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Hey everyone!  I am a Navy Nuke Girlfriend, and a future sailor myself (CTI).  My Nuke Boyfriend gets automatic E-3 just for being amazingly smart, but most of the rest of us don't have that option.  Did you all know that your future sailors can advance a pay grade before they even get to Boot Camp?  Look in the S.T.A.R.T. Guide Page 29 for all of the different ways to advance early.  For me, NONE of those options was available - I was new to my area and had no friends to recruit, I had never done any college or vocational training, and had never been a part of any programs like Sea Cadets, Girl Scouts, etc.  There was only ONE option for me to get early advancement to E-2 - passing the RTC PQS (sometimes called DEP PQS) during the Week 1 Processing Days of RTC.

For those of you who don't know, here's the basic idea:  A test can be taken in the first week of Boot Camp that determines your level of knowledge on 11 major subjects which will otherwise be learned during Boot Camp.  If you pass this test, you get advancement to E-2.  ALL OF THE INFORMATION TO PASS THIS TEST IN IN THE START GUIDE, and there is even an outline of readiness for the test in the back of the START Guide.  Basically, your future sailor can advance early (meaning more pay sooner) simply by learning things beforehand to make the RDCs' job easier.

Using the START Guide outline and all of the information within I have created a flashcard learning and test set on Quizlet.  It's a great way to learn all the required information without being overwhelmed by the book.  Keep in mind that the actual test is less than 50 questions - you just don't know what particular questions it will contain.

WHY should you tell your future sailor about this?

#1 They already know and aren't taking it seriously because they don't realize what a huge benefit it is.  

#2 It breaks down a seemingly overwhelming task into manageable learning material making the benefits easily achievable.  

#3 If your future sailor does not get early advancement in RTC they will have to wait an unnecessary minimum 9 months to promote -  if on the other hand they pass the PQS they will have nearly $200 a month effective immediately, graduate RTC with 2 stripes (as opposed to nothing), and will be utilizing the next 9 months to promote to E-3!  

#4 Keep in mind that all of the information they need to learn for this test is information they HAVE to learn to graduate Boot Camp.  What does that mean?  That means that even if they do not pass the PQS, their experience in Boot Camp will not be as difficult as it would have been because their studying will have given them an advantage.  Less cramming, less last-minute memorization, less stress.  Oh, and less pain/exhaustion - Fitness is one of the subjects tested in the PQS.  Start practicing and learning now, fellow future sailors!  It can ONLY help you.

Sorry, I know I'm long-winded.  I also know that the users of this site have varying degrees of experience and knowledge and I want to make sure everyone has a shot at this.  I ship out in less than a month and I feel SOOOOO prepared and ready since I have been studying and working out to pass the RTC PQS.

*There are MANY navy pqs sets on quizlet.  I made mine because all the others I found were flawed, partial, or just poinless in general.  Mine is the most accurate, the most inclusive, the most relevant, and you can check ALL of it in the START Guide.*

Without further fluff'n'stuff:

http://quizlet.com/_eoaxd

If that doesn't work for you, go to Quizlet.com and type in 

Navy RTC PQS Sections 1 - 11

by elise_barnette

Good Luck everyone!!!

Views: 13224

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Thanks for the info, but you have to pass both the written multiple choice test over the  DEP GUIDE PQS with 80% or above at Recruit Training Command (RTC) and the PT-Baseline (the first PFA) with a SAT-MED to be advanced one pay grade. So study the DEP START Guide and be preparing physically for the PFA. http://www.navy-prt.com/femalestandard/ gives the PFA standards for females. http://www.navy-prt.com/malestandard/ gives the PFA standards for males.

See E-1, E-2, or E-3? How did that happen?

Page 28 of the DEP START Guide indicates the following for Advancement to E-2:

Complete the Delayed Entry Program Personal Qualification Standards and pass a written test

and physical training baseline at SAT-MED at RTC.

