AA/AS Degree makes you an E3?

[Liz]

My son's recruiter told him today that he can be an E3 (I suppose after A school?) if he has his AA or AS degree? Is this true?
My son has time to get the few credits to get the degree. We have always steered him toward getting GE classes done for a transfer to a 4-year college.
So is the AS more beneficial (for the Navy) than being at transfer level?

[pld5zf]

I was wondering about this myself. I have taken about 90 college credits at a university and about 10-12 at a community college. With the qualifying credits is anyone able to rank higher out of bootcamp?

[eurekamom]

It is absolutely beneficial!  My son had an A.A. degree before he went to boot camp, and when he completed basic, he was an E3 right off the bat.  Plus, you can take courses all the time you're in the service and get even closer to your bachelor's the whole time you're in.  A jump start is a great idea ~ more stripes, more money, and you stand out from the crowd just a bit.

[laura h]

My sailor went in with 0 college credits and because he passed the DEP(PFA) test while at bootcamp, he became E-2. Then he was assigned a leadership job as PO in charge of laundry - kept this job during the entire 8 weeks & his RDC promoted him to E-3.

[GaryMimi]

Our son graduated and E3 due to having had 4 years of NJROTC in high school - he graduated with a fellow sialor that had her MAsters Degree in Music and she will be an E6 afterwards - whew!!!!!

[Angie]

the Music program is the ONLY program that does that!  Also she won't get that until AFTER she finishes all her music schooling.

[Jack360]

Ask the recruiter  about an OCS program. The Navy will pay a lot toward the tuition and your son can get the benefits of an officer with much better prospects one he gets out. Making E3 from boot camp makes no difference in the fleet. It does, however, count toward the recruiter's performance record.

Guess it is too late now but could be useful to someone else.

[Anti M]

I disagree.  It puts the sailor ahead by an exam cycle or two, and while the increase in pay is not huge, it does exist.

Also, not everyone wants to be an officer.  I had a couple years of college, and went enlisted because I wanted to do the work.  Zero interest in being an officer, and I came from a Navy family, so I understood what it meant.  Sure the pay is better, but it is not for everyone.  

[lemonelephant]

:o)

[Sueya Frost]

my son didn't have AA or AS, but had three yrs of college credits & starting at E3 after A school

[Marlow]

My daughter had her Associates in Arts when she graduated from high school. Before she left for boot camp on 8/26, her contract had her listed as an E3.

[Josh'sDad]

Former recruiter here, yes, college credit, vocational training, referrals who enlist, and completion of DEP pqs are all ways to accelerated advancement.

[SailorSis]

My brother just arrived to nuke A school on Saturday. He started as an E3 because he has a AS.