One of the eight US uniformed services and the only one built entirely around science: NOAA Corps officers operate the agency's fleet of research ships and aircraft and lead field programmes in oceanography, atmospheric science, fisheries, hydrographic survey and charting. Officers are recruited from graduates with degrees in science, engineering or mathematics, commissioned after Basic Officer Training Class, and paid on the uniformed services scale with the associated benefits. The Corps confirms on its own site that it is currently accepting applications and connects candidates with recruiters. It is a direct route from a STEM bachelor's degree into operational field science.