They are having another round of Interservice transfers and I put my package in.

I would love to retire from the Navy but my rate group has a <2% advancement rate to Chief the past 5 years. I'm just spinning my wheels it seems.

Plus a $180K reenlistment bonus for most enlisted, regardless of zone as I understand it.

At the end of the day I'm here for the money and better retirement numbers so Loyalty to the Navy takes a back seat.

I will no longer be a linguist, but I've rarely used my language in my 12.5 years in the Navy. Mostly it's been other cyber-related work. I SHOULD be pretty competitive. I'll find out the results in January.

Be careful... Transferring to Space Force might end up with you being assigned as a stormtrooper or a redshirt.

Neither one has a long life expectancy.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Be careful... Transferring to Space Force might end up with you being assigned as a stormtrooper or a redshirt.

Neither one has a long life expectancy.

But my aim HAS to be better than either, Right?

Viel Glück!

https://notthebee.com/article/...-from-another-planet

Good luck, man

Unless things have changed in the last 40ish years, be prepared for some backlash from your leadership.

I merely inquired about an interservice transfer from the Army to AF. When they found out about it, they made my life a living hell.

I dunno, I could see the USSF needing linguists.

Do you speak Klingon ?

I am not familiar with Navy enlisted rank… I look it up and CPO seems to be E-7, correct?

I made SSGT E-6 as a Medical Laboratory Specialist after four years, offered E-7 to reenlist at 5 years during Vietnam. I chose to get out in 1965 and go to college instead. I was not interested in going to ‘Nam.

Not having a 2% chance of advancing sounds like poor odds. Any idea what delays promotion to E-7?

Otto - Good Luck to you Sir. Hoping it works out for you. Mark

keep us posted I'm curious how it shakes out for you!!!!

Good luck. A former co-worker of mine just started with them as an engineer.

quote:

Originally posted by tleddy:

Not having a 2% chance of advancing sounds like poor odds. Any idea what delays promotion to E-7?

Retired Navy E8 here (SCPO).

Promotion quotas are determined by manning requirements, recalculated every promotion cycle. At least, that's how it worked when I was active.

I spent 6 years as an E4. MOST of that was due to lack of ambition/effort on my part, but it was also affected by multiple PNA (Passed, Not Advanced) test results. They way they limited promotions was to set the threshold score higher. You could pass with a 70%, but the cutoff might be as high as 90%.

At the CPO level, you could pass the test with a pretty good score but your record went before a Selection Board and they pass on your promotion based on any criteria they deemed appropriate.

As an E6 going up for E7, I got serious about promotion and punched every ticket I could find. Volunteered for collateral duty as a Departmental Career Counselor. Completed a flurry of correspondence courses on anything to do with my rating or general military subjects. Volunteered to honcho the Combined Federal Campaign for the Department. Anything to make me look good for promotion.

A combination of that effort, some instructor duty-related awards (Master Training Specialist) my Enlisted Code and a decent quota for my rating resulted in my being selected for CPO (E7) first time up.

And then I spent another 6 years trying to make E8...

In Otto's case, I'm sure he's punched every ticket out there (Recruit Pusher is a biggie!) but his rating is historically over-manned and they simply don't need/want more T-Branch Chiefs.

quote:

Originally posted by AllenInAR:
I dunno, I could see the USSF needing linguists.

...

The 3 big career slots are space ops, cyber ops and intelligence.

USSC has a higher percentage of its ranks in intelligence than any other service. In 2024 it was almost 14%

From what I recall it’s now more than just a tour and move on. You can do an entire career in the SF.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:]

In Otto's case, I'm sure he's punched every ticket out there (Recruit Pusher is a biggie!) but his rating is historically over-manned and they simply don't need/want more T-Branch Chiefs.

Thank you Mr. Paul. Currently we're at 140% manning so your assessment is spot on.

I'm grateful for your understanding of the situation.

I hope you, your grandchildren, and the dogs are doing well.

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:
Thank you Mr. Paul. Currently we're at 140% manning so your assessment is spot on.

I'm grateful for your understanding of the situation.

I hope you, your grandchildren, and the dogs are doing well.

Sorry, I mis-represented you, I assume you're an "I" brancher. Even worse, overcrowding-wise.

For those that care (both of us...) the Cryptologic Technician (CT) rating originally consisted of 6 "branches":

T - Technical (CTT)
A - Administrative (CTA)
M - Maintenance (CTM) (my branch)
O - Operations (CTO)
R - Radio (CTR)
I - Interpreter (CTI)

Since the Naval Security Group (NAVSECGRU) cased it's colors, "O" and "A" rating have been disestablished and the remainder folded into other activities mostly Cyber and Network related.

And, thanks for asking, we're all good. Great-grandson turned 15 today (damn, I'm old...) and "Papa" (that'd be me) found a High Standard .22 revolver in the safe that I figured he needed more than I did.

I wrote number one for chief (GM) for five years in a row. I literally had to wait for a chief to retire before I could fill his billet. I totally get it OTTO.

We had a QM1 whole wanted to transfer to the Army to teach small boat handling,nav, etc. the coast guard gave him serious grief. Then he applied and was accepted in their CWO program. Seems that the USCG couldn’t refuse his transfer to another branch if he was gonna be an officer. This was back in the 90s.

Good luck.

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:
They are having another round of Interservice transfers and I put my package in.

I would love to retire from the Navy but my rate group has a <2% advancement rate to Chief the past 5 years. I'm just spinning my wheels it seems…

I'll find out the results in January.

Best of luck to you Shipmate — I think you are making a smart move. The possibility of longstanding impact and cultural legacy is worth considering if you are selected.

I voiced loudly and often — while still in uniform — that our Navy was misguided in our approach to Space and subsequently USSF. See my signature line below — dating back to ‘03 or so.

The USN has normalized the generating of surveillance and kinetic effects in Low Earth Orbit for almost 25 years now…I was privileged to be on the firing team for the first intercept in space of a Ballistic Missile by a USN surface ship. There is certainly something to be said for a career defining moment that you recognize unfolding. After concluding my safety brief prior to the engagement — identifying support ship and aircraft locations, etc, the Commanding Officer said, “Great brief OPS. But what I NEED to know is where will the Space Shuttle and the Space Station be when we fire!” In that moment, I knew the world had changed…

Ultimately tracking and destroying many more targets in LEO from both sea and land and receiving the greatest honor to command Sailors and multiple Weapon Systems in the conduct of this “voodoo”, I fervently believe USN “missed the boat” with their call on Space. Remaining anchored to the ocean, ironically, will prove very short sighted!

With the booming commercialization and expansion of capabilities, this “new horizon” calls to the Salt in my blood! I wish you and your family the very best in this new voyage if selected — please keep us updated!

Godspeed and Good Hunting, Always

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KP93,

I hope it’s an awesome opportunity for you. The bonus is some serious coin.

I heard that there may be some openings in Greenland shortly ;-)