCWO and nothing else, apply for MCWO. Don't apply for an OCS program just as a means to try and hop to another - it's very possible you might not have opportunities to lateral transfer or things just don't work out.

For lateral transfers, no you don't go through OCS again and yes you might need to go to school/training to learn your new job/designator.

I would focus in on the OCS program at the moment, that is the closest alligator to the boat by the way and once you are in your first assignment/tour, can start planning + eyeing the lateral transfer process.
 
Hair Warrior

Hair Warrior

Well-Known Member
Contributor
Here is the PA for active duty 1880:

Your biology degree doesn’t meet the “major fields of study” requirement.

The experiential waiver is designed to allow prior enlisted, civilians, or contractors - who have been to these schools already, and are likely cyber operators in their day job - to apply regardless of college major. There are lots of civilians and contractors who have completed one of those courses.

All that aside-

If cyber operations is your only reason to join the military, join the Air Force. They’ve been doing it longer and the Navy is playing catch-up. If you want to be a naval officer and do a job in the Info Warfare Commmunity, put up to three designators on your application and see ehat happens. There are billets for Intel Os, IPs, and Cryppies in units that have MCWOs. Don’t forget about designator 1840 CWE, too.
 
E

exNavyOffRec

Well-Known Member
Hair Warrior said:
Here is the PA for active duty 1880:

Your biology degree doesn’t meet the “major fields of study” requirement.

The experiential waiver is designed to allow prior enlisted, civilians, or contractors - who have been to these schools already, and are likely cyber operators in their day job - to apply regardless of college major. There are lots of civilians and contractors who have completed one of those courses.

All that aside-

If cyber operations is your only reason to join the military, join the Air Force. They’ve been doing it longer and the Navy is playing catch-up. If you want to be a naval officer and do a job in the Info Warfare Commmunity, put up to three designators on your application and see ehat happens. There are billets for Intel Os, IPs, and Cryppies in units that have MCWOs. Don’t forget about designator 1840 CWE, too.
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CWE would be a stretch based on the degree, I think IP or CW would be the best shot.
 
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