Adventures unmatched by your peers, ensuring the economic and physical well-being of the Nation.
This could be your future as a NOAA Corps officer.
Description
NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps
IT’S MORE THAN A DESK JOB! If you are a graduate of a four-year college or university and are interested in a career that includes service to your country, science, and adventure, you will find a unique opportunity in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps). The NOAA Corps is the uniformed component of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a Bureau of the Department of Commerce. This unique uniformed service consists of approximately 321 commissioned officers who work with NOAA’s civilian employees to ensure the economic and physical well-being of the Nation. NOAA Corps officers provide the dynamic leadership, technical and operational expertise, and breadth of background and experience to optimize NOAA’s missions. A typical officer's career is spent in a broad variety of assignments that rotate between sea duty and shore stations. NOAA Corps officers operate ships and small vessels, fly aircraft, lead mobile field parties, conduct diving operations, manage research projects, and serve in leadership positions throughout NOAA. Assignments are not necessarily related to an officer’s academic field, but each will contribute to the officer’s development as a technically competent leader. You could command a survey or research vessel, pilot fixed-wing aircraft on remote sensing missions, discover what lies beneath the seafloor, lead environmental assessments following national disasters, and be a key player in NOAA’s quest to provide the highest-quality environmental observations for the good of the Nation. The core values of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps are honor, respect, and commitment. As members of the Nation’s premier service for worldwide environmental observations, NOAA Corps officers serve their country with dedication and pride. COMPARABLE PAY AND BENEFITS The pay and benefits you'll receive as a NOAA Corps officer are nearly identical to those received in the military services, including salary, health-care coverage, and retirement. NOAA Corps officers have similar scheduled pay raises and regular promotions. They are also eligible for tax-free housing, term life insurance, and the Montgomery GI Bill. Throughout their career, NOAA Corps officers are provided with various training and leadership opportunities to develop the competencies necessary for continued advancement. DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES? To be considered for an appointment in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, you must: Selected candidates are appointed at the rank of Ensign and, after successful completion of the initial 4-5 month Basic Officer Training and A-School maritime technical training, are assigned to a NOAA survey or research vessel for 2-3 years. There is a 12-15 month obligatory service period following successful completion of A-School. APPLICATION DEADLINE The NOAA Corps is currently recruiting for its 117th Basic Officer Training Class (BOTC), tentatively scheduled to commence on August 2, 2010. To be considered for BOTC 117, a complete application package must be submitted to the NOAA Corps Officer Recruiting Branch and an interview conducted no later than April 16, 2010. To learn more, visit the NOAA Corps recruiting website (www.noaacorps.noaa.gov). If you would like to apply for the NOAA Corps, fill out a Personal Data Resume form, and mail or fax it to the NOAA Corps Officer Recruiting Branch. *If you are seeking a civilian shipboard position with NOAA, please visit our Vessel Employment Opportunities website.
