For me, any First Termer who doesn't Star is just playing a stupid game. This applies for everyone. Love or Hate the Navy. Trust me, 6 yrs or 8yrs...it flies by. 2 measly years will mean nothing.
You have to factor in several things.
1. E-4 vs. E-5 base pay
2. E-4 vs. E-5 "supplemental" pays
3. Bonus
4. Shore Duty
1. Base Pay Based on the 2009 pay schedules:
E-4 @ 2yrs gets $1828.00 monthly
E-4 over 2yrs gets $1921.00 monthly
E-5 @ 2yrs gets $1994.00 monthly
E-5 over 2yrs gets $2127.00 montly almost $2,500 more per year in base pay alone2. Additional Pays (assume over 2yrs) E-4
Sub Pay - $95
Sea Pay - $70 (1yr or less of Sea Time)
Pro Pay - $150
E-5
Sub Pay - $155
Sea Pay - $70 (1yr or less of Sea Time)
Pro Pay - $150
BAH - $588 (then adjusted for Region)
Comrats - $324
E-4 = $315 monthly, $3780 yearly
E-5 = $1287 monthly, $15,444 yearly3. Bonus Used to be typical of "Baby Nukes" to get anywhere from $30,000 to $75,000...for only 2 yrs. EM's are getting bent over a bit, but I believe the $45,000-$60,000 bonus structure is still available
Re-enlist in a tax free zone, and you are looking at anywhere from $15,000 to $33,000 in one lump sum up front. Then the remainder split out for the next 4-5 yrs.
4. Shore Duty Why would you voluntarily give the Navy 4-5 yrs on a boat and then get nothing from it. Submarines suck...alot. Get some sort of reward. Scary thing is, they are still better than Carriers.
Get the Shore Duty you have earned. Get your Degree. A B.S. is easily achieved while on Shore Duty. There is no reason to get out of the Navy without a degree...especially directly from a ship.
IMO, you have have your cake, and eat it too. If you are smart about it, you stand to pocket a
Significant amount of money, and then basically have 2-3yrs of paid Vacation (Shore Duty).
Not even counting the Bonus...just the advancement to E-5, Star Re-Enlistment nets you an additional $105,000 over a 6 year period
and that is without calculating the increase in pays you would recieve for each career milestone...like >4 yrs, >6 yrs...the Sea Pay Kicker...Senior Sup Pro-Pay.
Also, by Star Re-Enlistment, you are shortcutting the path to Advance. It puts you that much closer to E-6...I make
alot more money than a E-4...alot
You'll still be a lowly Nub...but as a Qualified 2nd...life is pretty good. They are the backbone of the Navy.
for the Naysayers: I understand if you hate the Navy...but don't let your bad attitude influence others. Present both sides of the coin, and allow them to figure an answer themselves.