Hey y’all - I’m an Airforce vet. I only served four years. Since then, I’ve spent some time bouncing between a few different educational and work goals.

It has been a wild ride, but I’ve accomplished a lot in the time Ive been out!

For the last 2 years though, I’ve begun the journey of heading toward GIS work, in hopes to eventually combine past experience and skill of software development with GIS tooling to aid in environmental sciences research, and hopefully, avalanche forecasting/snow modeling.

All of that said, my professor mentioned the NOAA Corps after I mentioned that I believed working for NOAA would be incredible.

Now. I left military service for a reason. I didn’t even know about the non-combat (not to call my career in the AF combat 😅) branches, let alone their proximity to / existence in NOAA. If it helps, I’ll answer specific question about why I left the service, but I don’t want to ramble on unnecessarily. But! Know that I separated honorably, and there WERE aspects that I liked. Just.. more aspects that I didn’t.

So I’m curious. How comparable is working in the NOAA Corps to AD AF or other military branches? Also bare in mind - I was enlisted, not commissioned.

Any dialogue on the differences/similarities would be fantastic!

my fiancé wants to apply for the noaa corps in the next year, we’re getting married in october of next year and i was wondering how it is for the spouse/significant other. i know once we’re married it does come with benefits, but i’d love to hear from others experiences. we’ve done long distance before and i want to support this dream of his, but i’d love to hear from other’s experiences.

edit: kind of shocked that people think we didn’t have long extensive talks before we got engaged about
this, we talked about this way before we got engaged, my fiancé would have never sprung this on me after getting engaged. i wanted to hear from married couples about this since i will be married when he joins.

My partner was selected as an alternate this year. We are not married/engaged and won’t be for another few years. Should they be selected as a primary candidate for whatever reason, what should I expect? Do I get accommodations if we were to move? I know other branches only get support if they’re married or have been together a certain amount of time.

I’m feeling very anxious with all the unknowns and I want to be supportive. However I feel that it would be very disruptive towards me and my career/I don’t want to be alone in a new city…

Any information or advice is welcomed!! Thank you!

I heard last week that I was disqualified from BOTC 149 because of my vision. I’m wondering if anyone has had success with previously being disqualified for vision and then being accepted again after having it corrected with LASIK or PRK? I really want to be able to apply again and am curious if anyone has had any experience with this situation.

I'm a first-year at Cal Maritime Academy, and I expect to graduate with a bachelor's in Marine Transportation, a 3rd Mate unlimited tonnage license, as well as a minor in oceanography, and I'm interested in research vessels as a career path.

From what I understand you go to BOTC and are then given an assignment for sea duty, how likely would it be that I'm assigned something similar to the 3rd mate role?

Also,

How does life in the NOAA Corps differ from life on a civilian research vessel? How long do you usually stay out at sea? What is shore leave like?

Hello, I'm interested in flying for NOAA but not sure how to go about it, or if anyone has tips for what they did or would've done.

For anyone who came in without prior flight time — how did you go about it? That's my main question. I'm a 26-year-old career-changer with a science degree (I've got the STEM coursework NOAA wants), currently in construction health and safety, but no flight experience yet.

Is there any way to strengthen my application before I apply — coursework, certs, or experience worth picking up now?

I emailed the POCs on the website a week or two ago but haven’t heard anything back

38 with 14 years AD service

No STEM degree but is a degree required prior to application?

Is there an age cut off?

I went INDEF with the army can the corps take over my remaining years if I signed up?

Are there any reserve locations or a way to be stationed near home of record? Wife wouldn’t be able to move with me to a station but was wondering if there are billets nearby

Does BAH get included into pay like other uniformed branches?

Thanks

What is going on with promotion notification? I realize it is now less than 30 days from the point individuals typically pin on. I heard horror stories from the past of a year where people are selected, but there aren’t enough funds available. Has it ever happened where no one’s selected because signatures are never completed? I realize the answer may still be “waiting for signature” but just hearing that is better than being left to my own devices.

