Curious about a naval academy human resources job?

I'm interested in working in human resources after high school, and I've heard the naval academy offers unique opportunities in that field. Can anyone share insights about human resources jobs through the academy? What kind of experience or education do I need?

The United States Naval Academy prepares students, known as midshipmen, primarily for careers as commissioned officers in the Navy and Marine Corps. Therefore, the focus of an education at the Naval Academy is generally more oriented towards strategic and operational leadership, along with technical skill development required for specific occupations in the military. However, the skills learned at the Naval Academy such as leadership, resilience, discipline, and critical thinking can certainly be applied to a future career in Human Resources if you choose to leave the Navy after your service obligation.

If your goal is to work directly in human resources after high school, rather than serving as a commissioned officer, you may want to consider another path. For instance, you could attain a bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field like business or psychology from a civilian college or university.

That being said, the Navy does offer opportunities for those interested in the human resources field through a career path in manpower, personnel, training, and education. In these roles, you'd be responsible for managing personnel, their pay and benefits, training programs, and more. This would typically require a college degree, which could be achieved via Officer Candidate School, Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) at a civilian college, or the U.S. Naval Academy. Post-serve, these operational and strategic experiences can translate to a civilian HR role.

However, keep in mind that acceptance into the Naval Academy or an NROTC program is highly competitive and requires a commitment to serve in the military for a number of years after graduation. Make sure to thoroughly research your options and choose the one that aligns best with your long-term career goals.