The enlisted sailors who work with us all go to a series of schools that train them very thoroughly to be weather forecasters - about a 6 month school. These sailors normally only have a high school education, but if they do well and earn a college degree on their own time, they too can become officers. We often get specialty training along the way, or have a chance to get additional qualifications if we have an interest and the aptitude. Some, for example, go the Naval War College or the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, both of which are for senior and highly motivated officers. You must be physically fit, and not significantly physically impaired.
Eyeglasses are OK, for example.
All of us are expected to go to sea, which is no place for someone who is handicapped. Of course, gender is not an issue - we have women filling all conceivable oceanographer positions. Enlisted sailors earn somewhat less. We do not get bonuses, but we do have a good medical and dental plan, and we also get paid extra for special situations, like sea duty. There are many fine schools for oceanography.