When did you get out? I am an active duty E-6 crossing over in june and I was told that I will most likely have to come in as an E-5 as well. But who knows I can't even submit my grade waiver till January.
I'm not sure what to even look for on the paperwork. I filled out 2 pages today and will have to wait till next week for the station commander to get back from training. I understand I have to do an interview with him and he sends a letter off to whom ever processes grade waivers. Then wait for that to come back.
Anyway, what would I look for to make sure things are squared away?
Rigger2000: I got out of active duty Navy in 94 and reserves in 2003.
I have to wait because i'm still on active duty in the Navy. I have to be six months out from my EAOS. I dont think too many E-5's have had their waivers come back disapproved. But I have heard that all of the E-6's recently have been coming back as E-5 only. That's a big difference in pay especially at 10 years of service.
im currently active duty Air Force, E-5 with 8 yrs of service and they did my grade determination waiver in a few hours while i waited at MEPS; result i was able to keep my E-5. i guess it was closeout day for the month at MEPS so they HAD to kick me out that day.
I seriously doubt I'll get to keep E6. It would be nice but most of the jobs I'm interested in will only take E5 and below. Besides, I don't know much about the army since I was a Navy guy for 9 years. So going back in as an E5 makes more sense anyway. Give me time to learn how to play the game on the green side of the fence.
Dang! you got your grade waiver in a few hours! Was there a private room and knee pads involved? Seriously, that's fast! I wish mine would be that quick.
Originally posted by 14258212: I seriously doubt I'll get to keep E6. It would be nice but most of the jobs I'm interested in will only take E5 and below. Besides, I don't know much about the army since I was a Navy guy for 9 years. So going back in as an E5 makes more sense anyway. Give me time to learn how to play the game on the green side of the fence.
Dang! you got your grade waiver in a few hours! Was there a private room and knee pads involved? Seriously, that's fast! I wish mine would be that quick.
yeah, but from what i hear compared to the AF, the Army gains rank quick, granted u do above what your supposed to. i remember reading somwhere that the MOS im going into, 19D, highest rank they will take retraining/cross branch is E-5. in jobs like 19D, it makes complete sense though, unfortunately...
about the grade determination waiver, i definitely did get lucky cause i was first told i would have to stay overnight another day at MEPS! i guess the approval comes from Batallion or something and my recruiter called them personally to rush it.
The promotion points are posted in the Army times...online. That is if you are interested in doing some homework to find out what MOS'S have the faster promotions. As far as making sure your paperwork is squared away I can't remember all the forms but I do remember that you must have the full name of every person you mention on every document or they will get kicked back. Family members, friends, relatives, previous bosses, references you name it.....full names only. So, if you don't have them, get them....just a heads up.
This is a big reason why I am on the fence about doing this. I make pretty good money now as an E-6. If I step down a pay grade and lose my BAS because I will be in training That's a difference of about $1000.00 a month. Frankly that would put my family in a pretty tight spot. I am trying to get selected for a Warrant Officer Appointment If that falls through and I can't keep my Pay grade I may be reenlisting in the Navy.
Did anyone else have to wright a letter? I had to wright a letter requesting to keep E-6 and explain why I deserve to do so. I don't mind since it allowed me to blow my own horn and at least have input. I'll still likely get E-5 but maybe it will make it easier for them to make the decision.
My best friend wrote a letter about why he should be an SSG in the Army. He was an active E-6 in the Navy before he crossed over. He submitted the letter and copies of all of his leadership school certificates and all the leadership classes he had taken. His grade waiver came back approved and he is currently an SSG. I am hoping that the same happens for me.
Well, I wrote a nice letter on the computer and when I turned it in they looked at it and said it was great.... can you redo it by hand on notebook paper?
They said they now want them hand written to show that I actually wrote it and not the recruiter. It's not like they can't just tell me what to write! Oh well, it's in and I'm waiting.
Originally posted by hazardos13: im currently active duty Air Force, E-5 with 8 yrs of service and they did my grade determination waiver in a few hours while i waited at MEPS; result i was able to keep my E-5. i guess it was closeout day for the month at MEPS so they HAD to kick me out that day.
My recruiter and battalion are taking a 4 day weekend and wont be back until tuesday. He did call battalion yesterday and they are going to have it done on tuesday morning. Battalion did call on wednesday and requested my wife's parents location, place of birth, birthday and names. Not sure why thee wanted that, it wasn't asked for on the paperwork I filled out.
getting close! hopefully I'll be at meps next week to sign!
Wow, its so nice to see more Navy PO1s getting to keep their rank. I was a Navy nuke E6, got out after 8 years active in 1987 (yeah... I came in 1979), was out for 20 years. Was headed to the Active Army or AR. But, my grade waiver was taking too long. I was 4 months into the wait when I jumped over to the ARNG and they didnt do a waiver at all, I came in SSG. That was back in April of 2007. Later, I found out the Army had approved my grade waiver, but wanted to know if I would accept an MOS other that 56M (Chaplains Asst). I would have told them anything at that point but i never was told about it until after i was already in the Guard.
At WTC I saw many Navy/AF/and Marine NCOs dropped one rank. My asst PS under me was a 13 year Navy E6 SEAL. His dad was an a Army 2 star, and he was dropped to E5. I see now he is a SSG.
One more point guys, the Army is not that hard to learn. You earned E6 and you shoudl be able to keep it. I have had no issues being a SSG. I have been with the active army in and out of TRADOC and was a platoon sergeant on several occasions, and squad leader the rest of the time. Not a problem guys. No disrespect to the Army, but you will find the average soldier is not as apt as the average sailor was. That is not say the Navy didnt have dirt bags or that there are not tons of very squared away soldiers. Just an observation.
Keep your mouth shut at WTC and do the job assigned to you. take in everything you hear from the former army and cadre. never let yourself be heard saying anything that sounds like the following, "...but in the Navy we...". You are not in the Navy and NO ONE CARES WHAT THE NAVY DOES IN THE ARMY!!!! Get that under your belt and you will work out fine. You are all talented and skilled NCOs and dont let other services demean your rank. It degrades both you, the person saying it, and the Army NCO corp. The Army has a very good corp of NCOs. And you will all be part of it soon.
