DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000 NAVY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, DC 20350-2000
OPNAVINST 1520.18J
N153
7 Oct 2013
OPNAV INSTRUCTION 1520.18J
From: Chief of Naval Operations
Subj: JUNIOR LINE OFFICER ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
(NAVY BURKE PROGRAM)
1. Purpose. To establish policy and assign responsibilities
for the Junior Line Officer Advanced Educational Program,
hereafter referred to as the Navy Burke Program.
2. Cancellation. OPNAVINST 1520.18H.
3. Background. The Navy Burke Program was implemented in 1959
to supplement the Navy’s graduate education efforts. It
provides a group of carefully selected unrestricted line
officers the opportunity for graduate education in scientific
and engineering disciplines early in their careers to enable
their assignment to validated subspecialty billets. Upon
completion of graduate education, Navy Burke Program graduates
receive duty assignments compatible with their respective career
paths.
4. Scope and Applicability. The Navy Burke Program includes
aviation, subsurface, surface, special operations and warfare
oriented midshipmen; and officer candidates enrolled in the U.S.
Naval Academy (USNA), Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps
(NROTC), and Seaman to Admiral 21 (STA-21) programs.
5. Policy
a. Under the Navy Burke Program, the Navy will identify
junior officers with high potential for future leadership
positions and proven academic performance as USNA and NROTC
midshipmen and STA-21 officer candidates. Upon undergraduate or
officer accession program graduation and commissioning, Navy
Burke Program officers will be assigned to post-accession
training followed by an operational assignment for qualification
in their warfare specialties before commencing graduate studies.
While attaining a warfare specialty, these officers shall
