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LDO and CWO Mission The Limited Duty Officer and Chief Warrant Officer Community support the war-fighting capability and readiness of Naval Forces through leadership, technical proficiency, and experience. They are the primary manpower source for technically specific billets not best suited for traditional Unrestricted Line, Restricted Line or Staff Corps career path Officers. Using critical enlisted experience, we are committed to the continuous leadership, improvement, training and mentoring of Sailors. This page supports SELRES LDO and CWO only. TAR Sailors interested in becoming LDOs or CWOs may only apply via the Active Duty LDO/CWO ISPB. Details are located in OPNAVINST 1420.2. See the Active OCM LDO/CWO Applicant page for the current Active ISPB NAVADMIN and more info. Enlisted Reserve Sailors are ONLY eligible for the Reserve LDO/CWO In-Service Procurement Board, and may NOT apply for the Active Duty LDO/CWO In-Service Procurement Board, regardless if they are on MOB/Recall/CANREC, etc. If you have questions regarding the SELRES Limited Duty Officer / Warrant Officer (LDO/CWO) programs, please contact the Reserve LDO/CWO Officer Community Manager. For more information about a designator and/or to get an LDO/CWO mentor, contact the designator POC via email by selecting the desired designator below. Within the RC LDO/CWO community, the below designators are open for assignment. LDO
SUBMARINE ENGINEERING/REPAIR (6235) SUBMARINE ORDNANCE (6265) SUBMARINE ELECTRONICS (6285) SUBMARINE COMMUNICATIONS (6295) AVIATION MAINTENANCE (6335) ADMINISTRATION (6415) SECURITY (6495) CIVIL ENGINEER (6535)
SURFACE BOATSWAIN (7118) SURFACE OPERATIONS TECHNICIAN (7128) SURFACE ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN (7138) SPECIAL WARFARE TECH (7158) SPECIAL WARFARE COMBATANT CRAFT-CREWMAN (7178) SURFACE ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN (7188) CRYPTO WARFARE (7818) INFORMATION SYSTEMS TECH (7828) INTELLIGENCE TECH (7838) *************************GUIDANCE FOR FY27 SELECTS************************ Congratulations to the 14 FY27 LDO Selects and 23 FY27 CWO Selects!!! Those not selected are highly encouraged to seek out an LDO/CWO mentor using the link below for advice on ways to grow professionally and improve opportunity for future selection. - All LDO Selects in a DSC 200 (drill status) will commission on 1 Oct 2026. - All CWO Selects in a DSC 200 (drill status) will commission on 1 Nov 2026. ****Commissionings are not authorized to be delayed, unless on MOB orders. Sailors should decline acceptance of commissioning if unwilling to commission on 1 Oct (for LDOs) or 1 Nov (for CWOs)**** - If Selectees will be in an AC status (on ADOS, Recall, IA, terminal leave, etc.) on 1 Oct (for LDOs) or 1 Nov (for CWOs), they will need to inform PERS-92 at soonest via pers-92-admin@us.navy.mil. *** Sailors are not able to commission until after returning to a drill status (within 45 days), but NLT 30 Sep 2027 (with approval from BUPERS-315) *** Required Submission Items to PERS-92: ***Oaths will not be requested until all of the following documents have been received. Allow for 4-9 weeks of processing time once you have submitted all of the required forms. Each form must be completed properly and within the correct timeframe to ensure that you receive your commissioning documents without delaying your actual commission. 1. Commissioning Physical (DD 2807-1 & DD 2808) In accordance with the NAVADMIN, commissioning physical must be completed within 90 days preceding the appointment month of October 1 (LDO) or November 1 (CWO). - If outside this window, a new physical will need to be completed either by a civilian or Navy physician. - If you have it completed by a civilian physician, your local Navy Reserve Center MDR must sign below the physician’s signature on your forms. The forms will need to be submitted with your package. 2. Official Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) is REQUIRED IAW the NAVADMIN within 180 days of commissioning date. -The BCA must be done within 30 days of your commissioning date. 3. Ready Reserve Agreement NAVPERS 1200/1 (Rev 06/12). You are required to fill out blocks 1-12 with your commissioning information (pay grade, designator, RUIC, RBSC). -Block 4 – Commissioned Paygrade -Block 5 – Commissioned Designator -Block 10: RUIC: Your current RUIC; RBSC: IAP; Name of Unit: Current Unit; Mark DP for Drill Pay -Blocks 13-17 will be filled out by NAVPERSCOM. ****This form CANNOT be digitally signed, and must be dated 1 Oct for LDOs and 1 Nov for CWOs.