<p>Angel,
It is confusing.
USNA grads “service select” during their senior [firstie] year. Among the selections that might be made are “SWO.” One rotation that I am aware of consisted of the grad going straight to a ship that deployed to the Pacific; later, while the ship remained at sea, the grad returned to the US for a school, which lasted just over a month, and then returned to the ship. She will obtain here SWO certification, presumably, while the ship is at sea.<br>
USNA grads DO NOT go t hrough OCS and are commissioned Ensigns upon graduation.</p>
<p>A college graduate, on the other hand, before being commissioned an Ensign in the Navy must attend [and graduate from] OCS in R.I. While at OCS, the graduate will “service select.” I suspect, since the graduate is now an Ensign, that person will be assigned to a ship and start down their path as would a USNA graduate.</p>
<p>PM Jadler, he had been very helpful and accurate over the years. He would be able to give you more current information on what to expect upon assignment to a ship. [But he did not attend OCS].</p>
<p>Oh . . . and it is very possible that your “friend” may have a SWO contract, i.e. he is guaranteed a SWO slot upon graduation from OCS. THe Navy is more and more likely to offer “contracts” to entering candidates.</p>