Rereading my post I see how it was a bit ambiguous and could have been misunderstood.  Yes, that is what I meant to convey:  The PFA and PQS must both be passed for early advanecment. (Though recruiters will often speak as if the PFA is a portion of the PQS becaue it may as well be for this opportunity).

Thanks lemonelephant!

I believe you can also advance one rate by bringing in two nuke recruits before you go. Depending on the order you and your boyfriend signed up, that may count as one.

You can also get promoted while at Boot Camp, so may not have to wait that 9 months. 

One paygrade up, as rate includes the job they are trained do.  No one gets beyond E-3 before A school, as that is where they learn/earn their rating.    

Nukes get E-3 just for signing their own contract, as does AECF or SECF, and several others.  But if a recruit isn't signing for a six year program, it is good to get a jump on advancement.  

I don't believe it's true that AECF and SECF automatically start at E-3, unless they've changed it. My son was AECF and entered as an E-2 due to college credits. 

Yes, I should have said "paygrade".

P.S. I should add, I'm not sure if you can combine different qualifications to reach E-3. I know my son wasn't allowed to take the test to reach E-3, although I'm guessing bringing in two Nukes might count as they are tough to find.

Ah,  the E-3 for AECF used to be automatic upon graduation from boot camp.  They changed it.  Thanks for the update!  Still, it isn't hard to make the jump up as all you have to do to get E-2 is complete boot camp.  

Saves the Navy money, I guess, and gets some experience under the new sailors' belts.  

Glad I was able to correct you on something for a change.;)

BTW, they STILL are push button E-4's once they finish C School......or is it A School?

As I said in my original post, the back of the start guide lists all the ways to get early advancement to both E-2 and E-3, and I am focusing on the RTC PQS because I do not qualify for any of the other methods.  I listed a few of them: Sea Cadets, Sea Scouts, college credits, vocational training, recruiting friends.  Certain degrees of achievement in those various things earn early advancement, but if you don't have the time or option for any of those, RTC PQS is the one EVERYONE can get.  That's why I made the study set on Quizlet - to help others like me who have no alternative early advancement option.

 

Nukes get automatic E-3.  There are a few rates that get this.

Recruiting 2 normal rates to navy gets E-2

Recruiting 1 special warfare or 1 nuke gets E-2

Recruiting 4 normal rates to navy gets E-3

Recruiting 2 special warfare or nukes gets E-3.

 

The PQS only earns E-2.  If you already have E-2 for some other reason the PQS will not promote you.  There are promotion opportunities once at RTC, such as division leader etc. (if you do well).  If you take on those positions from E-1 you may advance to E-2.  If you take it on from E-2 you may advance to E-3.

 

SO, example:  I am going to try to pass the PQS to get E-2.  Then I am hoping to be selected as division leader or section leader etc. to further promote to E-3.  If I do not pass the PQS and still get to be division leader etc I will only advance to E-2.  If I only pass the PQS and don't get any leadership role I will only advance to E-2 (if at all.  Like I said you have to do well in that role to advance).

 

Make sense?  It's kind of difficult to articulate via written.

Makes sense and work hard on knowing that info and being able to pass that first PFA with a SAT-MED. About 10% are meritoriously promoted at BC.

See E-1, E-2, or E-3? How did that happen?

I don't believe you get selected for certain roles at Boot Camp, I believe you can volunteer. Some jobs are tougher than others. I have heard handling the mail is pretty thankless, but might get you promoted. 

Section leaders and division leaders are selected and changed out by the RDC.

Good luck

Most of the time, the RDCs "voluntell" the recruits what position they will fill, in my experience.   They ask who has what experience, who has college, who was a scout, who had JROTC, and so on.  Some RDCs do not want the first person who volunteers with advancement in mind.  So you're stuck with do I/don't I volunteer?

I was the EPO because I'd had the most college, our RCPO had some JROTC, and the yoeman had a little less college than I had.  The section leaders were chosen seemingly at random, but I think the RDCs had had time to skim over our records coming in.  

Thanks you guys!

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