Wow, wish I was nuke-certified and in the USN...

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-11-18 11:00pm

November 22, 2004

Some sailors eligible for $100K bonus

By Mark D. Faram
Times staff writer

Nuclear-qualified sailors in any of eight specialties can now get up to $100,000 for shipping over, under a new policy introduced Nov. 5.

The Enlisted Supervisor Retention Pay replaces the Selective Re-enlistment Bonus for eligible sailors.

“This program will ensure we retain the right people with the right skills,” said Ron Hill, spokesman for the Navy’s chief of personnel in Arlington, Va.

The Navy has designated eight surface and submarine nuclear power Naval Enlisted Classifications as eligible for the program, according to NavAdmin 253/04, released Nov. 5.

Previously, payouts for re-enlisting in those specialties couldn’t be greater than $60,000.

But because supervisor pay is considered a critical skills retention bonus, it is not subject to the same rules, so payouts can go as high as $100,000.

Navy officials estimate that about 300 sailors are currently eligible for the new bonus program, Hill said.

Also, those new rules also cap at $200,000 the total amount of re-enlistment bonuses a sailor can get in a career.

To apply for this bonus, sailors must:

•Be at least an E-6.

•Hold one of the eight qualifying NECs: 3363, 3364, 3365, 3366, 3393, 3394, 3395 and 3396.

•Be in re-enlistment Zone C, meaning they have between 10 and 16 years’ active service.

How it works

Like SRB, the amount a sailor gets under the program is determined by a mathematical formula using the service members’ base pay, the number of months for which they will re-enlist and the “multiple” set for the skill.

The higher the multiple, the more critical the skill is and higher the payout will be.

For example, a first class electronics technician holding the NEC 3363 — a Reactor Control Submarine Nuclear Propulsion Plant Supervisor — qualifies for the maximum multiple of 7.0.

A four-year re-enlistment will net that sailor $72,496 — $12,496 more than he would have gotten under SRB.

Shipping over for five years would net a total payout of $90,860.

Half of the total bonus will be paid up front, with the remaining money paid in equal annual installments for the remainder of the contract.

For those who missed out this time, there will be a future opportunity.

According to documents on the community manager’s Web site, plans are on the table to expand the bonus into Zone D in fiscal 2006, which would allow sailors with up to 20 years to collect the benefit.

Although the program now is limited to supervisors in the nuclear power field, Navy policy allows for a broader program, according to a policy memorandum signed on Sept. 7 by Rear Adm. Gerald Talbot, head of military plans for the Navy’s chief of personnel in Arlington, Va.

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2004-11-19 12:50am

I'm sure that by now, Shep, the Pentagon knows not to let you anywhere within a thousand miles of a nuke.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-11-19 12:52am

Patrick Degan wrote:I'm sure that by now, Shep, the Pentagon knows not to let you anywhere within a thousand miles of a nuke.

Erm. I'm easily close to where they fuel up LANTFLT SSBNs

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-11-19 01:01am

MKSheppard wrote:
Patrick Degan wrote:I'm sure that by now, Shep, the Pentagon knows not to let you anywhere within a thousand miles of a nuke.
Erm. I'm easily close to where they fuel up LANTFLT SSBNs

In that case, I'm sure they have you under surveillance already

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2004-11-19 02:19am

A couple of guys I went to school with were in the Navy nuke program back in the mid to late 80's, and both of them said that it was so stressful that the reup bonuses simply weren't worth it and got out as soon as they could.

Apparently they have to offer the big bonuses.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2004-11-19 04:03am

Re-enlistment bonuses come and go. They must really be hard up for keeping experienced nukes to be offering bonuses of that size.

At one time there were lots of high paying jobs at power plants that nukes could get virutally straight out of the Navy. I don't see where there that could be happening now so things must be really sucking in that job (no surprise).

Too bad our resident Nuke (Ender) is haze grey and underway right now I'd be interested in what he has to say on the subject.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2004-11-19 10:39am

Glocksman wrote:A couple of guys I went to school with were in the Navy nuke program back in the mid to late 80's, and both of them said that it was so stressful that the reup bonuses simply weren't worth it and got out as soon as they could.

Apparently they have to offer the big bonuses.

They do because you can get out as a Nuke go work a plant somewhere after you have about six years experiance(The minium they will get unless they get kicked out earily) and make 120k a year(From the 22-30k a year they were making before)

They HAVE to give large bonuses because Civilian nukes make magintidues more money than Navy nukes