Unrestricted line

An unrestricted line officer (shortened to URL officer) is a commissioned officer of the line in the United States Navy qualified for command at sea the navy's warfighting combatant units such as warships, submarines, aviation squadrons and SEAL teams. They are also qualified to command the higher echelons of those units, such as destroyer and submarine squadrons, wings and groups, and special warfare groups.

At the flag officer level, URL officers may also command carrier strike groups, expeditionary strike groups, patrol and reconnaissance groups, task forces, and fleet and force commands. URL officers are also eligible to command shore installations, facilities and activities directly supporting the navy's warfare mission.

URL officers include officers from the Surface Warfare, Submarine Warfare, Naval Aviation, and Special Warfare communities, i.e., the Navy's "combat" communities. In this sense, all URL officers are considered warfare specialists and are designated as either Surface Warfare Officers, Submarine Warfare Officers, Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers, SEAL/Special Warfare Officers, or Special Operations Officers (primarily Diver or Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Officer/Diver).