Navy CEC program

Akrogan

5-Year Member
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So I have received a Type 7 AFROTC scholarship, but have not contracted yet (I start in fall).

My major is civil engineering, and that is what I want to do in the Air Force...

However, I recently came across the Navy Civil Engineering Collegiate (CEC) program, which pays for school, housing, etc, as long as you serve in the CEC corps afterwards; it isn't tied to NROTC either.

Does anybody on here know about this program? It seems great, and I really have no preference of branch, as long as I'm serving as an officer...

Any input would be helpful, never heard of this program, and it looks great!
 
I think this is the program ERAUs DS is going to do. He was not selected for AFROTC SFT, and heard of something like this program through a Navy rep.
 
Civil Engineer Collegiate Program (CECP)

If you are interested in pursuing important civil engineering projects around the world right out of school, look into the Civil Engineer Collegiate Program. It offers up to $113,100 while finishing your degree, providing a regular monthly income ranging from $2,575 to $4,700 for up to two years prior to your graduation. That includes a generous military salary, a food allowance, plus a housing allowance that is based upon the location of the school you attend. You’ll also enjoy comprehensive military health-care benefits – with no uniforms, no drilling requirements and no service obligation until you graduate.
From there, you’ll begin the process of being commissioned as a Navy Civil Engineer Corps Officer and take on unrivaled professional responsibilities. Learn more about Civil Engineering career opportunities in the Navy.

Google-foo!
 
Civil Engineer Collegiate Program (CECP)

If you are interested in pursuing important civil engineering projects around the world right out of school, look into the Civil Engineer Collegiate Program. It offers up to $113,100 while finishing your degree, providing a regular monthly income ranging from $2,575 to $4,700 for up to two years prior to your graduation. That includes a generous military salary, a food allowance, plus a housing allowance that is based upon the location of the school you attend. You’ll also enjoy comprehensive military health-care benefits – with no uniforms, no drilling requirements and no service obligation until you graduate.
From there, you’ll begin the process of being commissioned as a Navy Civil Engineer Corps Officer and take on unrivaled professional responsibilities. Learn more about Civil Engineering career opportunities in the Navy.

Google-foo!
Dear SubSquid - thanks for this post! I know it’s an old post but I was looking for more 411 related to CECP & came across it...DS is considering it as an option if USNA or NROTC doesn’t come through - DS is class of 2025 so is in wait mode right now (he does have a Senator nom so is still in the running for USNA). We read that students contact a recruiter for CECP. We were just wondering when so that DS could use all 24 months of the benefit. He has a desire to serve & is also drawn to a guaranteed job right out of college. But he doesn’t want a ton of college debt. He has been accepted to Purdue & is waiting on U of I. Both great Engineering programs but pricey.... But... the CECP is another option to serve & if he/we had to only pay for 2 yrs of say Purdue it would be worth exploring. We just have no idea when to start this process - after he gets the hard “no’s” from USNA & NROTC 🤷🏻‍♀️.... Thank you for any help you can provide! Just trying to make sure we explore all of the options 😊..... he will most likely major in ME but at Purdue you don’t declare as Freshmen & at UofI he selected the 1st yr ENG program so ME is not set in stone....
 
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@Boymomof3 The post you reference is about 7 years old. SubSquid left the building 4 years ago. I expect you'll need to research this on your own, if it still exists.
 
Dear SubSquid - thanks for this post! I know it’s an old post but I was looking for more 411 related to CECP & came across it...DS is considering it as an option if USNA or NROTC doesn’t come through - DS is class of 2025 so is in wait mode right now (he does have a Senator nom so is still in the running for USNA). We read that students contact a recruiter for CECP. We were just wondering when so that DS could use all 24 months of the benefit. He has a desire to serve & is also drawn to a guaranteed job right out of college. But he doesn’t want a ton of college debt. He has been accepted to Purdue & is waiting on U of I. Both great Engineering programs but pricey.... But... the CECP is another option to serve & if he/we had to only pay for 2 yrs of say Purdue it would be worth exploring. We just have no idea when to start this process - after he gets the hard “no’s” from USNA & NROTC 🤷🏻‍♀️.... Thank you for any help you can provide! Just trying to make sure we explore all of the options 😊..... he will most likely major in ME but at Purdue you don’t declare as Freshmen & at UofI he selected the 1st yr ENG program so ME is not set in stone....
Ditto @kinnem ’s post.


CEC is not a path out of NROTC or USNA. You might find anecdotal evidence a USNA mid went that path, but it is most likely they were found physically DQ for most warfare specialties during their junior year physicals, and CEC made room for them.

I recommend your son review the link above, every drop down menu item, and call the officer recruiter now, so he can make an informed decision after doing a comparative analysis. CEC officers have great career paths and have no trouble getting out of the Navy and finding a well-paying job, at any level.

All doors are open at this point. There is no reason he can’t get the facts on the CECP program now.

Has he explored Navy NUPOC? If he has any thought about nuclear engineering officer roles in the sub or surface Navy, that is also a great path. https://www.navy.com/careers/nuclear-officer
 
@Boymomof3 The post you reference is about 7 years old. SubSquid left the building 4 years ago. I expect you'll need to research this on your own, if it still exists.
Thanks! Wanted to make sure I was using the search function and helping myself prior to starting a new thread 😉. It was a long shot that this person was still around but had to start somewhere....
 
Navy.com links are from Navy Recruiting Command and are usually the “introductory version” to any Navy career.

Navy.mil links are Big Navy itself, usually with more jargon and detail.

Purdue usually has a good handful of NUPOC program students.
 
Ditto @kinnem ’s post.


CEC is not a path out of NROTC or USNA. You might find anecdotal evidence a USNA mid went that path, but it is most likely they were found physically DQ for most warfare specialties during their junior year physicals, and CEC made room for them.

