Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 4/10/2009

Question
I was Active Duty Navy for almost 7 years, then transferred to the Navy Reserves. I took the E6 exam recently and I was wondering if I get promoted to E6 in the Reserves and I choose to go back on Active Duty to finish 20 years, will I retain my E-6 paygrade in Active Duty?

Answer
Norm,
Congratulations on taking the E-6 exam, I hope you make it. That's one of the most difficult enlisted ranks to earn.

Short answer is no.

Despite what you may have heard you cannot simply transfer.  The Guards, Reserves, and Active Duty components are all different.  With very few exceptions (mostly for medical folks), you cannot simply transfer from the Reserves to active duty.  About the only way it can be done is when an enlisted sailor earns a Bachelor's degree and want to become a Navy officer.  Then he'll be discharged from the Reserve component to attend OCS and upon graduation he be commissioned into the Active-Duty Navy.

Even for those in the medical career field that do transfer, the Navy forces them to lose at least one stripe but not lower than E-3.

Do you like your present job?  You will be required to enlist in the same Navy career field as you had in the Reserves. So if you're crossing over because you hate your job, forget it.  If you were a cook in the Reserves you'll be a cook in the Navy.

Also, how old are you? You must be able to complete 20 years of service by age 55.  No waivers are authorized.

Have you talked with a Navy recruiter yet?  You're considered a " re-enlistment" and not a regular "enlistment", and the Navy limits the number reenlistments they allow each year.  Recruiters are given very few re-enlistment slots. Given the choice, the military will allow someone currently on active-duty to re-enlist, before they will allow a you to use up that slot.  You will require more "paperwork" and time & effort by the recruiter that a normal off-the street recruit, so don't be surprised if a recruiter won't spend his valuable time working with you, unless he is short his quota.

If you're sure that's what you want to do, you should probably wait until late September so you'll be one of the first in line in the new fiscal year, when new quotas are assigned.  Remember for a Reservist to transfer, the Navy must be under their goal for active-duty reenlistments. If not enough Active-Duty reenlist, then they'll look to your category.  For the past few years, Navy re-enlistment rates have been right on target.

Good luck in whatever you decide, and thanks for serving in the military.
Colonel H