Right now, the Navy is especially interested in candidates with aspirations in medicine, dentistry, law, engineering, or religion. While the competition's stiff, those who make the cut can look forward to:
- competitive salaries
- full medical and dental benefits
- advanced professional training
- opportunities to earn additional degrees
- experience with the latest technology
- equipment assignments in diverse locations
The direct appointment process begins when you contact your local recruiting station, which you can do using the "recruiter locator" on the Navy's official Web site. They'll either give you the information you need or pass you on to someone who can help. From there, you'll begin to piece together exactly what it is that the Navy is going to expect of you. It'll all begin with a "basic training," of sorts - either Officer Indoctrination School (OIS) or Officer Candidate School (OCS). The first one, OIS, is a six-week program in Newport, R.I., that's attended by specialized professionals or professionals-in-training. The second option, OCS, is the place for recent college grads. OCS is more than twice as long as OIS -- 13 weeks -- and it's in Pensacola, FL. Some OCS students apply as early as their sophomore year of college, a decision that the Navy encourages. If you're accepted to the school before finishing college, you're eligible for financial assistance with the rest of your college bills. This is all the deceptive calm before the storm. Once in Pensacola, get ready for a demanding schedule of academic, military, and physical training.
After the OIS or OCS training is complete, you're commissioned into the officer ranks as an ensign, or O-1, the lowest officer rank. If all goes well, you'll be bumped up to O-2 within a few years, and within four to five years you'll be a lieutenant, or O-3. Most appointments carry with them a four-year active-duty obligation, though many professionals decide to make a lifelong career of it.
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