Care to explain how he made E-6 in less than a year?

 

US Coast Guard is a good idea. A little sea time depending on MOS but no deployments and they will take good care of you and your family.

 

All of the services are taking care of their family's and the Coast Guard has been deployed to Iraq since the get go. A least one member of the Coast Guard KIA is buried in Arlington.

Joining the military no matter what branch means that you are signing up for war and putting your life on the line for your country. if someone joins without this at least somewhere in the back of their minds, they are just kidding themselves or they are selectively clueless.

 

The Navy Nuclear program school is a 18 month school. Upon completion of this school they have the rate of Petty Officer Third Class - E-3.


E-1 - E-3 Have no "time in rank" requirement.

Petty Officer Third Class - E-3
"Unlike the Seaman and lower ranks, advancement to Petty Officer Third Class is not automatic given time in service, but is also contingent on performance evaluations by their superiors and rate examinations (test of specialty knowledge), except for certain technical ratings which carry automatic advancement to PO3, after successful completion of the rating's "A" school and fulfillment of time in rate requirements. The advancement cycle is currently every 6 months. Only a certain number of billets (job openings for this rank) open up biannually and all Seamen compete. The top scorers are chosen for advancement, but only in sufficient quantities to fill the billets available."

Petty Officer Second Class - E-4
"Similar to Petty Officer Third Class, advancement to Petty Officer Second Class is dependent on time in service, performance evaluations by superiors, and rate (technical specialty) examinations. The advancement cycle is currently every 6 months. Only a certain number of billets (job openings for this rank) open up biannually and all petty officers third class compete. The top scorers are chosen for advancement, but only in sufficient quantities to fill the billets available."

Petty Officer First Class - E-5
"Similar to Petty Officer Second Class and Third Class, advancement to Petty Officer First Class is contingent upon the following conditions:

* Completed a period of time-in-rate (three years time-in-rate as a Second Class Petty Officer, or two years if the Second Class Petty Officer received a promotion recommedation of "early promote" (EP) on their latest periodic performance evaluation and the Second Class Petty Officer's Commanding Officer authorizes a one year time-in-rate waiver).
* Have an established Performance Mark Average (PMA).
* Not be currently selected in the LDO or CWO program.
* No pending request for voluntary transfer to the Fleet Reserve.
* Recommended for advancement by the Commanding Officer.
* Completion of the week-long Naval Leadership Work Center Supervisor course prior to February 1st and August 1st depending upon the current advancement cycle.[1]

The advancement cycle is currently every 6 months (March and September). Only Second Class Petty Officers that achieve a passing score on the biannual advancement examination are eligible to be advanced to First Class Petty Officer. Once the examination is complete, a quota is established based upon the needs of the Navy with respect to the specific rating the sailor holds."

Chief Petty Officer - E-6
"Unlike Petty Officer First Class and lower ranks, advancement to Chief Petty Officer not only carries requirements of time in service, superior evaluation scores, and specialty examinations, but also carries an added requirement of peer review. A Petty Officer First Class can only advance after review by a selection board of serving Senior and Master Chief Petty Officers, in effect "choosing their own" and conversly not choosing others.

Advancement into the Chief Petty Officer grades is the most significant promotion within the enlisted naval ranks. At the rank of Chief, the sailor takes on more administrative duties. In the Navy, their uniform changes to reflect this change of duty, becoming similar to that of an officer albeit with different insignia. (In the Coast Guard, petty officers, chief petty officers, warrant officers, and commissioned officer all wear similar uniforms.) Sailors in the three Chief Petty Officer ranks also have conspicuous privileges such as separate dining and living areas. Any naval vessel of sufficient size has a room or rooms that are off-limits to anyone not a Chief (including officers) except by specific invitation (if one is invited to eat in the Chief's Mess, it is customary to eat everything on the plate no matter what condiments are added by members of the Chief's Mess to enhance one's dining experience). In Navy jargon, this room is called the Chief's Mess, or tongue in cheek, the "goat locker." In addition, a Chief Petty Officer, no matter how much he was on "first name" basis with other petty officers before promotion, is always addressed as "Chief" by subordinates and superiors."

Senior Chief Petty Officer - E-7
"Advancement to Senior Chief Petty Officer is similar to that of Chief Petty Officer. It carries requirements of time in service, superior evaluation scores and peer review. It is the first promotion that is based entirely on proven leadership performance where test scores do not play a part. A Chief Petty Officer can only advance if a board of Master Chiefs approve, convened every year around March."

Master Chief Petty Officer - E-8
"Master Chief Petty Officer is the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank (E-9) in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above Senior Chief Petty Officer, and is a non-commissioned officer. They are referred to as Master Chief in most circumstances.

Advancement to Master Chief Petty Officer is similar to that of Chief Petty Officer and Senior Chief Petty Officer. It carries requirements of time in service, superior evaluation scores, specialty examinations, and peer review. A Senior Chief Petty Officer can only advance if a selection board of serving Master Chiefs approve, which is the same for First Class Petty Officers advancing to Chief Petty Officer, and Chief Petty Officers advancing to Senior Chief Petty Officer."

