How to Become a Navy Officer After Enlistment

I am hoping to get into the U.S. Navy soon (still waiting on a medical waiver) I'm still debating as to whether or not I would make a career out of it, though I'm leaning towards that option. I wanted to know if there were any fellow TW members that had joined the Navy as an enlisted Seaman and then worked their way through the Enlisted Officer Program and how it treated them.

Is it as simple as my numerous internet searches have detailed or is there a lot of paperwork, brown-nosing, favoritism, etc.? I would like to become an officer if I'm going to be spending over 10 years on the Navy and would like to know my chances of doing so.

I currently do not hold any college degrees, I am one semester away from my Associates. I was planning to use the GI Bill to earn my Bachelor's and then apply to become an officer. Would that strategy work? What are the steps to becoming an officer after enlistment? I'd rather hear it straight from someone with experience in the process either by having gone through it yourself or if you know someone that has.

 

Currently an enlisted recruiter. Have you served enlisted yet? You could always go seaman to admiral (an associate's might help you get selected as well) while in or direct commission via OCS once you complete your Bachelor's degree (which can be done while on active-duty using tuition assistance, got mine that way and now working my master's). I've seen people get picked up for the various programs over the years and while the vast majority did deserve it, there were very few that were questionable. My suggestion is to go enlisted first if you wish, find a prior-enlisted officer (just about every unit has them or can connect you with one) and use him/her as a mentor.

Yes, your strategy that you suggested does work, I see reservists do it all the time as well. Have you looked into meeting with an officer recruiter in your area or just enlisted? Our standard practice is if you have any college degrees under your belt, whether it's associate or bachelor, you at least speak with an officer recruiter first.

 

Try posting your question here as well:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/navy-muster.45466/

 

^^^ What he said.

No reason to use your GI bill. We get tuition assistance, which is free money for college. It's something like 14 or 16 credit hours per calendar year.

 

I'm still in the process of enlisting, I haven't even sworn-in yet. I'll definitely bring this up to my recruiter after I've done so. I've been so focused on getting this damn waiver (It's been three weeks) that I only want to get my foot in the door as a recruit and then work my way up.

 

What rate are you trying to get?

 

That's interesting, no one has detailed that to me and my research hasn't specifically stated that either (I've spent the last three months on multiple websites looking up different careers, promotion opportunities, SEAL criteria, etc. Pretty much anything and everything I feel I would want/need to know). If that's the case then I feel my effort and timeframe of becoming an officer would be greatly shortened.

 

hell, they're offering AN/PAC $10K bonuses for only a 3 year commitment right now
and now active up to turning 40 in boot camp (used to be only reserves up to 40).
we even got a girl approved with a huge tattoo on the back of her neck (used to be max 1"x1").

 

Yep, it's a real thing! I didn't know about it either until I was in. There are A LOT and I mean A LOT of programs and shit that the Navy offers that aren't really well known/utilized. They take care of you if you know where to look. There are certain stipulations to use TA which vary by command though. Like you have to be qualified at your job before you can focus on school, etc.

 

If it's a waiver SEAL is what you are waiting on, that takes longer than everything else.

Side note: where ya located? might know someone in your area that could ask without putting you on blast with the wrong people.

 

I'm looking to be an Intelligence or Operations Specialist. If those don't work then I'd like to become a Gunner's Mate or Cryptologic Technician. If none of those work, then either Fire Control and Prevention Specialist or Journalist/Mass Communication Specialist... Really so long as I'm not a cook

 

we drive our applicants 6.5hrs to MEPS, I get to talk about A LOT of things that they don't realize we have. hell, if I knew a quarter of what I do now when I came in

 

I am in Orlando, FL. Joining the military to get the hell out!

 

^^^^What they both said, and they're currently active duty.

I served with several "Mustangs", they were great to work with and did very well for themselves. Most retired as LCDRs.

 

they all get paid the same, just remember that much

we have a recruiter that's a submarine cook, he picked up E-7 in 8 years. he's a smart cook though so that may have helped quite a bit.

 

I'm a CTN and would recommend it if your ASVAB is up to par. It's a great job if you like the office type of job, and you can advance to E5 stupid fast. I picked it up in 2.5 years. School was hard, but my whole career so far (7 years) has been a cakewalk and never seen a ship, which I'm fine with. I've worked with IS's before, and they seem to enjoy their job as well. Be prepared to brief people though. That's the extent of my knowledge of those rates.

 

My recruiter told me that with a certain rate that they'd likely offer me with my ASVAB score (83) that I'd get in as an E-4 and move up to E-5 or 6 within my first four years. Not sure if that was recruiter BS but it sounded appealing nonetheless

 

Friend of mine was a communication specialist assigned to a sub, got his AA degree first in electrical engineering and had a fight happen (well, ok a heated exchange) over him for getting him enlisted between a Navy and Airforce recruter working in the same office. His version of the story is much funnier, but he was in a great position.

 

AECF/SECF. leads you to the fire control technician job you mentioned. comes with a $10k bonus also but about 18months of school. Auto E-4 out of school and normally almost 100% advancement on the exam to E-5.

Or if ya qualify for the nuclear program, that's a FAT reenlistment bonus later on.

 

I was looking into the Nuke program but that would be a lot of time away from my wife and more chances of me being put in a sub, the latter of which I am NOT wanting in the slightest