To become a Commissioned Officer in the US Navy, would you train at Great Lakes, Illinois or Annapolis?

Question

I already have a degree. According to Wikipedia, the Academy is for 17-23 year olds, so I guess I won't be going there. Which is good because that place sounds scary.

Answer 1

Congrats on your degree. Since you already have a degree, my recommendation is to contact the local Officer Recruiter at the Navy Recruiting Headquarters for your district.

The NECP program no longer exists . It is now called the Seaman to Admiral 21 program (MECP still exists, but as an extension of the STA-21 program). It combined all the officer programs under one blanket program. The Navy Academy is for HS grads or enlisted under the age of 23 with no degree. OCS is most likely the path you would take and that is taught in Pensacola, FL.

I agree with the comments above regarding Mustangs. As an active duty member, I have more respect of the individual that did time in the enlisted ranks more than a direct input officer (not to be confused with the Direct Input Limited Duty Officers of the Nuclear Power Program).

Try to avoid speaking with an enlisted recruiter, if you want to join as an officer. They will do everything in their power to convince you to join as enlisted, then "commissioning is a breeze." That's BS. I did 2 tours as a Career Counselor, one at a School house and the other at Carrier. In both places I had to pick up the pieces of recruiters selling BS.

Great Lakes is strictly for training enlisted personnel.

Do a search for OPNAVINST 1420.1A. This is the US Navy Officer Programs instruction. If you have more questions feel free to ask. The link below should answer most questions.

Good luck, fair winds and following seas.

V.
EM1(SW) NEC: 3394,9588,4615 and 9502 (MTS certified)

Answer 2

It is a simple progression; graduate from college and get a reccomendation to got to the Academy or be a STAR in HS and be recommended to the academy.

The college/academy officers that i knew were WORTHLESS!!

One fainted in a combat situsation and the other hung a chart upside down. Until Commander, most of the Academy graduates are a PAIN in the DONKEY; so much self-importance with so little knowledge.

If you are looking at a NAVY career enlist and get an OPERATIONS rate. Get to E-5 in your first 4 years (NOTHING below 3.6 quarterly marks) and apply for NECP (Navy enlisted commission program) You pick the school, the major and the NAVY picks up the tab. You become a college kid for four years and then give the 8 in return as an officer.

From then on you are known as a "MUSTANGER" and it generates RESPECT at ALL levels! The enlisted know that you have been there and they don't have to pick up after you and the preppy school boy officers look at you with AWE! You will also shoot through the commissioned ranks because you know how to take ORDERS as well as give them.

Do your four as enlisted, excel and then got to MIT, UCLA, YALE,USC and complete the MISSION.

I was offered NECP and passed; wish that I could go back but oh well.

Good luck and THANKS for considering SERVICE to YOUR COUNTRY!

USN 1964-
In Country
"Honrary" Marine Corps DI

Answer 3

Annapolis, Naval ROTC or OCS, Great Lakes is Basic for Enlisted, Annapolis is only for those appointed to the Naval Academy.

Answer 4

Navy OCS is in Pensacola Florida. ROTC candidates are commissioned wherever they graduate from. BDP recipients go to OCS. Annapolis is only for those who are accepted into the US Naval Academy.

Answer 5

As all said, the only Navy boot camp is Great Lakes outside Chicago, Illinois. You might consider waiting a bit before going off to boot camp...if you go in a few months, you're going to be there in the cold of winter, and MAN it gets freezing cold up there! My suggestion would be to wait until spring to go to boot camp if you can wait...boot camp is tough enough without the added problems of it being harder to breathe in the cold, having to watch people for hypothermia and the early signs of frost bite, less sleep because it doesn't matter how warm that blanket seems in the summer, it's -never- warm enough in the winter....spring or fall is the best time to be at boot camp if you can choose your time!

Answer 6

Annapolis if you attend the Naval Academy.

OCS is at Pensacola I think.

Answer 7

Either one...depends if you become an officer from being enlisted or you go straight to the academy...but if your enlisted first have to go to OCS....

Answer 8

Contact a military councilor.