Command Master Chief Petty Officer - E-9
"A Command Master Chief Petty Officer (CMDMC) is one of the most senior enlisted officer in a United States Navy command structure. In many ways he or she is considered a fountain of knowledge and a parent figure. Being the primary liaison between the officers and enlisted, they are a major resource for the commanding officer, and often are called upon to gauge morale and battle readiness. On smaller ships, this position may be filled by a Senior Chief Petty Officer. On submarines, these enlisted personnel are known as "Chief of the Boat", or COBs. The ranks Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer and Force Master Chief Petty Officer are used for larger commands such as U.S. Fleet Forces Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Submarine Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and Naval Air Force U.S. Pacific Fleet."

Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer - E-9
"These are Master Chiefs that have vitually the same responsibility as Command Master Chiefs but Fleet Master Chief Petty Officers (FLTMC) are responsible for larger fleet commands i.e. U.S. Pacific Fleet."

Force Master Chief Petty Officer - E-9
"These are Master Chiefs that have virtually the same responsibility as Command Master Chiefs but Force Master Chief Petty Officers (FORMC) are responsible for larger force commands i.e. Submarine Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Their rank is equivalent to the Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer and their insignia is also the same."

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy - E9
"There exists one post, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, (MCPON, pronounced "Mic-Pon") which is unique. The holder of this post is the most senior enlisted member in the U.S. Navy. The MCPON adds a third inverted star above the rating insignia described earlier, and all three stars are gold (silver on the gold fouled anchor collar device). Likewise, the rating specialty mark is replaced by an inverted gold star. On July 10, 2006, Joe R. Campa assumed the role of MCPON, replacing Terry D. Scott."

kc0iv

 

centry I really don't care about this enough to look into pay scales
But I still say bull about making E-6 in one year, Does the navy figure time different or are you thinking time in grade and I'm thinking time in service? The way I understood your statment was that he hit 6 within 12 mo of enlisting, thats why I said B/S
As far as pay I don't ever recall complaining about it, if I did it was ment as a simple statement not as a complaint I served with pride and am still proud of what I did even though I didn't retire with 20.

 

OK, my turn to offer advice and criticism about your choice of careers.

Forget OTR trucking, it is no way to live if you have a family.

As far as joining the military goes: talk to ALL the services recruiters and see what they have to offer you based on your education, physical status, results on the aptitude tests and, most important to them, their needs at the time.

Sure, the pay isn't great for a couple of years until you get a little rank but you don't have to worry about health insurance, medical care, housing (if you get into base housing) commisary and PX price advantage, etc...

Another thing I will comment on ( and I feel that my 23 years in the Navy qualifies me to make such comments) is that older people going in to the military tend to do better than young people. The have gotten all the stupid stuff out of their systems and are less of a discipline problem mostly.

The comments on the Navy nuclear propulsion program are good. If you can qualify it is a great way to go. Fast promotions and HUGE re-enlistment bonuses and special pays.
Or go Navy SEAL and get to kill EVERYONE. They have big bonuses and special pay too, and they get to kill everyone.

Again, don't just go to the Army recruiter, talk to all of them and bring your wife with you when you go to the recruiters office.

 

Or, become a Navy Corpsman and kill and save people all in the same day.

 

E-6 in the Navy is a Petty Officer 1st class, He graduated basic on Jan 26 2007, the same day my mother died. He is in Charlston SC getting ready to go to his next school in NY and he has been an E-6 Petty Officer First Class for several months. I know he came in at a higher grade because of college time and he was garranteed promotions.

KC there is no time in service or time in grade requirements for excelerated promotions or meritorious promotions up to the rank of E-7. Thats true in any service.

 

Let's see.... 7 year active duty, Army. Airborne and Air Assault, Forward Observer then Cavalry Scout, Vietnam and other "exotic" assignments. Injured during a helicopter rapel and medically discharged.

I wouldn't join the Army unless I was homeless and on my last dime!

Bitter? You Bet. I have watched so many vets get thrown under the bus by the Government. I have watched the Government do its utmost to turn the Constitution into so much toilet paper. And I have watched the general population not really give a rip that they are doing it.

The general population doesn't want what so many who came before us fought to preserve. The public likes government intrusion into every aspect of our lives. The Presidential candidates who have been selected by the public only proves that they have no knowledge or desire to have a country founded on liberty and self determination. They want a governement that only wastes money on "feel good" programs that accomplish nothing. "save my job, cap fuel costs, take care of my needs from cradle to grave", without any realization that Government intrusion causes these problems. then the government comes running around every election cycle and promises to fix these problems and everyone buys into it.

I would pick up a rifle to protect my family, but wouldn't even consider putting on a uniform for anyone else. America is still the best deal going, but we are losing it at such a rapid pace that it is not saying a lot as the years go by. Hind sight is always 20-20. Wish I knew then what I know now. Would have grown my hair out and spent the 70's partying.

 

You got that right!! Here's todays payscales: http://www.army.com/money/payrates_enlisted_a08.html

They're a darn sight nicer than they were when I got out after 10 years ....a bunch of years ago. Biggest mistake I ever made was not going for 30!!

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: Dagnabbit....you owe me a new laptop!! I gotta clean a whole lot of stuff off of it now..... I haven't laughed that hard in years!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I'm not sure what the fellow should do....seems he's in a bit of a quandry, and really isn't sure if he should piss, bend his knees, or go blind. What I do think is he needs to back up, review his options....see what the military has to offer that would even fit him. Not knowing him....he might not qualify for an MOS that requires alot, while on the other hand...he may be quite accomplished educationally and be able to fill a very technical slot.

And I do think that at the age of 30, with a wife and 2 children....its time to be less than "cavalier" about the future and career prospects....