I recommend your son review the link above, every drop down menu item, and call the officer recruiter now, so he can make an informed decision after doing a comparative analysis. CEC officers have great career paths and have no trouble getting out of the Navy and finding a well-paying job, at any level.

All doors are open at this point. There is no reason he can’t get the facts on the CECP program now.

Has he explored Navy NUPOC? If he has any thought about nuclear engineering officer roles in the sub or surface Navy, that is also a great path. https://www.navy.com/careers/nuclear-officer
Thank you! Yes, I understand CECP is not a path out of USNA or NROTC. Just making sure he researches all options as the drive to serve w/ an ENG degree is strong & an USNA/NROTC decision could still be a ways out. He’s got some extra time so let’s use it 😉. I agree - if you choose to leave CECP, civilian jobs would be easy to come by.

I’ll suggest he also look more into NUPOC. Initially he said no, but why not look into. Academically I think NUPOC would be a good fit.

I’ll also suggest he speak w/ an officer recruiter now.

Thank you!
 
Navy.com links are from Navy Recruiting Command and are usually the “introductory version” to any Navy career.

Navy.mil links are Big Navy itself, usually with more jargon and detail.

Purdue usually has a good handful of NUPOC program students.
Good to know about Purdue & NUPOC!
He did get to visit (weeks before COVID shutdown in last year) & he likes it.
 
Good to know about Purdue & NUPOC!
He did get to visit (weeks before COVID shutdown in last year) & he likes it.
NUPOC is another one, if he has any interest in going nuke on surface ships or subs, to call the recruiter and talk it through, so he can add it to his comparison list. It’s highly competitive, and top engineering schools are a plus. He also lives the life of a “normal” college student.
 
Another career path is SWO-EDO. The officer starts out as a Surface Warfare Officer, gets fully qualified, then goes to advanced engineering education and transitions to the Navy Engineering Duty Officer program. EDOs primarily work ashore in shipyard management program-project management (bringing new ships into service), ship repair and maintenance. Aviation Engineering Duty Officer too. EDO is what is called a Restricted Line community, working primarily in their technical field and eligible for command in that field, but not at sea and not other fields, unlike an Unrestricted Line Officer.




If he has not looked at this route, he should. He earns a SWO pin and an understanding of life at sea aboard a warship, then heads down the engineering path to focus his skills and passion. EDOs have a tight community, and again, do very well post-Navy.

SWO-EDO is available out of USNA, NROTC, OCS and other pre-comm sources. Highly competitive.
 
Another career path is SWO-EDO. The officer starts out as a Surface Warfare Officer, gets fully qualified, then goes to advanced engineering education and transitions to the Navy Engineering Duty Officer program. EDOs primarily work ashore in shipyard management program-project management (bringing new ships into service), ship repair and maintenance. Aviation Engineering Duty Officer too. EDO is what is called a Restricted Line community, working primarily in their technical field and eligible for command in that field, but not at sea and not other fields, unlike an Unrestricted Line Officer.




If he has not looked at this route, he should. He earns a SWO pin and an understanding of life at sea aboard a warship, then heads down the engineering path to focus his skills and passion. EDOs have a tight community, and again, do very well post-Navy.

SWO-EDO is available out of USNA, NROTC, OCS and other pre-comm sources. Highly competitive.
Very interesting - thank you! This is a first hearing about this one - good info! It’s like peeling back an onion w/ all of these different options 😉. I thought he had enough plans but I think maybe a few more could be added. Thank you!
 
@Capt MJ - one last question... is an Officer Recruiter a special type of recruiter? He does have a recruiter contact already - trying to talk him into enlisting 😉.... DS has communicated his plans: ENG degree first.....
 
@Capt MJ - one last question... is an Officer Recruiter a special type of recruiter? He does have a recruiter contact already - trying to talk him into enlisting 😉.... DS has communicated his plans: ENG degree first.....
Officer recruiter - yes, special group, usually work out of a regional hq. These are not the ones who are in the strip mall offices. They all have a job to do, and quotas to meet. Your son should be polite and firm and clear in setting boundaries.
 
Officer recruiter - yes, special group, usually work out of a regional hq. These are not the ones who are in the strip mall offices. They all have a job to do, and quotas to meet. Your son should be polite and firm and clear in setting boundaries.
Thank you! Yes, he is quite persistent 😉but they still have had good conversations - polite but firm!
 
Thank you! Yes, he is quite persistent 😉but they still have had good conversations - polite but firm!
Your son will probably hear, if not already, “going enlisted first will make you a better officer” and “there are all kinds of commissioning programs for enlisted, it’s easy.”

Yes, serving as enlisted first brings unique insights and appreciation, but the majority of officers from pre-comm programs do not go enlisted first. There is exposure to carefully chosen senior enlisted personnel at USNA, NROTC and OCS. When a junior officer hits the Fleet or Corps, the enlisted personnel are well-versed in “properly bringing up the new Ensign or 2LT.” If the new officer recognizes he or she has a lot to learn, appreciates and respects the deep experience and hands-on expertise of his or her enlisted team, and knows how to listen and learn with humility, they will do just fine.

Yes, there are several paths to a commission from enlisted status, but they can be narrow and winding, with the sailor very busy trying to get warfare qualified, learn their job, stand watches, etc. It’s not a guaranteed or easy path.
 
@Capt MJ - just have to say thank you very much for the info added to this thread. I planted the seed & DS has been thinking about it & researching it on his own . He just sent me this text. I think he’s fatigued with the continuation of adding different options/plans but the wheels are now spinning about the CEC & NUPOC programs 😊. It really meets all of his goals: serve his country, job out of college - that’s not sitting @ a desk, getting out of IL, real world experience going into the civilian work force, $ for college , etc.
 

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