**** Once you have completed each of the required items within their respective timeframes, email the entire completed packet as one attachment to YN1 Siareil Turner and YN1 Armani via the below email addresses. siareil.c.turner.mil@us.navy.mil robert.d.armani.mil@us.navy.mil usn.mid-south.chnavpersmiltn.mbx.pers-92-admin@us.navy.mil General Guidance for FY27 Selectees: Frocking is prohibited. COMNAVPERSCOM (PERS 806) will deliver appointments to Reserve Support (PERS-92) approximately 60 days prior to the commissioning date. If Declining a Commission (unwilling to commission on 1 Oct/1 Nov 2026 other than on MOB orders). Notify PERS 92 via official correspondence not later than 10 days following release of this message of selectees who do not accept appointment. Selectees who decline their commission within this 10 day period will be considered by the FY 27 Reserve Enlisted Selection Boards. After the 10 day period, PERS 92 will invalidate all FY 27 Reserve LDO and CWO In Service Procurement Selection Board selectees eligibility for the FY 27 Reserve Enlisted Selection Boards. Commissioning Physical. LDO and CWO selectees must obtain a commissioning physical within 90 days preceding the appointment month. Notify PERS-92 upon completion. PFA within 4 months of commissioning. Conduct official physical fitness assessment (PFA) within 4 months of commissioning date. Selectees must hand carry test results to Officer Indoctrination School, Newport, RI. If selectee fails to achieve satisfactory medium, notify PERS-92. Commissioning will be held in abeyance until successful completion of PFA. Enlistments. If an LDO or CWO selectee's enlistment (including any extensions) expires after the date of appointment, they are not reenlistment eligible unless appointment is declined. NSIPS Action. NRAs will process the conversion from enlisted to officer status for LDOs and CWOs after the oath has been signed. Keep Contact Info current. Each selectee should contact PERS-92 for submission requirements with regard to personal information and address changes to facilitate appointment delivery. Points of Contact. PERS-92 point of contact for LDO/CWO In service Procurement Board, issues/questions is pers-92-admin@us.navy.mil. *************************DIRECTIONS FOR FY28 APPLICANTS************************ *** The FY-28 Reserve ISPB NAVADMIN is expected mid-April 2026. Candidates seeking information about the In-Service Procurement Board (ISPB) scheduled in January of 2027, look no further than the FY27 RC LDO/CWO Recruiting Brief. For any changes to the brief, contact the Reserve LDO/CWO Recruiting Lead. *** RESERVE LDO/CWO APPLICATION DEADLINE IS 1 OCTOBER for the FY28 Reserve In-Service Procurement Board Encrypted emailed applications must be received no later than 1 October in the year you are applying. Routine addendums to applications, including evaluations and awards, must be received no later than 15 December in that same year. ***FY-28 ISPB CHANGES*** Appraisal Boards -Reserve LDO/CWO Appraiser only (no exceptions, even if on AC orders). -Increased requirement for CWO3 to have 3 years TIG, at the time of interview. -Senior Appraisal Board Member must be a LCDR or CWO from each of the designators you are applying for. Annual Statement of Service History (ASOSH) must be included as enclosure (3). -The ASOSH serves as the official record for TQS determination and projections for eligibility. The primary source to review ASOSH is to log into Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System (NSIPS) to view the Naval Enlisted/Officer Participation System (NEOPS). -ASOSH calculation must be included in Cos endorsement ***FY-28 ISPB Guidance*** IN-SERVICE PROCUREMENT BOARD LDOs and CWOs are selected for appointment by In-Service Procurement Selection Boards. A new board is convened each fiscal year, usually in January, for approximately three weeks. The results are normally released to the fleet via NAVADMIN message in February. LDO Selectees are commissioned 1 October of the FY selected. CWO Selectees are commissioned 1 November of the FY selected. Details are included in the message. In addition to senior LDOs, board membership includes officers of the line and various staff corps to allow the senior member of the board to establish internal panels with a good knowledge of the requirements of each occupational specialty. Each member of the board is sworn to select the best qualified candidates without prejudice or partiality. In-service boards consider applicants for appointment in the designator (s) they have requested. If a candidate requests consideration in more than one designator (the maximum that can be requested is two), the board recommends the individual for appointment only in the designator for which he or she is considered best qualified. The board recommends candidates for appointment in numbers not to exceed the quotas furnished by the Chief of Naval Personnel. However, the board is not obligated to select to the numbers provided if, in its opinion, sufficient numbers of applicants are not qualified for appointment in a particular designator. ELIGIBILITY - GETTING STARTED Again, you must read and be familiar with the OPNAVIST 1120.12 and the annual NAVADMIN. Go over it carefully before starting your application, making note of sections applicable to you as an individual candidate. NOTE: OPNAVINST 1420.1B Chapter 7 is no longer applicable Review the annual NAVADMIN message, which identifies this year's specific requirements. Check your Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) and