Is the NOAA a military branch?

I'm very interested in marine sciences and I recently learned something about the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. I'm a bit confused though, is NOAA considered a branch of the military? Would joining this provide the same benefits as other military branches?

The NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps falls underneath the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and it is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. However, it's not considered a branch of the military like the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or Space Force.

NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps officers serve in positions to support the mission of the NOAA, which includes areas such as environmental research, marine and aviation operation, and engineering. They work on the sea, on land, and in the air to support NOAA's environmental science and stewardship mission.

In terms of benefits, NOAA officers do get similar types reserves, and retirement benefits. They also have the same commissary privileges as other military branches.

However, the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps is much smaller than traditional military branches, and it has unique mission objectives related to environmental research and stewardship. While it is an excellent route for those interested in marine and atmospheric sciences, keep in mind it differs substantially from the experience you'd have in a traditional military branch.