Navy Special Warfare and Explosive Ordinance Disposal Programs

NAVY SPECIAL WARFARE AND EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL PROGRAMS The Navy special warfare community includes enlisted personnel qualified for assigned secondary NECs 5321, 5322, 5326, 5327, 5332, and 5333. Additionally, these personnel carry the enlisted designator DV (qualified as a diver) or PJ (qualified as a parachutist) or both. Once qualified, personnel may be assigned to special warfare operations as underwater demolition/sea-air-land (UDT/SEAL) team operators or to explosive ordnance disposal operations as explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians. Personnel who request this type of duty must meet the qualifications listed in the TRANSMAN, chapter 9. Personnel who successfully complete training may receive specialty pay and assignment to an appropriate billet. CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER AND LIMITED DUTY OFFICER PROGRAMS The opportunity for receiving a commission as an officer in the Navy has never been better than it is today. Two of the most popular programs leading to a commission, the Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Program and Limited Duty Officer (LDO) Program, are presented in the following paragraphs. The Navy has a continuing need for CWOs to serve as officer technical specialists and LDOs to serve as officer technical managers. The LDO and CWO Programs are the primary enlisted-to-officer Navy sponsored programs that do not require a college education. Competition for entrance into either of the programs has been, and will continue to be, particularly keen. If you are interested in applying for these programs, you should begin preparing early in your career. To better prepare to become an officer, you should increase your knowledge by on-the-job training and specialized training through schools and correspondence courses. Chief Warrant Officer Program The Chief Warrant Officer Program provides a direct path of advancement to CWO for outstanding enlisted personnel who have reached the paygrade of E-7 or above. To be eligible for appointment, applicants must meet the following requirements: � Be a U.S. citizen � Be serving on active duty as a CPO, SCPO, or MCPO in the regular Navy, Naval Reserve, or Training and Administration of Reserves (TAR) Program at the time of application � Be physically qualified for appointment as a warrant officer � Be a high school graduate or possess the service-accepted equivalent � Have no record of conviction by court-martial or of conviction by civil court for any offenses other than minor traffic violations for 2 years preceding the date of 16 January of the year of application � Be recommended by the commanding officer � Must have completed at least 12 years, but not more than 24 years, of active service on 16 January of the year in which application is made BUPERSINST 1131.1 spells out the application procedures for active and inactive duty personnel for the Chief Warrant Officer Program. Limited Duty Officer Program The LDO Program provides a path of advancement for PO1 through SCPO and CWO to commissioning as a temporary ensign or lieutenant junior grade (as applicable) in the regular Navy or Naval Reserve. The applicant must meet the following eligibility requirements to apply for the LDO Program: � Be a U.S. citizen � Be serving on active duty in the regular Navy, Naval Reserve, or TAR Program at the time of application. If selected, personnel must remain on active duty until appointment is tendered � Be physically qualified for appointment to LDO � Be a high school graduate or possess the service-accepted equivalent � Have no record of conviction by court-martial or of conviction by civil court for any offense other than minor traffic violations for 2 years preceding 16 January of the year in which application is made � Be recommended by the commanding officer � Be serving as a petty officer first class or CPO/SCPO on 16 January of the year in which application is made. If a PO1, the applicant must have served in that capacity for at least 1 year as of 16 January of the year in which application is made 4-4