The basic requirements for selection to the Navy Special Duty Officer (Information Professional) indoctrination and training program for college graduates. Program leads to a commission as an Ensign, U.S. Navy, Special Duty Officer (Information Professional), designator 1820.
Those selected will attend Officer Candidate School located in Newport, Rhode Island.
The Navy Special Duty Officer (Information Professional) Program is open to both men and women who are citizens of the United States. Being a dual citizen (i.e., a U.S. citizen and a citizen of another country) is not necessarily disqualifying. Associated risks to national security will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and not have yet passed their 42nd birthday upon commissioning. For the Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) (IP option), applicants must not have passed their 35th birthday upon commissioning.
Civilians and Enlisted personnel of the regular Navy or Navy Reserve (active and inactive) or enlisted personnel of other armed services with an approved inter-service transfer.
Officer Aptitude Rating (OAR): All applicants must take the OAR examination. Applicants must attain a score of 50 or greater with a waiver to 45 possible.
Minimum of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution is required. Major fields of study directly related to information systems, electrical or computer engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, systems engineering or other science, technology, engineering and mathematics technical fields are most strongly preferred, but not required.
An undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.8 or greater on a 4.0 scale is required.
Completion of calculus sequence (Calculus I and Calculus II) and calculus-based physics sequence (Physics I and Physics II) with a "C" average or better is preferred.
Prior military experience and/or significant civilian occupational experience in fields related to cyber security, network operations or communications is strongly desired.
Leadership: A quantifiable record of leadership, management or supervisory experience in academia, civilian and/or military organizations is strongly preferred.
Physicals will be completed in line with the Manual of the Medical Department, Chapter 15 and as detailed in Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, Or Induction in the Military Services, DoD Instruction 6130.03 of 6 May 2018. Candidates must meet the physical fitness weight and/or percentage of body fat standards at the time of application and at time of commissioning.
Separated prior-service and non-prior service applicants will normally complete their physical at the local Military Entrance Processing Station.
Candidates must meet the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 704 eligibility standards for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).
In cases where the applicant does not meet all of the qualifications, but otherwise has an exceptional record or proven skill-set required by the Navy, a waiver may be authorized.
Selectees will complete Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Officer Training Command, Newport, Rhode Island.
Candidates will be commissioned in the restricted line of the U.S. Navy as an Ensign (paygrade O-1), designator 1820.
For the Surface Warfare Officer (IP Option): Ensign (paygrade O-1), U.S. Navy, designator 1160P (Surface Warfare Officer Student), additional qualification designator of "LOB." Officers will be redesignated to 1820 without board action in line with Information Warfare Community (IWC) Option Program, MILPERSMAN 1212-050.
Civilians and Enlisted applicants in paygrades E-4 and below, who are selected for this program are designated Officer Candidates and advanced to paygrade E-5 upon reporting to Officer Candidate School. Enlisted applicants in paygrades E-5 and above are designated Officer Candidates in their present paygrades.
Officers must serve at least four years on active duty from date of appointment. The balance of service, sufficient to complete eight years total obligated service, may be served in a Ready Reserve status.
Surface Warfare Officer (IP Option): Upon redesignation to 1820, SWO (IP) officers incur an additional minimum service obligation in accordance with MILPERSMAN 1212-050 from date of designator change to be served concurrently with any other obligations.
Upon commencing Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI, Selectees will receive pay and benefits based on paygrade outlined in the paragraph above under the "Enlistment" header.
Information obtained from Navy Special Duty Officer (Information Professional) Program Authorization 108D signed, July 12, 2019. See an Officer Recruiter for further details.
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