so dh will be taking his next promotion test in march, but here's the thing: he only has a 1+ year left in the navy and he wants out. he is afraid if he moves up in rate that they will treat him like sh*t for wasting the billet on someone who isn't staying. his boss made him sign up for the test against his personal judgement. he has a bunch of eval points so he will definitely pass the test. in my opinion, why not make as much money as possible before he gets out?? why not move up while he has the chance?? but he thinks there are more politics to it than that. am i being naive? is it worth him taking the test if they might treat him like crap for NOT re-enlisting??

opinions/experiences PLEASE!!

He will have to test anyway, regardless if he is not re-enlisting. I have known people to test despite getting out in a week. No one will treat him like crap for that. if they do it's because of their own stupidity. And since he has a year+ left he won't be able to not test. Most CMC's/ CO's won't entertain the idea of not letting you test.

I would do it. Geting out or not, this is his life right now. I would do the best on everything I do even if I know that will change in a couple of months. I would take the test, pass it and wear my new rank proudly. I don't see it as a wasted billet. I'm sure he is not the 1st or last that is going through this.

I would do it. Geting out or not, this is his life right now. I would do the best on everything I do even if I know that will change in a couple of months. I would take the test, pass it and wear my new rank proudly. I don't see it as a wasted billet. I'm sure he is not the 1st or last that is going through this.

i agree with you. but he is afraid others will look at it as a wasted billet. he told me some horror story about a guy he knew who passed the test right before he got out.

If he earns it, he earns it. I don't think it's a wasted billet. If someone else doesn't get it, it's because they didn't test as well or earn as many points, so I don't think he should feel guilty about it. I know he already has a career, but most people want to get as high as they can before getting out for their resume, so I don't think it's unusual.

Ok, I disagree with everyone... Only because I personally went through this right before I got out about 18mo ago. He HAS to take the test, it's not optional. However, because of the way the Navy works which is different from all the other branches, there are a limited amount of spaces for each rank, so if he does advance, that means that someone else can not now matter how well they scored on the test. Also, the time that it takes to get paid depends on how high you score on the test. So it could take anywhere from 6mo-12mo before you start getting paid for that rank. Which as I understand, your DH would be processing out right as his pay is being started.

Ok, I disagree with everyone... Only because I personally went through this right before I got out about 18mo ago. He HAS to take the test, it's not optional. However, because of the way the Navy works which is different from all the other branches, there are a limited amount of spaces for each rank, so if he does advance, that means that someone else can not now matter how well they scored on the test. Also, the time that it takes to get paid depends on how high you score on the test. So it could take anywhere from 6mo-12mo before you start getting paid for that rank. Which as I understand, your DH would be processing out right as his pay is being started.

:yes that is exactly his arguement

Ok, I disagree with everyone... Only because I personally went through this right before I got out about 18mo ago. He HAS to take the test, it's not optional. However, because of the way the Navy works which is different from all the other branches, there are a limited amount of spaces for each rank, so if he does advance, that means that someone else can not now matter how well they scored on the test. Also, the time that it takes to get paid depends on how high you score on the test. So it could take anywhere from 6mo-12mo before you start getting paid for that rank. Which as I understand, your DH would be processing out right as his pay is being started.
if it's not the E-7 exam it will max take 6 months to get paid.
It's still a moot point he has to take the exam in March, especially if he has a year or more left in the Navy. To me that is not a wasted billet. If he had 3 months or less then yes it is, but not a year or more. That gives him time to gain experience and all of that.

I don't agree with that. You are in, still will be for over a year. Why not gain the experience and what you have work hard for?

:dunno he doesn't want the experience. he already has a knock-out civilian resume.
anyway, i guess it's all a mute point because it's required and he will pass.

Nope, I was in the navy for all most 6 years. It took all most a year for my pay to kick in for my next rank, same for many MANY of my shipmates unless they fell in the first pay bracket or got meritorious advancement. I am sure passing is not the issue for your hubby. Most jobs are going to be more interested in your evals.

Nope, I was in the navy for all most 6 years. It took all most a year for my pay to kick in for my next rank, same for many MANY of my shipmates unless they fell in the first pay bracket or got meritorious advancement. I am sure passing is not the issue for your hubby. Most jobs are going to be more interested in your evals.

it should have everyone should be paid by the time the next cycle starts. We have never had that issue, someone dropped the ball on your ship then.

After seven years in the Navy, my husband has always had a wait of approx six months before his pay has kicked in after he has made rank. They way the navy works it is everyone who cuts a passing score and will advance is put into brackets, and you are paid according to bracket. The first bracket usually starts getting paid about a month after results come out. The last bracket is approx the 15 of the month before the next test results come out, which is about a year later.

Yeah, the ships don't change the pay, they do that in Millington.

Just because he passes doesnt mean he will advance. He could PNA.

I understand how he feels, because it is the truth really. Many guys will make rank and get out immediately or just after putting it on and the people who don't make it, look at it and think, gosh, if that person hadn't claimed that "billet" (because that is exactly what it is, a billet for that paygrade in that rank), then I might have put it on instead. My own husband has said that....but, you never know if he may change his mind or want to join the reserves and that rank is carried along with him. I don't know how much actual "experience" he will get to benefit his resume, but he shouldn't fret over it.

Just because he passes doesnt mean he will advance. He could PNA.

I had passed many test, but never had enough points to advance...so who knows.

it should have everyone should be paid by the time the next cycle starts. We have never had that issue, someone dropped the ball on your ship then.

Not always true. It took 9 months for us to see the pay increase when he made both 2nd and 1st class. I really hate how the Navy works in regards to advancing vs. when you get paid. :grumpy

The first time I made rank to E4, I made last increment and got paid within 6 months of the test, before the next cycle. That is not to say something hasn't changed, but if it is working the same way, everyone should get paid within 6 months of frocking.