U.S. Navy, Oceanography Officer; Reserve - via

U.S. Navy, Oceanography Officer (Reserve) – a field officer within the Navy Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) community. The role provides the Navy with critical weather, ocean, and hydrographic insight that supports operational planning, navigation, and national security.

• Guide ships, aircraft, and troops by providing detailed weather forecasts and ocean condition reports.
• Relay forecast updates and weather warnings to military and civilian authorities.
• Prepare ocean, sea, and waterway charts and maps for navigation, search‑and‑rescue, and other operational uses.
• Maintain the Navy’s primary master clock, the most precise time reference in the world that feeds GPS.
• Oversee the work of Aerographer’s Mates, enlisted sailors who monitor weather and produce forecast information.

Work Environment – METOC officers serve aboard aircraft carriers, amphibious ships, or at shore laboratories such as the Naval Observatory or Naval Research Laboratory. Officers often further their education at the Naval Postgraduate School and may pursue advanced degrees in meteorology, oceanography, or related fields.

Entry requires Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Newport, RI, followed by a 5‑week Basic Oceanography Accession Training (BOAT) in Gulfport, MS. Officers typically progress from an operational deployment on a ship to a Naval Oceanography tour, then to an education tour that includes formal schooling in a chosen discipline. Command, staff, and specialist roles on aircraft carriers and Strike Group staff are available as officers advance.

• U.S. citizen with a secret security clearance.
• Four‑year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in a technical field such as physics, oceanography, meteorology, hydrography, earth science, or engineering.
• Qualified for sea duty.
• Eligible for sea duty and the rigorous training schedule of a Navy Reserve officer.

Part‑time opportunities exist for Reserve Sailors. Reserve METOC officers drill one weekend a month and train for two weeks a year. For Reserve officers, training requirements include OCS, BOAT, and ongoing professional development.