Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-110

§3034 Officer Candidates

Title 33 › CHAPTER 43 — NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION COMMISSIONED OFFICER CORPS › SUBCHAPTER II — APPOINTMENT AND PROMOTION OF OFFICERS › § 3034

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary decides how many officer candidates to appoint and makes the rules for those appointments. The rules cover age limits, how candidates are picked, how long someone stays a candidate before finishing the Administration’s basic officer training program, and other appointment details. The Secretary can remove a candidate during training for poor school work, bad behavior, or if the candidate is not fit for a commissioned officer career. Candidates must follow discipline rules set by the Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps. Each candidate must sign an agreement with the Secretary under section 3006(a)(2). The agreement says the candidate will finish the basic training, accept an officer appointment if offered when they graduate, and serve on active duty for at least four years right after that appointment. The Secretary must make rules that define and decide breaches of the agreement. Anyone who fails to meet the service terms must follow the repayment rules in section 3006(b).

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §3034

Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Determination of number

The Secretary shall determine the number of appointments of officer candidates.

(b)Appointment

Appointment of officer candidates shall be made under regulations, which the Secretary shall prescribe, including regulations with respect to determining age limits, methods of selection of officer candidates, term of service as an officer candidate before graduation from the basic officer training program of the Administration, and all other matters affecting such appointment.

(c)Dismissal

The Secretary may dismiss from the basic officer training program of the Administration any officer candidate who, during the officer candidate’s term as an officer candidate, the Secretary considers unsatisfactory in either academics or conduct, or not adapted for a career in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration. Officer candidates shall be subject to rules governing discipline prescribed by the Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps.

(d)Agreement

(1)In general

Each officer candidate shall sign an agreement with the Secretary in accordance with section 3006(a)(2) of this title regarding the officer candidate’s term of service in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration.

(2)Elements

An agreement signed by an officer candidate under paragraph (1) shall provide that the officer candidate agrees to the following:

(A)That the officer candidate will complete the course of instruction at the basic officer training program of the Administration.

(B)That upon graduation from such program, the officer candidate—

(i)will accept an appointment, if tendered, as an officer; and

(ii)will serve on active duty for at least four years immediately after such appointment.

(e)Regulations

The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. Such regulations shall include—

(1)standards for determining what constitutes a breach of an agreement signed under subsection (d)(1); and

(2)procedures for determining whether such a breach has occurred.

(f)Repayment

An officer candidate or former officer candidate who does not fulfill the terms of the obligation to serve as specified under subsection (d) shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 3006(b) of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 3034

Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110