scope:

Scope and Applicability

Reference (a) directed the establishment of an MIT/WHOI Joint Master's degree program in Oceanography as part of a major reinvigoration of Navy efforts in Oceanography. This program continues to serve as an effective cross-pollination between Navy and the civilian ocean research community and has exposed Navy officers to new tactics, ocean research equipment and oceanographic theories.

Each June Unrestricted Line (URL) officers and Restricted Line Oceanography (180X) officers will enter the program. URL participants will be selected from warfare specialist communities, specifically: 111X, 112X, 131X and 132X based on projected 6402P subspecialty requirements for these designators. Upon completion of the program, these officers will retain their designation as officers of the URL and will be awarded the 6402P subspecialty code. Newly commissioned officers from the United States Naval Academy (USNA) and the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) may also participate, subject to the needs and requirements of the Navy. Specific eligibility will be detailed in the MIT/WHOI NAVADMIN message promulgated each year. All applicants for this program must submit a formal MIT/WHOI entrance application and be accepted by MIT/WHOI in the same manner as prescribed for other students. Participation is contingent upon academic acceptance by MIT/WHOI.

Purpose.

To announce the policy and procedural guidance governing selection and assignment of naval officers for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (MIT/WHOI) Joint Master's degree in Oceanography Program. This instruction is a complete revision and should be reviewed in its entirety.