I want to become an officer - Shipping off December 11th

[pekopsha]

This is my first post, and I know that I should refer to other posts, however I did not come across any recent posts regarding my concerns about enlisting (possible I could have overlooked them- if I did, feel free to reply with links).


I'm an ambitious girl looking to get the best experience and return out of my time spent in the Navy. That being said, I've been highly considering taking whichever route I need to in order to become an officer. I'm 22, I don't have a degree, but I know my potential is too great to spend my entire time in enlisted. I know I seem like I'm a bit late to the show, but I haven't been able to join until recently due to tattoo policy. Also, I haven't spent my time out of high school on a path that will get me a bachelor's degree fast enough for my liking. At the rate I'm at, I'll be in my 30s by the time I get something.


Anyway, what are my options here in becoming an officer? I know there's STA-21, but from what I've been reading it seems like even if you do your best in nuke school and meet criteria, you may still not be accepted. Are there other routes I can pursue in order to become an officer? I've already swore in, signed my NF contract, and have a ship date of December 11th. I do enjoy higher math and science, so I can see nuclear engineering as something that I'd enjoy in that aspect. I've also heard from my recruiter that if and when I were accepted to STA-21 that I have the option to change the field I'm in- like if I realized nuke wasn't for me, he said I could go to nursing, civil engineering, etc.


I guess I'm here looking for some kind of reassurance and to know if I have any other caminos available to me once I'm in.

[TVA]

So basically you come to a forum of predominantly enlisted people who obviously had no potential or drive and ask them for advice on how to live up to your lofty potential? Did I get it straight your highness?

[MMM]

Have YOU looked at anything about STA-21? It's been a while, but there are age restrictions, release requirements for nukes and other such stuff. Then there's the application process, which includes some personal statements about why you want to be an officer and may include why you didn't do anything to move toward your degree in the last 5 years, which leads to questions about your actual motivation. Finally, why didn't you just apply directly for an officer program? A little research would have shown that's your best route to becoming an officer, as enlisting doesn't guarantee anything.

[TVA]

Well it’s her great potential. Duh.

[SloGlo]

looking like yore facing petty officer ranking as opposed two commissioned. gist saying...

[TVA]

Not with her potential she isnt.

[TVA]

At 22 hasnt done anything that both my kids had done by 21 but oh the potential

[SloGlo]

At 22 hasnt done anything that both my kids had done by 21 but oh the potential

potential, knot kinetic 😉

[ComradeRed1308]

While STA-21 is an awesome program to get into, it can be very difficult to get into and not really be something that you should count on.  You would probably need an age waiver as well since you need to commission before the age of 27 without one (unlikely to commission before age 27 in your scenario).  Needing a waiver would likely hurt your cause for getting into it, although it wouldn't be impossible.  Outside of that you would need to get a degree on your own time (although the navy may pay for it).  I'm pretty sure enlisted power school gives you credits towards a bachelor's at certain schools which will have online programs geared for getting enlisted nukes a degree.  That said it may be difficult to get one before your first shore duty which would mean you would be an enlisted nuke for quite awhile.  That being said, you may find you like being enlisted much more than being an officer.  If you like being a  nuclear operator, being enlisted means you focus on nuclear operations 100% of the time while the officer route means you alternate between conventional and nuclear duties.  There are plenty of ways to stand out as an enlisted nuke and you will find that it will be plenty challenging.  If you're enlisted for a while (about 8-10 years or so) you can put in for an LDO package (Limited Duty Officer)  and go officer that route.  LDO's usually perform an advisory/technical specialist role as opposed to being being in command role, but provide plenty of room for advancement if your trying to maximize your retirement benefits.  You also have the option of doing 6 and out and then getting a degree on the Navy's dime.  Depending on the degree that you get, you should be very marketable in the job marketplace.

[TVA]

But she has so much more potential than a mere non potential enlisted puke.

