National Ocean Service (NOS)

About National Ocean Service (NOS)

Do you crave adventure? Does protecting our planet ignite your passion? Do you dream of contributing to scientific research while serving your country? Discover a career beyond the horizon in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. As a NOAA Corps officer, you will thrive in an environment that values innovation, teamwork, and service. NOAA Corps is one of the nation’s eight uniformed services and an integral part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA Corps officers chart missions at sea and in the air to lead dynamic project teams and respond to today’s environmental challenges, including hurricanes and oil spills. With NOAA Corps, you will gain world-class operations experience and engage in groundbreaking scientific research in the United States and beyond to preserve the health of our oceans, atmosphere, and climate. NOAA Corps officers support nearly all of NOAA’s programs and missions—from climate to coasts, sanctuaries to satellites. Every NOAA Corps mission addresses the climate crisis and other environmental challenges through mitigation, adaptation, and resilience efforts. As a NOAA Corps officer, you will develop strong leadership and technical skills through specialized training programs and thrive in an environment that values teamwork and collaboration. Train to operate research vessels and aircraft, pilot uncrewed systems, complete underwater dives and hydrography missions, and more—all aligned with your career goals. NOAA Corps also offers a top-flight benefits package, such as retirement with pension after 20 years of active-duty service, including time served in the U.S. Armed Services; comprehensive medical and dental coverage; housing subsidies; Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits; and unmatched professional development opportunities, including obtaining a pilot’s license, earning diving certification, and accessing the GI Bill Education Benefit Program.