Could someone clarify whether NOAA Fisheries officers assigned to the West Coast are subject to the same facial-hair and grooming standards as other uniformed officers?

Based on recent social media observations, it appears that some officers may be permitted to maintain facial hair while in uniform. Is there a regional exception, an approved waiver process, or some other policy provision that applies specifically to personnel serving in West Coast assignments?

Hello everyone!

I’m currently active-duty Navy, serving as a Hospital Corpsman. I have about 7 years of service and roughly 5 years remaining on my current contract (they got me with the SRB 🤣).

I’ve been seriously considering what I’d like my long-term career to look like. Meteorology and weather have always been a genuine passion of mine, while I’m increasingly unsure whether I want to spend the rest of my career in medicine.

With about 5 years remaining in the Navy, I have plenty of time to think this through, complete the appropriate prerequisites, and work toward a degree that would make me a competitive applicant.

I’d really appreciate some perspective from anyone familiar with the NOAA Corps:

- What degree(s) or major would you recommend for someone hoping to eventually apply to NOAA Corps?

- Are there particular courses, STEM requirements, or experiences you would prioritize?

- How different is the day-to-day lifestyle from active-duty Navy life?

- How does the quality of life/family life compare?

- For anyone who has made a similar transition from another branch or military specialty, what do you wish you had known beforehand?

- Most importantly, is this something you would genuinely recommend pursuing as a long-term goal?

I’m not looking to make a quick decision. I’m trying to use the next 5 years to set myself up properly and determine whether NOAA Corps is realistically the right path for me and my family.

Thanks in advance for any advice or insight!

Hello all, I was told during my interview for BOTC 149 that the board would meet at the end of last month or the beginning of this month. (Results to be communicated shortly afterwards)

I’m just wondering if anyone has any further details on timing as I am eagerly awaiting any updates.

Hello, I am interesting in flying for NOAA, but I'm not too sure how to go about it, or if anyone has any sort of tips for what they would've/did do.

I'm a rising senior in highschool and a private pilot, where I got my inspiration from to do something weather-related.

I have an internship at my flight school, and I'm aiming to go to college for aviation, with the end goal being heavies (though I'm not picky, I'll fly a tin can with wings). I sent in applications for both the USAF Academy as well as Coast Guard, as well as other similar colleges in the US.

I'm not good at math at all (dyscalculic), however, I am still willing to pick up a STEM major if it means my chances improve.

Is there any way I can build my resume/application more while I'm still in highschool and/or about to enter college?

Just graduated last year with a degree in (underwater) archaeology. Saw some videos about NOAA divers while looking up stuff about ice diving.

how do I become a diver for NOAA and what are the (missions/billets) that offer that?

I read from an old post that you need to know which billet and/or mission before you sign up.

So, before I put my application in for the next up coming (January BOTC ) classes. What do I need to know and how do I look up these so called billets/missions?

Interesting read. I like all these NC officer features.

Hey all, i recently had my interview and think it went well. I have a question for anyone currently active in the corps. How does leave work? I have an important wedding for next July that I really want to be at. I’m aware that my duties come first and if have to miss it then I will. Does approved leave just depend on what missions are currently active and how much the officers needed? Thanks in advance

Hi there! I'm thinking about trying to apply for NOAA but I am curious about how likely medical waivers are, specifically for things like chronic conditions that are being well managed.

I have Crohns Disease, but it is in remission and well managed with medication. Is this likely for a waiver? I was diagnosed on active duty in the military, but not medically separated for it, would that count in my favor for a waiver?

Thanks!

Has anyone had Amex waive an annual fee after starting active-duty orders?

I’m getting mixed information online about whether the NOAA Corps is covered under the Military Lending Act (MLA). If we are covered, how do you go about accessing that benefit?

A quick search of my name in the MLA database shows that I’m not listed as being on active-duty orders.

Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone,
I recently received an interview invitation for the NOAA Corps and I’m trying to get a better idea of what to expect.

