What job/MOS should you have in the navy to become a captain of a ship in the navy?

Question

Like what degree would you get and what job should i get, naval aviator, surface warfare, etc...

Would getting accepted to the naval academy or merchant marine academy help?

It would really help if you can answer, thanks

Answer 1

I agree with the LCDR Seal below - the merchant marine might help you to become a non-combat ship - USNS ships but normally the Navy ring knockers (Army has em too) generally get to the "command" level.

But it is a great responsibility - if you think you're up for it...move forward shipmate. "Sir"

Answer 2

Many MOS's can be turned to your advantage and help you advance to the Rank of Captain.  All the education you can get will help get you off to the right start, and yes, getting into the United States Naval Academy will help.

Ring Knockers (they bang their ring hand on surfaces to let you know they wear the Academy ring), or graduates of Annapolis, often have an advantage over OCS graduates (90 day wonders). Officer candidate School is shorter and less comprehensive than the full War College program.

As far as specific MOS goes, there are several that help establish you as a solid Officer on a path to a command: Aviators routinely advance to higher ranks with greater responsibility, along with SEALs, Flight Officers and Flight Surgeons, but there are too numerous to list. There's no best MOS, the best one would be one that you are able to perform at the highest level possible and serve with distinction.

Any MOS can help you climb rank to become a Captain, and if you try hard enough you can succeed at anything you set out to do. Use the SEAL method and realize that you are capable of ten times what you think you are capable of. Think about running as an example; many people think they can't run a mile, but if they motivated themselves they could really muster a ten mile run.

If you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything you truly want.

Best of luck in becoming a Navy Skipper.

If you know you can do it, you can do it!!!

Answer 3

On the other hand, you could be enlisted in the Coast Guard.

Boatswain Mates can end up as Captains of their own ships - or have command of their own shore stations.  This is something that the Navy can't - and won't - offer.

Answer 4

Captains are 'line officers'. They were once Ensigns [O-1] and they worked their way up through the ranks of officers. O1 to O-2 to O-3, etc.

Graduating from USNA would help, though few of them actually are able to susuccessfully climb all of the way up to become captains. Anyone with a B.S. degree can become a Naval officer, you do not need to come from USNA.

To have an Engineering degree, Naval Archetectural, or Physics degree would be your best choices.

In my experience all line officers were Nuclear trained. So you need to consider getting into the Nuc power careerfield. But no civilian college teaches that, only the Navy teaches it.

Once you get your degree, then get accepted into the Nuc Power program, then after 20 years at sea working your way up through the ranks, you can be a captian.

Good luck

Answer 5

There's no specific job for it.  It's really up to you.  You'll want to pick a job that you'll enjoy, and do it to the best of your ability if you want to end up with your own command.  As for the academy, that won't really affect your chances at command.  If you do go to the academy, you'll be better prepared when you first get into the fleet, but any advantage you have will be wiped out by the time you've been in long enough for your own command.