[MMM]

Since STA-21 is a 3-year program, if she started while in the pipeline, she wouldn't need an age waiver. Plus there are other officer ascension programs out there, if officer is the goal, not specifically nuke, although most are hard for nukes to get into.

[pekopsha]

So basically you come to a forum of predominantly enlisted people who obviously had no potential or drive and ask them for advice on how to live up to your lofty potential? Did I get it straight your highness?

I'm so glad you were able to offer great insight with your response, truly.

While STA-21 is an awesome program to get into, it can be very difficult to get into and not really be something that you should count on.  You would probably need an age waiver as well since you need to commission before the age of 27 without one (unlikely to commission before age 27 in your scenario).  Needing a waiver would likely hurt your cause for getting into it, although it wouldn't be impossible.  Outside of that you would need to get a degree on your own time (although the navy may pay for it).  I'm pretty sure enlisted power school gives you credits towards a bachelor's at certain schools which will have online programs geared for getting enlisted nukes a degree.  That said it may be difficult to get one before your first shore duty which would mean you would be an enlisted nuke for quite awhile.  That being said, you may find you like being enlisted much more than being an officer.  If you like being a  nuclear operator, being enlisted means you focus on nuclear operations 100% of the time while the officer route means you alternate between conventional and nuclear duties.  There are plenty of ways to stand out as an enlisted nuke and you will find that it will be plenty challenging.  If you're enlisted for a while (about 8-10 years or so) you can put in for an LDO package (Limited Duty Officer)  and go officer that route.  LDO's usually perform an advisory/technical specialist role as opposed to being being in command role, but provide plenty of room for advancement if your trying to maximize your retirement benefits.  You also have the option of doing 6 and out and then getting a degree on the Navy's dime.  Depending on the degree that you get, you should be very marketable in the job marketplace.

I won't be 23 until this November- I'm hoping to ship out a couple months earlier than what I was told so that I have a chance even if slim for STA-21, if you think this is my best chance for officer. Either way, enlisted or officer, I plan to have a positive outlook on whatever path I go down. I have some gen ed credits from a local JC so I'm not at square one with my education. How challenging is it to get said LDO package? That sounds like it could be a good alternative for me if the STA-21 doesn't work out how I'd like. I have ok leadership abilities, but a more technical position sounds more like my cup of tea. I appreciate the insight.

At 22 hasnt done anything that both my kids had done by 21 but oh the potential

To be quite frank, my goal is to avoid accruing any debts and making as much money as I'm able. I'd like 100% of my education to be covered by the Navy if possible. I've made it this far without a degree due to financial and personal reasons that I won't detail, so anyone ragging on me for not having it done yet, hopefully, can understand.


A reminder to those who have had an easy upbringing- not everyone is lucky enough to grow up in economically stable households and have the same opportunities. It's a bit annoying that I have to point that out, but I understand that some people just may not get that. 

Have YOU looked at anything about STA-21? It's been a while, but there are age restrictions, release requirements for nukes and other such stuff. Then there's the application process, which includes some personal statements about why you want to be an officer and may include why you didn't do anything to move toward your degree in the last 5 years, which leads to questions about your actual motivation. Finally, why didn't you just apply directly for an officer program? A little research would have shown that's your best route to becoming an officer, as enlisting doesn't guarantee anything.

I have looked at the info on the Navy website and read up on all the requirements for the STA-21 programs that were on there which I'd consider. I didn't know of the personal statements though. As mentioned above, I have some college credits, but my pace is just too slow.
I looked at NUPOC program, and it requires that I either have my bachelor's or be in my junior year of school which is not the case. Civil Engineering officer program requires that I have my degree already.


I should have clarified in my OP- I want to take the best route to becoming an officer while enlisted. Getting a degree beforehand isn't an option for me. My bad.

[Marc622]

I won't lie, the title of this post alone baited me in and after reading the initial post I already knew what the comments were going to be. With that said let's get into it.

As far as programs and program requirements for obtaining a commision go, Google is your friend. Everything you want to know and more is easily accesible.

