10-20
Officers are also divided into line officers and staff
corps officers. A star is worn on the sleeve or shoulder
board of the line officer, depending on the uniform. The
line category is subdivided into unrestricted and
restricted line.
Only unrestricted line officers are eligible for
command at sea and the command of aircraft squadrons,
fleets, and shore bases such as naval bases and naval air
stations. Included in this category are limited duty
officers (LDOs), who have been specifically authorized
to assume such command and certain naval aviators.
Restricted line officers are those designated for
engineering or other special duty, such as
communications, naval intelligence, photography, and
other technical fields. They aren’t eligible for command
at sea but may assume command of designated shore
facilities.
Staff corps officers are specialists in certain
areas, such as supply and medicine. They wear staff
corps insignia (fig. 10-15). A doctor can become the
commanding officer (CO) of a hospital or a medical
school or the chief of the Bureau of Medicine. A supply
officer can become the CO of a supply depot or a school
or the head of the Navy Supply Systems Command.
When officers are of the same grade and date of
commissioning, but from different officer’s categories,
seniority takes precedence in the following order:
1. Line
2. Medical
3. Supply
4. Chaplain
5. Civil Engineer
6. Judge Advocate General
7. Dental
8. Medical Service
9. Nurse
In addition to regular commissioned officers, the
Navy has another group of officers called commissioned
warrant officers.
Warrant Officers
The Navy needs specialists to supervise the
operation of equipment and weapons and needs enlisted
personnel to maintain them. Chief warrant officers fill
the gap between enlisted personnel and commissioned
officers. They are former enlisted personnel selected for
warrant status because of their professional ability and
for their demonstrated qualities of leadership, loyalty,
Student Notes:
Figure 10-12.—Rank insignia of warrant officers of the U. S.
armed services.