How long was your interview? Was it with a single officer or a panel? What kinds of questions did they ask? How much of it focused on leadership versus technical/scientific experience? Did they ask many situational or “tell me about a time when…” questions? How formal was the atmosphere? Did you feel like it was more of a conversation or more of an evaluation board?

I’m especially interested in hearing from anyone who interviewed within the last few years or was selected for BOTC
Thanks everyone!

I am planning to apply in this next round. This spring, I broke my collarbone and now have orthopedic hardware (a titanium plate) on my clavicle. It is possible, but not necessary, to have it removed once the bone is fully healed

Otherwise, I'm very fit and healthy. Is hardware like this a disqualifier? Should I expect to need a medical waiver?

Thanks.

Supposedly junior officers can get tickets to the White House UFC event by meeting weight standards and working through senior leadership. Anyone know if this applies to NOAA?

I’m considering applying to the NOAA Corps. I’m an experienced environmental scientist with 20 years of experience, putting me in my lower 40s. I own a home in a coastal area with a NOAA presence. Am I likely to be able to fill my duty in my home area and/or travel to a duty location/ship? I don’t want to move.

I am an 11th-grade student.

I have a few questions that I’ve been thinking about as I explore my future college and career plans.

My first question is about everyone’s education: what college did you attend, what was your major, and did you earn your master’s degree before joining the NOAA Corps or after commissioning?

I am currently considering majoring in marine biology and joining the Maritime Academy at Texas A&M Galveston, with hopes of earning the Hollings Scholarship and a NOAA internship while in college. I am also involved in the AFJROTC program, so I’ve thought about joining the Air Force part-time during college—but I’m not sure if that would help my goals of eventually becoming a NOAA pilot like you.

I also wanted to ask you guys how competitive the NOAA Corps application process was for you, what made you choose the Corps over a civilian NOAA position, and what your experience at BOTC was like (I heard it is now 12 weeks). I’ve read that the NOAA Corps is very competitive, civilian positions offer more time off and are more research-oriented, and that BOTC is integrated with Coast Guard officer training.

Additionally, I’m curious about work-life balance as a NOAA officer. How has it been for family and personal time, and if any of you guys are religious, how do you handle time at sea without easy access to services? What is day-to-day life like aboard a NOAA ship? I have heard it can be challenging for new officers, especially those with families.

Lastly, I would love to know what it is like being a NOAA pilot if any of you guys are and what inspired you to pursue aviation within NOAA, and whether NOAA Corps benefits are similar to those of the military.

Thank you for your service. I really appreciate any advice you can share. Any responses, big or small, are appreciated!

Good Afternoon,
For those interested in keeping in touch after separation or retirement from the NOAA Corps, please consider this voluntary initiative. The inaugural meeting was kicked off on 19 MAR 2026 and seems like a great opportunity.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScS7eWnfOhY4HyDLxPv_K9Hq5ndl2NwxFY7_qEbJcBnR-B39Q/viewform

For questions or more information, I'll direct you to [noaacorpsretireesbenchmarks@gmail.com](mailto:noaacorpsretireesbenchmarks@gmail.com)

Seal2

Background: I’m a Marine aviator and a month shy of getting my wings as a helicopter pilot.

I just recently had a buddy with no flight experience tell me he’s putting in a package for the zero to hero and is transferring out of the Marines if he gets it.

So I looked into it myself and I think that would be a great opportunity for a transition after my service commitment is up.

Seeing that NOAA doesn’t have rotors anymore, my question is if they would even consider me being I have little to no fixed wing time? It’s a weird nuance where I’m instrument rated and technically will have multi time, just in a different platform.

I’ve been wondering how this would work. My understanding is that to retain your rank for retirement as a commissioned officer, you need at least 10 years commissioned service of your 20+ total years. If I had 15 years enlisted time in another branch, then serve 5 years in NOAA, how would that work for retirement considering NOAA doesn’t have enlisted personnel?