Posted on May 26, 2021
What Naval career fields have the best long-term prospects?
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I’ve been a reservist on the Army side, and got out as an O-3 (to IRR). I’m talking with a Navy recruiter about going active duty as an officer. I need ten years to qualify for a reserve retirement, but would like to stay longer and qualify for a full active retirement. Are there career fields that are less up-or-out at the O-5/O-6 level? I would think Surface Warfare is up or out, but what about intel or other fields that draw on subject matter expertise?
Military Career
Retirement
Officer
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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A bit tough to answer that w/o knowing your education and experience. Navy divides its officer communities into Line, Restricted Line, and Staff. Line communities (Surface Warfare, Aviation, Submarines, Special Ops) are all options if you have the background, and all will have minimum service requirements. Restricted line careers like Human Resources and Intel are good if you have a strong background in HR/Personnel and Ops Analysis. Staff communities like JAG, Medical, and Supply Corps are options depending on your degree. Here's kind of a tidy summary of the different officer options to look at. If you can tell us more about your background we may be able to do more for you. vr/db
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Naval_officer_designators
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Naval_officer_designators
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CPT(P) (Join to see)
Sir, thank you for your response. I have a BA in English and then got an MBA with standard marketing/accounting core and electives focused on quantitative skills—financial engineering, or the mathematical analysis of investments (GPA ~3.6 for both degrees). I’m an infantry officer, and have worked in finance since I got my MBA.
Here are the positions available and of interest at this point based on MyNavyHR:
-Surface Warfare (but they would require going back to O-1, which is a huge pay cut)
-Public Affairs
-Aerospace Maintenance
-Aviation (highly interesting, and I imagine the demand is high, so the Navy has it’s pick of O-1s and doesn’t need to train an O-3 with fewer years to get a return)
-Supply Corps
I can only submit three packets, so I’m thinking aviation, public affairs, and aerospace maintenance. Any input on this (or other ways to come in as a prior service officer) are appreciated!
Here are the positions available and of interest at this point based on MyNavyHR:
-Surface Warfare (but they would require going back to O-1, which is a huge pay cut)
-Public Affairs
-Aerospace Maintenance
-Aviation (highly interesting, and I imagine the demand is high, so the Navy has it’s pick of O-1s and doesn’t need to train an O-3 with fewer years to get a return)
-Supply Corps
I can only submit three packets, so I’m thinking aviation, public affairs, and aerospace maintenance. Any input on this (or other ways to come in as a prior service officer) are appreciated!
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LTC (Join to see)
I had an NCO who directly commissioned into the Navy to work contracts with the certifications he had.
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