ASOSH for completeness. Look for missing/misfiled evaluations, qualifications, awards, etc. Make corrections as soon as possible. First Class Petty Officers who wish to apply for LDO must have taken the CPO exam in February of the year the application is due to NPC and be selection board eligible. The current year exam "profile sheet" must accompany the application. All inquiries concerning the application, including verification of its receipt, should be directed to PERS-92. APPLICATION SUBMISSION Preferred method of submission of applications and addendums are outlined in the annual NAVADMIN. DoD SAFE and ESSBD via BOL are NOT supported or authorized to submit Applications or Addendums. GENERAL ELIGIBILITY To be eligible to apply for the Navy Reserve LDO/CWO Program, and subsequent appointment as a LDO/CWO in the Navy Reserve, applicants must meet the requirements set forth:
a. Citizenship. U.S. citizenship is required and cannot be waived. b Education. Must be a high school graduate or possess an equivalency certificate. c. Security Clearance. Must possess a valid and within scope security clearance prior to commissioning (1 November). Applicants who do not have the appropriate clearance completed prior to commissioning will be held in abeyance. d. Character (1) Be of good moral character and of unquestioned loyalty to the United States as determined by interview and investigation. (2) Have no record of disciplinary action under Uniform Code of Military Justice, article 15: no courts martial or civilian felony conviction or conviction by a civil court for misdemeanors (except minor traffic violations) in the past three years as of 1 October of the year the application is made. For purposes of this subparagraph, driving under the influence (DUI) violations are considered major traffic violations. (3) Under the policy set out in current directives, must not be drug or alcohol dependent, presently abuse drugs or alcohol, show any indication of proclivity to continue to abuse in the service if any pre-service abuse of drugs or alcohol occurred, or have a record of any trafficking offenses. Any substantiated drug or alcohol abuse within the last three years as of 1 October of the year the application is made will result in disqualification. e. Assignments (1) Must be worldwide assignable. (2) Except as authorized under paragraph 4 of this instruction, be serving in a Ready Reserve drilling unit in a pay or non-pay status at the time of application and have served satisfactorily in such a unit for at least 1 year at the time application is made. Members who were serving under active duty Navy enlistments and enlist in the Ready Reserve with assignment to a drilling unit within 90 days following release from active duty need not complete the prescribed 1 year in the drilling unit. (3) Except as authorized under paragraph 12 of enclosure (2), continue serving in a Ready Reserve drilling unit until appointment tendered. f. Physical and Medical Readiness (1) Meet requisite physical standards for appointment as CWO per reference (b). Selectees who fail to meet the minimum physical standards for appointment may be appointed upon recommendation of the Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) and waiver of the standard(s) by COMNAVPERSCOM, acting for CHNAVPERS. (2) Meet physical fitness standards as prescribed in reference (c). g. Total Qualifying Service (TQS) Projection. TIS/TQS waivers will be considered on a case-by-case basis by BUPERS-315, as addressed in the annual NAVADMIN. (1) LDO (E6-E9) applicants must have completed at least 8, but no more than 18, years of qualifying service as of 1 October of the fiscal year for which the application is submitted. (2) CWO2 (E7 and E8) applicants must have completed at least 14, but no more than 20 years of qualifying service as of 1 October of the fiscal year for which the application is submitted. (3) CWO3 (E9) applicants must have completed at least 14, but no more than 20 years of qualifying service as of 1 October of the fiscal year for which the application is submitted. h. Be recommended for appointment by the CO/OIC. (1) The CO’s endorsement must contain the following statement: “Applicant meets all requirements outlined in OPNAVINST 1120.12B, NAVADMIN XXX/XX (use the annual Reserve LDO/CWO ISPB NAVADMIN), and the physical fitness standards of OPNAVINST 6110.L.” (2) The endorsement must clearly identify the members of the interview panel and must be signed by the CO or OIC and include their command point of contact information. A CO or OIC ranking is no longer required. i. Obliserve. Must be able to serve at least 3 years of service and complete 20 years of qualifying service prior to age 60. j. Favorably recommended by their commanding officer. Maintain Eligibility. Applicants must maintain eligibility throughout the selection and commissioning process. Applicants who are deemed ineligible after applying must be declared ineligible by their current CO, field commander (if on a mobilization) or parent command CO. DESIGNATOR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS (1) All applicants applying to the 7158 designator must hold NEC O26A or O23A. No exceptions will be considered. (2) All applicants applying to the 7178 designator must hold NEC O52A. No exceptions will be considered. (3) Applicants applying for the 7818 designator are limited to CTT, CTR, CTM and CTI ratings. No exceptions will be considered. (4) Applicants applying for the 7828 designator are limited to IT, ET, and CWT ratings. No exceptions will be considered. PROJECTED TOTAL QUALIFYING SERVICE ELIGIBILITY (Total Qualifying Service NOT to include IRR Service) Total qualifying service (TQS) projection Eligibility is calculated as of 1 October for the fiscal year you are applying (ie...if applying for FY27, then 1 October 2027 is the year for which you are applying). TIS Waivers will only be considered in accordance with annual NAVADMIN. Total Qualifying Service Waiver Windows LDO: 14.1 - 20.0 TQS CWO2 (E7/8): 12.0 - 13.9, 20.1 - 22.0 TQS CWO3 (E9): 20.1 - 25.0 TQS (No further exceptions will be entertained) For Reserve TIS Waivers use the Reserve Time in Service (TIS) Waiver Template on the bottom of this page. RESERVE LDO/CWO APPLICATION PROCESS Utilize the Application Template located at the bottom of this page. Under Current Guidance on the right side of this page, read OPNAVINST 1120.12 and annual NAVADMIN. Go over them carefully during your application process, making note of sections applicable to you as an individual candidate. These are your source documents for submitting an application. Only language or policy promulgated by the annual NAVADMIN message for the current application cycle will override what is written in the OPNAV instructions. The application is your resume to the board demonstrating your potential for selection as a Naval Officer. The format is standardized as selection board members must sort through hundreds of them, and it is easier if they are all alike. Think of your package as one of many applications for the same great job -- you have to beat out the competition. You won't get extra points for excess. Do not include information that is already in your service record unless required by the OPNAVIST 1120.12 or the annual NAVADMIN. However, you may include (but not required) your civilian resume as an enclosure in your package. There are no "required" or "right" correspondence courses. A good blend of technical/non-technical courses will help, especially if done over a number of years and not just since you decided to apply. Consider taking enlisted rating courses of the other source ratings that are also in the normal path of advancement for the designator for which you are applying. Candidates may submit commendatory correspondence after submission of the application until 15 December of the year in which the board is scheduled to convene. Seek out a Mustang mentor who you can consult with. An LDO or CWO in your desired designator can assist and ensure your application is ready for submission. Listen to what they say -- they have been there. Make sure your Command Coordinator is part of any dialogue when you have discussions that pertain to your package or questions you might have about the application process. Community Point of Contacts can be emailed using the designator links at the top of this page. THE INTERVIEW BOARD The interview board helps the Commanding Officer (CO) evaluate the candidate's potential as a career officer. The CO's recommendation should be consistent with the board's comments or an explanation should be provided. The annual NAVADMIN is very specific in addressing the board's purpose and composition. Designator and rank of the interviewer must be entered in the lower right hand block of the NEW LDO/CWO Interviewer's Appraisal Sheet (NAVPERS 1420/6). Interviewers need to read and follow the information outlined on the NEW LDO/CWO Interviewer's Appraisal Sheet (NAVPERS 1420/6). The OCM encourages Appraisal Board members provide applicants with verbal feedback at the conclusion of the interview and provide the completed interview form to unit COs/OICs for routing. Interview appraisal boards shall be constructed of only three Reserve officers. LDO/CWO Appraiser only (no exceptions, even if on AC orders). The names of the approved appraisal board members must be included in the CO/OIC endorsement. **Every effort (including teleconference media) should be made to ensure the board members are from the LDO or CWO designator specialty category for which the applicant is applying. The senior member of the interview panel for LDO applicants must be a lieutenant commander or above in the community for which the applicant is applying (i.e. 6415 LCDR or above must chair the board for an applicant who is applying for the 6415 designator). If applying for two distinct LDO communities, the panel of three interviewers must contain at least two lieutenant commanders or above, one from each community for which the applicant is applying (i.e. 6415 LCDR or above and a 6495 LCDR or above for an applicant who is applying for 6415 and 6495). **Minimum grade