Officer Planner

Once you become an Officer

Once you become an Officer in the Navy, there are many opportunities for personal and professional development and advancement throughout your career.

The key factors in being selected for a higher rank will depend on varied and progressively complex job assignments.

Below is step-by-step overview of possible duty assignments for each rank:

As a young Ensign or Lieutenant (junior grade), you might be responsible for a division of Sailors along with your duties in your particular occupational specialty (e.g. surface warfare, intelligence, information warfare, etc.). By the time you are a full Lieutenant, you may be preparing for a job as a department head or equivalent assignment. Department heads may have multiple divisions (and division Officers) under their authority.

As a Senior Lieutenant Commander or Commander, Unrestricted Line Officers* should be striving for selection as a Commanding Officer of a ship or shore station. Senior Commanders and Captains are generally assigned to a post-command position on an Admiral’s staff, pending selection for further command or even promotion to flag (Admiral’s) rank.

Education and training

Officers selected for higher rank have usually striven to earn advanced degrees and have taken advantage of the extensive technical training offered by the Navy.

Whether working towards a master’s degree in their off duty time with the aid of Navy Tuition Assistance or attending graduate school full time under the Navy’s sponsorship, these Officers are preparing themselves for advanced rank and the challenges of the future.

Besides Navy-funded graduate school, selected Officers may also attend the Naval War College or an equivalent school in one of the other services, possibly attaining the coveted Joint Service Designator.

* Unrestricted Line Officers are those who are eligible for command of ships, submarines, aircraft squadrons, fleets, and shore bases such as naval bases and naval air stations.