Son Re enlisting

[SC1903A3]

So my oldest joined the Navy in 09 and spent his first 2 years in Nuclear school. Graduated and went to the USS Tennessee in October of 2011. Well I talked with him last night and he advised he has decided to re enlist now instead of waiting until his first enlistment is up. He also advised that he's hoping to get his dolphins and become senior in rate sometime in December.

[WildBill]

That sounds like he is doing well.

I do have a question. What is the advantage, if any, of early re-enlistment?

[snatchel]

That sounds like he is doing well.

I do have a question. What is the advantage, if any, of early re-enlistment?

The advantages kind of depend....

1. If you do plan on re-enlisting, do so while deployed in a combat role. For example, Nuke's get a fat re-up bonus, maybe 50K for 4 years, depending on your rank. If you re-enlist overseas in a combat zone (and ships/subs can be in a combat zone) then your bonus is tax free.

2. There is something called PTS--Perform To Serve. It's basically an evaluation that decides your eligibility to re-enlist. Some jobs, though I doubt Nukes are one of them, are full and downsizing. If the cycle is down and your rate isn't full, that is the best time to re-enlist because you have a better chance of getting selected.

There are a bunch of other reasons... it really depends on your job. No doubt, the #1 reason is to get the tax-free SRB.

Congrats to him on getting pinned. I'm not sure how tough dolphins are, but in my rate we had a "SWCC" pin. Takes a lot of hard work. When I left the Navy in 2010, I had earned my SWCC and EAWS pins.

[G26ster]

For example, Nuke's get a fat re-up bonus, maybe 50K for 4 years, depending on your rank.

Yikes, I got $465 in 1964 as an E5

[A-R]

A big ol'





AND



to your son for his service

[C-dub]

SRB was about $5k for the rating I chose when I first enlisted in 1983, but my rate was full 3 years later and there was no re-enlistment bonus and even advancement was difficult.

Congratulations on your son's progress and re-enlistment.

[SC1903A3]

Since he's on a boomer he doesn't go into combat zones so no tax free bonus. As a Nuke his re enlistment bonus is $90k with $45k up front minus taxes. If he re enlists now he only gets socked with 10% tax on the $45k instead of 15% if Obama's tax plan kicks in. He'll get the other half spread out over the duration of his enlistment. He said it only makes monetary since to do it now instead if waiting. At this time he's still planning on going career.