requirements for board members are lieutenant or CWO3. CWO3 panel members must have at least 3 years time-in-grade. The interviewing board should, whenever possible, be comprised of officers who are not in the applicant's command, or at minimum, not directly in the chain of command. Appraisal board members must meet paygrade (not in a select status) eligibility at the time of interview. If it is not possible to assemble a panel of three officers, the interviews may be conducted separately. Exactly three interview appraisals are required for each applicant. **Interview appraisal board member preparation for applicant appraisal boards is an important part of the board process. Review of the application, review of discrete requirements for the applicant designator, having well thought out questions on technical expertise, leadership, and knowledge of the designator for which the candidate is applying, to include future career path if selected, are all great examples of board member preparation. **Each appraisal must contain the names of all three-panel members. **The CO of either SEAL Team 17 or 18 are required to endorse applicants for both the 715X and 717X designators. Interview appraisal board member preparation for applicant appraisal boards is an important part of the board process. Review of the application, review of discrete requirements for the applicant designator, having well thought out questions on technical expertise, leadership, and knowledge of the designator for which the candidate is applying, to include future career path if selected, are all great examples of board member preparation. CO's ENDORSEMENT The CO's Recommendation is critical. It must be specific as to why an applicant is better than his/her competition -- hard to do if not true. Weak praise may hurt the candidate. If the CO does not recommend a candidate for commissioning, the application should not be forwarded by the command. An applicant must be recommended by the CO to be eligible for consideration. If the applicant is applying for two designators, the CO's recommendation must address qualifications for both as outlined in the respective discrete requirements. If the candidate is not professionally competitive, he/she should be advised on ways to improve. Recommendation must be personally signed by the CO, not "By direction". The CO's recommendation verifies the accuracy of the applicant's statements, as well as all enclosures. CO's endorsement must contain specific statements that are outlined in the annual NAVADMIN. Applicants currently serving on mobilization orders may have their application endorsed by their field commander. All applications endorsed by field commanders must have concurrence of their parent command. *************************APPOINTMENT GUIDANCE************************ Appointment. - LDO appointment will occur on 1 October of the fiscal year of the selection, in the permanent grade of ensign (O-1E). - CWO appointment will occur on 1 November of the fiscal year of the selection. - Frocked Chief and Chief, frocked Senior Chief and Senior Chief, and frocked Master Chief selected for CWO will be commissioned as a CWO2. - Master Chiefs will be appointed in the permanent grade of CWO3 in the Navy Reserve under reference (a), section 12241. Master Chiefs will only be considered for CWO2, if not promoted to Master Chief at the time of initial application submission. Note: Officers who hold permanent appointments may not revert to enlisted status. Date of Rank. Each appointee will be assigned a date of rank in the grade to which appointed as prescribed by CHNAVPERS. No service credit for prior warrant or commissioned service will be awarded. LDO and CWO Academy. Selectees for LDO (Ensign) and CWO will be required to attend the Officer Training Command, Newport, RI, no later than the end of the FY of appointment and commission. For planning purposes, selectees should plan to attend in January or February of the appointment FY. Enlisted Advancement. For advancement in rating, enlisted members selected for permanent officer or warrant appointments to be executed on dates after the convening dates of E-7 and E-8 or E-9 selection boards are ineligible for further advancement by those boards unless formal, written declination is received by PERS-92 before the convening dates of the enlisted selection boards. Officer Accession Programs. Students enrolled in other officer accession programs are not eligible to apply for appointment under the LDO and CWO. If an applicant for the LDO and CWO program is selected for another officer accession program after the application is submitted, the individual must inform PERS-92 in writing. If selected for a commission under the LDO and CWO programs, individuals will not be eligible to apply to other commissioning programs unless a formal, written declination has been filed with PERS-92.
Current Guidance
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RC LDO/CWO Region Engagement Team REDCOM Great Lakes REDCOM Norfolk REDCOM Everett REDCOM Jacksonville REDCOM Fort Worth REDCOM San Diego