As a US Marine here, you pretty much explained what an LDO is pretty well. It is similar to what you Army calls a direct commission but not exactly like that. The way it was explained to me was think of it like a warrant officer but they wear a commissioned rank. Limited duty as they cant be Line Officers that can hold a command. You can tell a LDO is by seeing someone too old to be a LT or CAPT but wearing that rank. Now when you want to talk about unicorns of the military, a Marine LDO to me is the rarest thing I have ever seen. In 26 years of service, I have only met 2. One was a 1stLT IntelO whose claim to fame was being the most senior 1stLT in the Marines. The other was our PersO/S-1 Adjutant who was a CAPT pushing 35 years of service.
I noticed the USMC chief warrant officer to limited duty officer selection board appointed 40 CWOs to LDO Captain (O-3) for 2026 contingent on available MOS vacancies.
I was an administration clerk during my short stay in the Marine Corps. I organized a few SRB (Service Record Book) for various Marines. As I was organizing the First Sergeant's records, I saw he served time as a Captain/Company Commander. I believe this is an LDO assignment or a 'billet'....I could be mistaken on the latter. ✌
No my friend. Marine Corps limited duty officers are selected from the warrant office pool. CWO2 or 3s, not from the enlisted side. Enlisted Marines can be officers through MECEP program. There may be exceptions, but generally that's the case.
Awesome thank you for clarifying. The LDO is a different world to me. Now is that the same on the Navy side do you know? From what I was reading and asking was that they both come from the same pool which were enlisted primarily E7 etc.
On the Navy side to be eligible for the LDO program, you must first be a E6 eligible for promotion to E7 and or already be an E7/E8 with more than 8yrs, but less than 14yrs of service. Any E7 and above with 14-20yrs of service are only eligible for CWO unless they are granted a time in service waiver. We are fully commissioned and only limited to the type of duty and command positions we can hold. Depending on the amount of time the member has left in the tank, they make it to full bird at the O6 CAPT level
I’ll speak in general because LDO is primarily navy and marines. Chief war officer and limited duty officers for what I understand pretty much go to the same school but just different responsibilities. The requirements to become either one differ from that of a regular commissioned officer hence going that route. Could they go the regular Ofc route or also candidate school? If the requirements are met. For officer candidate school I believe you have up until the age of 34 but you have to meet the educational requirements. Pretty much need to have a degree to go that route.
Navy LDO Mustang here, and you’re spot on brother!
As a US Marine here, you pretty much explained what an LDO is pretty well. It is similar to what you Army calls a direct commission but not exactly like that. The way it was explained to me was think of it like a warrant officer but they wear a commissioned rank. Limited duty as they cant be Line Officers that can hold a command. You can tell a LDO is by seeing someone too old to be a LT or CAPT but wearing that rank. Now when you want to talk about unicorns of the military, a Marine LDO to me is the rarest thing I have ever seen. In 26 years of service, I have only met 2. One was a 1stLT IntelO whose claim to fame was being the most senior 1stLT in the Marines. The other was our PersO/S-1 Adjutant who was a CAPT pushing 35 years of service.
In my day (I retired 30 years ago as a Deck LDO) I was a line officer and could be a ships CO
I noticed the USMC chief warrant officer to limited duty officer selection board appointed 40 CWOs to LDO Captain (O-3) for 2026 contingent on available MOS vacancies.
I was an administration clerk during my short stay in the Marine Corps. I organized a few SRB (Service Record Book) for various Marines. As I was organizing the First Sergeant's records, I saw he served time as a Captain/Company Commander. I believe this is an LDO assignment or a 'billet'....I could be mistaken on the latter. ✌
Or he stepped down from that to enlisted?
My dad was a LDO LCDR and I was a CWO4. We were both cryptographers.
Nobody ever hears anything about LDO’S. That’s interesting thanks.
No my friend. Marine Corps limited duty officers are selected from the warrant office pool. CWO2 or 3s, not from the enlisted side. Enlisted Marines can be officers through MECEP program. There may be exceptions, but generally that's the case.
Awesome thank you for clarifying. The LDO is a different world to me. Now is that the same on the Navy side do you know?
From what I was reading and asking was that they both come from the same pool which were enlisted primarily E7 etc.
@@RobthaBlak No I don’t know about the Navy side, only the Marine side. 15 1/2 years medically retired.
On the Navy side to be eligible for the LDO program, you must first be a E6 eligible for promotion to E7 and or already be an E7/E8 with more than 8yrs, but less than 14yrs of service.
Any E7 and above with 14-20yrs of service are only eligible for CWO unless they are granted a time in service waiver.
We are fully commissioned and only limited to the type of duty and command positions we can hold. Depending on the amount of time the member has left in the tank, they make it to full bird at the O6 CAPT level
@@teneightsheepdog6406 Well Said brother. From a fellow mustang - "6410".
Can CWO/LDO go up for SWO/OCS?
I’ll speak in general because LDO is primarily navy and marines. Chief war officer and limited duty officers for what I understand pretty much go to the same school but just different responsibilities.
The requirements to become either one differ from that of a regular commissioned officer hence going that route. Could they go the regular Ofc route or also candidate school?
If the requirements are met. For officer candidate school I believe you have up until the age of 34 but you have to meet the educational requirements. Pretty much need to have a degree to go that route.
USCG has Warrants however no LDOs. Our Warrants can serve and Commanding Officers and Department Heads.