Does a DEO help you progress faster ?

[Zero to One]

Hi, I would like to enlist to become a Naval Warfare Officer and from what I understand with the DEO you start as an Acting Sub-Lieutenant after basic military training. Does that mean that at the end of the nine-year contract, you will potentially have a higher rank than those who enlisted with the ROTP, for example ? Because I imagine that in general, you finish the nine years as a Lieutenant, but with the DEO, is it easier to finish as a Lieutenant Commander ?

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[ModlrMike]

You can typically only DEO if you have the appropriate credentials for the occupation, ie: nursing degree = DEO nurse. Alternatively, officers who are re-enrolling in the same trade they left would enter as DEO. DEO officers are already qualified in their occupation, and do not require basic occupational training in order to work in their trade. NWO would not qualify (except in the case of re-enrolling). To answer the question you asked, being a DEO does not necessarily mean that at the end of your initial engagement, you would have obtained a higher rank than someone enrolled under a different plan. The results of one's career progression are highly variable and individualized, and what happens for one, does not necessarily happen for another. With a nine year engagement, virtually every officer will finish at the rank equivalent to army captain - unless they're a right bag of hammers.

 

[Staff Weenie]

I would also add that jumping up through the ranks quickly might be good for your bank account, but is bad for your subordinates. Their ability to succeed in their role depends in large upon your ability as a leader to set all the right conditions. In some cases, their lives may depend upon your knowledge, skill, and experience - especially in the RCN, where mistakes in operations can lead to mass casualty or fatalities. Never forget that fact. Take the time, learn your role, be the best leader you can be.

 

[Navy_Pete]

Hi, I would like to enlist to become a Naval Warfare Officer and from what I understand with the DEO you start as an Acting Sub-Lieutenant after basic military training. Does that mean that at the end of the nine-year contract, you will potentially have a higher rank than those who enlisted with the ROTP, for example ? Because I imagine that in general, you finish the nine years as a Lieutenant, but with the DEO, is it easier to finish as a Lieutenant Commander ?

Thank you in advance for your help.

If you are comparing it to ROTP, you'll be further down the NWO career path, because 4 of their years on contract is at university, which you would have already completed. They'll probably have knocked off NETPO and some other OJT during summer breaks in those 4 years, but you'll be through all that within your first year (including basic training).

Other than that, career progression is about the same, in terms of how long it takes to get through the training and boards to get operational funcitonal point (OFP), which is where you get you Lt(N) rank. After that, NWOs need to do a fair bit more training and postings, as well as usually get things like Command Qualification before they get into the LCdr range, and no one is doing that in 9 years in either stream.

The difference with DEO is you don't have mandatory service period to repay your university time (2 months for every month of school) so if you decide it's not for you you don't have to repay the cost of tuition and the salary you were paid during the school semesters (prorated based on time served over total time for payback). Plus you'd typically be a functional adult that has had to pay bills and be semi responsible (soft shot at RMC grads).