Warrant Officer Program, Limited Duty Officer Program, or other commissioning programs if eligible. United States Naval Academy (USNA) The Navy’s own undergraduate professional college, the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland, is the academic training ground for future naval officers. The Academy prepares young men and women, morally, mentally, and physically to be professional officers in the Navy or Marine Corps. The following features are characteristic of the Academy: It is the Navy’s own undergraduate pro- fessional  college. Candidates are nominated from several sources. It offers 4 years of college leading to a commission in the Navy or Marine Corps. The Academy is one of those exceptional education programs available to enlisted men and women in the Navy. Keen chief petty officers and good command personnel are required to identify young enlisted men and women who are potential candidates for this program. Even if an applicant is not selected for direct entry into the Naval Academy,  each  candidate  is  automatically considered for entrance into the Academy’s preparatory  school. High school students and active-duty military personnel may be nominated to the Academy by the President or Vice President of the United States; a senator; a congressional representative; or by civil officials of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, or American Samoa. High school students should begin the application process in their junior year. Applicants must meet the following basic eligibility requirements: Be a citizen of the United States Have good moral character Be unmarried and have no dependents Be at least 17 years of age and not have reached the 22nd birthday on 1 July of the year of admission to the Naval Academy Qualify scholastically, physically, and medically The Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Program The Chief Warrant Officer Program provides outstanding active-duty Regular Navy or Naval Reserve personnel a direct path of advancement to chief warrant officer. To be eligible for appointment, an applicant must meet the following requirements: Be a U.S. citizen Be serving on active duty as a CPO, an SCPO, or an MCPO in the Regular Navy, Naval Reserve, or Training and Admin- istration of Reserves (TAR) program at the time of application Be physically qualified for appointment as a chief warrant officer Be a high school graduate or possess the service-accepted  equivalent Have no record of conviction by court- martial or of conviction by civil court for any offenses other than minor traffic viola- tions for 4 years preceding 1 October of the year of application Be recommended by the commanding officer Must have completed at least 12 years, but not more than 24 years, of active service on 1 October of the year application is made The Limited Duty Officer (LDO) Program The Limited Duty Officer (LDO) Program provides a path of advancement for PO1s through SCPOs and chief warrant officers to commissioning as a temporary ensign or lieutenant junior grade (as applicable) in the Regular Navy or Naval Reserve. The applicant must meet the following eligibility requirements to apply for the LDO Program: Be a U.S. citizen Be serving on active duty in the Regular Navy, Naval Reserve, or TAR program at the time of application (If selected, inactive Reserve personnel must remain on active duty until appointment is tendered.) 5-9