Here's the important part - the advice:
First off, I admire your ambition and desire in wanting to become an Officer. If you really want to become an Officer do not enlist, you can do NUPOC or ROTC. The Navy pays for the degree and you commision at the end of college so long as you maintain eligiblity. Also the Naval Academy is another option.

STA-21 is a great opportunity (I'm a product of it), but there are a couple of things you need to understand. Let's talk spot availability. Numbers change every year but for the most part they increase, so that's a plus. However, say there are 100 spots total, 85-90 are reserved for nukes. If you want to join any of community and you start as an enlisted nuke your chances of swapping communities is essentially 0 (probably close to the fraction of all fission neutrons born below thermal energies 😁). Think about it from a coporate perspective; why would i pick you to join a community you know nothing about when I can pick the number 1 person in that specific community to go Officer.

Next up is you.
You haven't left for bootcamp yet. I'm not saying it's a bad thing to have a goal and a plan but for the most part focus on what's in front of you first. Bootcamp, A-School, Power-School, Prototype. You may find out rather quickly that you hate what you signed up to do, or you may fall in love with it. Either way you won't know until you at least have a little experience. Take the time to learn about being a nuke before you just jump staright in and decide you want to be an O-Nuke. You mentioned LDO's. For the most part those are techinical experts that already have a mountain of experience.

Now for you're post. I don't know you or you're background but if you're enlisting with the attitude that you're "potential" is worthy of a commision you might have a hard time being enlisted. I'm going to give to you as straight as possible. No cares that you think you're hot s***. No one cares that you are 22. No one cares whether you had a hard time growing up or if you had a silver spoon. Results are what matter and along with that a humble attitude goes a long way. When you apply for STA-21 and you sit down to do your interviews, I dare you to say "I'm too good to be enlisted." I'm guessing that you aren't that egotistical and you're probably a decent person so let that be what other's see, especially as a first impression. If you are hot s***, you'll stand out regardless.

The Officer- Enlisted relationship is precious in the Nuke community. It's built on trust, and respect both ways. Being an Officer doesn't mean you're any better or worse, it simply means you choose a different route in life. Maybe I've been fortunate but the Officer's I had when I was enlisted never made me feel like I was just some blue shirt. It was a family.

Last thing I promise (I know this was long). Just a quick blurb about me. I enlisted in 09, did the pipeline, got selected to be an instructor instead of going to a boat. I ended up getting picked up STA-21. If you have any questions about the process feel free to ask.

[Marc622]

Sorry about any typos, typed this on my phone. Pretty sure i used you're where I meant your in one spot

[SloGlo]

Sorry about any typos, typed this on my phone. Pretty sure i used you're where I meant your in one spot

aye, four won, under stand. tote ally. 😉

[HeavyD]

Being a naval officer means you are responsible for managing the performance of your division, along with your Chief. They are LEADERS. If commissioned through STA-21, your first tour will be two years aboard a cruiser/destroyer to learn how to manage a division and drive a ship. then, NNPS and prototype, then your first carrier (most likely, though there are a few sub billets for female officers now). You'll be in charge of a division, again. How you present yourself, your interaction with enlisted personnel who have far more experience than you and are paid far less than you, will go a long way to determining your success. It kinda reminds me of the civilian world.

Why do you want to be an officer? If the answer is "more money" or anything related to that, you're going to struggle, because the Navy expects its officers to lead. You are responsible for whatever happens under your watch. If you don't buy into that, do a Google search for the OOD on the USS FITZGERALD and what happened to her recently. She failed at leading her bridge crew and people died. Why do I keep mentioning things that aren't related to being a nuke? As a Unrestricted Line Officer (URL), you'll spend more of your 20 year career in non-nuke billets than you will in nuke billets. Again, because that is what the Navy expects out of its officers.

Lastly, if you cannot accept criticism and learn from it, then the Navy nuclear program is going to be a miserable place for you.

