USNA Civil Engineering

I am hoping to seek an appointment for both the USNA and USMA. I am interested in being a military officer and within that I am interested in Engineering. I am currently a high school Junior and am interested in majoring in Civil Engineering.

Here are my questions:
What would military life be like specifically with regards to a Civil Engineering major? (this is not about military life in general-but specifically as it relates to Civil Engineering) How would my active duty time look differently with a major in civil engineering when comparing USNA and USMA?

Thank you in advance for any answers.

USNA does not have a civil engineering major. USNA's mission is to develop officers for the operating forces. Obviously there is a certain small percetage each year that go restricted line due to medical or other special qualifications. But this is the exception, not the norm. Being a pilot, Marine, SWO, sub officer would look pretty much about the same in ther fleet for any major. It would have an effect on shore tour billets/b-billets. Engineers fill alot of engineering and acquisition billets for the Navy and Marine Corps. Also the Navy also has Engineering Duty Officers, who come from the fleet and have their qualitifications then move on to specialize in engineering and acquisition fields. There is always the potential to commission or move to Seabees where civil engineers are needed. A direct commission out of the academy I think would extremely difficult (I think my class had 1). Not sure about West Point, but the Army Corps of Engineers is I think is an option?

Thanks Navyhoops

The Navy has Civil Eng. but you cant major in that-correct?

http://www.navy.com/careers/engineering-applied-science/civil-engineering.html

Thank you.

You can't select Civil Engineering Corps directly out of USNA unless you're not physically qualified for the unrestricted line.

Seabeas

I always found the physical disqualification part interesting, because if you do end up as a CEC officer, you could end up in a NMCB which puts you closer, if not on, the front line than most SWO's.

Craig said:

I always found the physical disqualification part interesting, because if you do end up as a CEC officer, you could end up in a NMCB which puts you closer, if not on, the front line than most SWO's.

Click to expand...

Physical disqualification doesn't necessarily mean "too broken to go URL," it's more stuff like colorblindness that precludes someone from being able to do SWO/subs/pilot/etc.

Actually the one guy from my class who became a civil engineer was not NPQ'd. He went through a lengthy interview process and was selected. Not saying that is the norm by any means, probably the once in a decade rare exception. There are other avenues to try and reach this goal though. There is the capability in services to "lat move" (that is the Marine term), not sure what the Navy calls it. I had many friends who were SWOs and are now HR, Network Warfare, Intel Officers, SEALs, pilots, doctors, etc. Not saying it is impossible, but definitely a different path that also results in starting back over in some regards. If that is your goal it never hurts to ask questions and meet folks in that career field. They can provide the best gouge on how to get to where you want to go.

Yeap and NPQ'd does not mean it keeps you farther from the front lines. You can still be a supply officer or intel officer on a sub or ship. Just as mentioned above, someone who is colorblind (I think this was the most common from my class, along with height and severe athletic injuries) can be be a supply officer, but maybe its best they are not in an engine room repairing things, looking at wiring diagrams, or trying to figure out what color light that is. If someone is so physically unqualified that they cannot perform the functions of restricted line officers they will not be commissioned. I think my class had somewhere around 5 or so who were not commissioned for various things... diabetes (diagnosed while they were Mids), Chrones disease (diagnosed while they were Mids), and a few others I can't remember.