Little more detail on Nukes

[prop827]

Originally Posted by BloodyPheonix

Thanks Prop, that clears things up for me quite a lot. One last question, how does advancement look into E-5 and E-6?

Advancement to E-5, for the most part, sucks. Here's the deal, as nukes we are eligible for STAR Reenlistment. Part of that program is that you automatically put on E-5 and get E-5 pay the day you decide to STAR. TONS of nukes do this. So you can get E-5 easy once you STAR for 2 more years (making your contract 8 years). You are able to STAR once you have arrived at your first duty station and have qualified either Submarine Warfare (Dolphins) or Surface Warfare (Cutlasses). The bad news is, every cycle the navy says 'we need X number of 2nd class nuke MMs, EMs, and ETs. They then say 'ok, well we picked up Y number through STAR re-enlistments this cycle, so now we only need (X-Y).' So if you want E-5 without STAR Re-Enlisting it is really tough cause there aren't very many spots open.

E-6 is on the other foot though, people get out right quick after their STAR is up cause civilian pay is so good, so nukes make E-6 and Chief very quickly. Overall advancement as a nuke is awesome, you just get a little stymied trying to get E-5 without reenlisting. But that is only temporary. 1st Class and Chief come real quick. An 8 Year Chief is not uncommon in the nuke world, and the vast majority are 10 Year Chiefs. Other ratings, the projection for 1st class can be up to 20 years in some cases.