Hopefully you'll be able to see what the posters here are trying to communicate to you and you'll be able to use it to your betterment.

Good luck. 

[MMM]

I think the first question is, do you want to be an officer or do you want to get a degree? If you want to be an officer, enlisting with the expectation that you'll be selected for an officer program is a great way to disappointment. If you want to earn a degree without shelling out the money, enlisting is a great, although somewhat lengthy, way to do it. As enlisted, expect to be able to take 2 classes per semester, max, after you complete the pipeline, so you're looking at 5-6 years depending on your degree plan, accepted transfer credits, etc. Of course there are several other officer programs available once you have a degree, and staff officers can be commissioned as late as 35.

The second question is, what to want to earn a degree in? There are a couple schools (Excelsior and TESC) that accept a lot of transfer credits for their Nuclear Engineering Technology degrees (both are now ABET accredited). Most other schools will only accept a handful of credits, if that. With the rise of online schools, unless you end up on a sub, you have the technology to go to school at sea, as long as it doesn't interfere with your actual job.

[GLW]

I won't lie, the title of this post alone baited me in and after reading the initial post I.....

Nice post, good post, but I have a question,....

You've been in the USN for the past 10 calendar years,....

have you yet been posted to a billet on an actual submarine (or target) and filled it?

have you got even 100 days at sea on nuclear power yet?!?!?!?

I'm just asking,...

[spekkio]

It sounds like you're enlisting for all the wrong reasons, most of them fueled by recruiting sales pitches. You are in for a rude awakening and a lot of disappointment if you don't get picked up for STA-21.

Roll the dice as you see fit.

To be quite frank... A reminder to those who have had an easy upbringing- not everyone is lucky enough to grow up in economically stable households and have the same opportunities...

To be quite frank, you're a pretentious idiot. There are a ton of ways to earn money for college for people strapped with cash. Additionally, if you wanted to become an officer in exchange for money for college, there are NROTC scholarships, USNA, and NUPOC.

Your inability to earn a college degree by now has nothing to do with your economic status, and everything to do with your lack of resourcefulness and willingness to work for it.

[hamsamich]

Anybody who uses the term "to be quite frank" is suspect.  Yeah you!  Just keep your ear to the grindstone and everything will be ok.....

[TVA]

Pretty much she has pointed the finger to others throughout her posts

[The Point]

pekopsha:

              Seems like you've taken some pretty heavy fire from the Nuke world! Do not be discouraged. You're 22 year oldness is showing through! Most of the folks here, including me, have kids 20 years older than you. You are not even close to understanding what you are asking. For what it's worth, I was an enlisted Nuke. My family could not afford to send me to collage, nor was I really interested in doing so at the time. I thought that a commission meant something more than what the reality is until I experienced real life in the the Navy. A commission is good for a career Navy person, but not worth much if you plan on getting an education, nuke experience, some wisdom, then going out into what is left of the Nuke industry (it's still there, but getting thin). There is only a marginal difference in pay between enlisted and officer and it evens out quickly once in the civilian world. As an example, I was enlisted, but I'm in Nuclear Management now, without a degree and without having a commission. In fact in the civilian world, ability and drive are worth far more than what your status in the Navy was or even if you have a degree (although I urge you to get the degree). I have people that work for me that were Naval Officers, including one that was on a ship with me as an LT. Being an officer, or having a self image of "too good to be an Enlisted" does not mean you are or have leadership ability. I worker for good officers and really bad officers, same as civilian life. My experience was that I got an education, got experienced, got out and then was able to really get a career. I made far more in civilian work than the Junior officers did in the Navy. So ask yourself what you really want, a high paying civilian job or a career in the Navy. I believe others told you, maybe not as gently as you have wished, what the best advice really is: Get in the navy, see if you can survive Nuke School, then see how you perform at sea. Your path is enlisted, see if you can cut it, decide if it's a career and if not, get ready to get out. A little gentle advice, you're 22. You have a lot of growing up to do, you just don't know it.