Navy Prior Service Rate (Rank) Determination

Below are the rules for rank retention for prior service members who enlist in the United States Navy:

Prior Service Navy Members (NAVETS)

Navy Veterans who meet the below criteria, and enlist into their previous ratings, usually enlist in the grade they held at time of discharge (up to E-6). Those who must enlist in a different rating (PRISE III) program enlist in the grade of E-3, except for AECF, CTI(N) or Nuclear Program, who enlist in the grade of E-4 (if E-4 or above was held during previous enlistment).

In order to enlist at their previous grade, the following criteria must be met:

* E-2 --Must have 2 or less years of total active federal service, and no more than 6 Years broken service (time since last discharge).

* E-3 (with proof of passing E-4 advancement exam) -- Must have 5 or less years of total active federal service, and no more than 6 years of broken service. * E-3 (with no proof of passing E-4 advancement exam) -- Must have 2 or less years of total active federal service, and no more than 6 years of broken service.

* E-4 --Must have 6 or less years of total active federal service, and no more than 5 years of broken service.

* E-5 --Must have 8 or less years of prior service, and No more than 5 years of broken service.

* E-6 -- Must have 12 or less years of total active federal service, and no more than 3 Years Broken Service.

In addition to the above qualifications, Navy Veterans must be able to meet the service obligation (term of enlistment) without exceeding the HYT for the grade.

Non-Navy Veterans

If the Veteran holds a skill that is directly covertable to a Navy Rating, they are usually enlisted at one paygrade lower than they held at time of discharge, but not lower than E-3. If the veteran does not have a skill directly covertable to a Navy rating, they enlist at the grade of E-3, regardless of previously held rank, in most cases (there are a few exceptions).

For those who hold a skill that is directly convertable to a Navy Rating, the following criteria must be met:

* E-1 through E-3 --Must have 6 or less years of prior service, and no more than 5 Years Broken Service.

* E-4 --Must have 6 or less years of prior service, and no more than 3 Years Broken Service.

* E-5 -Must have 8 or less years of prior service, and no more than 3 Years Broken Service.

* E-6 - Must have 12 or less years of prior service, and no more than 3 Years Broken Service.

In addition to the above criteria, all prior service must be able to complete 20 years of service by age 55. No waivers are authorized.