Prior Pay Question

[navy12]

I am a Prior with 8yrs service (active duty), I applied and was accepted to BDCP after 18 months of civilianhood. I was under the impression that I would recieve O-1E pay upon commissioning; however, my recruiter seems to think that if I have a "break in service" that I may not be entitled to O-1E pay. I have researched this topic and found every possible answer execpt for a clear one. The DOD Financial Management Reg's Vol 7a Chp 1 010103, gives some good info but it is not completely clear on the topic. I would appreciate any input from someone who has personally faced this situation or has known someone 1st hand who has. Thanks!

 

[Belle]

My husband was AD for 5 years, got out, got his degree, went to OCS and now gets O-1E pay. The break in service didn't make any difference.

 

[navy12]

Thanks for the reply! the info helps, but if he only did 5yrs enlisted then he still had to do 3yrs in the IRR (inactive ready resever). Did he go to OCS after being off of active duty for at least 3yrs, thus making him a true freee and clear "civilian" like me? Thanks!

 

[Belle]

He swore in to OCS the day after his IRR commitment was up, but I'll have to ask him if they scheduled it that way on purpose (I really don't think so, but I didn't hear every detail of his application). Your prior service will be counting towards your retirement, right? So it should be on your LES as time served...which makes it seem like they'd have to being paying you as a prior E, but I suppose anything is possible in the military.

This is interesting because I was enlisted for 8+ years and if I was applying for OCS today (after almost a year of being out), I would just ASSume that they would pay me as a prior...it wouldn't even really cross my mind that they wouldn't.

 

[Flying Low]

I just looked at the Military pay manual. The only requirement for O-1E pay is 4 years and 1 day of prior service. Breaks in service are not address because it does not affect your pay unless the break in service was during your enlistment contract (i.e UA, AWOL). Even then you just subtract the AWOL time from the enlistment time on a day for day basis.

http://www.defenselink.mil/comptroller/fmr/07a/07a_01.pdf

A. Service Counted
1. General. Commissioned officers with over 4 years of prior active service as an enlisted member, warrant officer, or combined service in both grades are entitled to count such service for purposes of computing basic pay for longevity purposes. Such prior service includes all active service, in either the Regular or Reserve Component or both (i.e., active duty for training in enlisted or warrant officer status, annual Reserve training duty, and full time National Guard duty). Service on active duty or active duty for training for at least 4 years and 1 day satisfies the over 4 years of service requirement under this section. See subparagraphs 010102.A.8 and applicable notes to Tables 1-7 and 1-8 for student entitlement to basic pay for longevity purposes while attending the USUHS.
2. Creditable Prior Enlisted Service. Effective May 20, 1958, commissioned officers in pay grades O-1, O-2, or O-3 who are credited with over 4 years (i.e., at least 4 years and 1 day) of prior active service as an enlisted member are entitled to the special rate of basic pay for pay grade O-1E, O-2E, or O-3E.

 

[navy12]

Thank you!! You guys are awesome!!

 

[xmid]

I had a guy in my OCS class that was enlisted for 6 years and an E-6 before getting out. He was a civilian for several years before going back to OCS and while we were there he got paid as an E-5 like the rest of the non-priors. They told him the reason he didn't rate E-6 pay and O-1E was because of the break, but after reading this it sounds like he's getting screwed. He was going through a messy divorce so I'm sure the extra cash could have really helped. Hopefully they have since gotten it straightened out for him...

 

[Flying Low]

I had a guy in my OCS class that was enlisted for 6 years and an E-6 before getting out. He was a civilian for several years before going back to OCS and while we were there he got paid as an E-5 like the rest of the non-priors. They told him the reason he didn't rate E-6 pay and O-1E was because of the break, but after reading this it sounds like he's getting screwed. He was going through a messy divorce so I'm sure the extra cash could have really helped. Hopefully they have since gotten it straightened out for him...

This shows a valuable lesson for all the new people. Always ask to see it in writing. Or at least do your own research and show up to PSD with copies in hand to ask for clarification. Don't just take their word on something that affects your pay when you think they are wrong.

 

[usmarinemike]

This shows a valuable lesson for all the new people. Always ask to see it in writing. Or at least do your own research and show up to PSD with copies in hand to ask for clarification. Don't just take their word on something that affects your pay when you think they are wrong.

No lie. There isn't an oracle, or big giant brain in the next room over telling the admin folks what to do. I've realized that with nonstandard procedures they usually just think shit up and hope it's right.

 

[Flash]

I had a guy in my OCS class that was enlisted for 6 years and an E-6 before getting out. He was a civilian for several years before going back to OCS and while we were there he got paid as an E-5 like the rest of the non-priors. They told him the reason he didn't rate E-6 pay and O-1E was because of the break, but after reading this it sounds like he's getting screwed. He was going through a messy divorce so I'm sure the extra cash could have really helped. Hopefully they have since gotten it straightened out for him...

If they have not he is still entitled to the pay. I believe HAL described a situation where he got a lot of back pay because of some admin screwup. As long as he is in teh service I don't think there is any time limit to getting that pay. Not sure if that is the case if he is out.

 

[navy12]

How about the sea pay counter. Will I keep my sea time when I commission or does it re-set?

 

[Flying Low]

How about the sea pay counter. Will I keep my sea time when I commission or does it re-set?

Your sea counter carries over but the pay is lower for O's.

 

[xmid]

Yea, I think he was just more worried about finishing the program in 12 weeks and taking care of his situation at home. Theres not alot of time at OCS to raise a stink about such trivial things as how much you are getting paid... The Chiefs will usually try to get those things straightened out for you, but sometimes you check back with them on something like that and you get the "Oh yea, I asked them about that and it looks like you're just going to have to deal with it..." Its kinda hard to dig up regs or otherwise buck the system when you are in the throws of OCS. Like I said, hopefully he's gotten it straightened out and got a fat back pay check.

 

[freshy]

I think everybody, no matter what prior service, get's paid as an E-5 during OCS.

Because you are exactly that....An Officer Candidate, not an Officer. You're not an "O-1" with prior service. You're a civilian for all intents and purposes, until you raise you're hand and swear in as an Officer, and get the butterbars pinned on.

After that, if you had the 4 years, 1 day of continuous active duty service, you should be getting paid 01-E.

 

[Flying Low]

I think everybody, no matter what prior service, get's paid as an E-5 during OCS.

Because you are exactly that....An Officer Candidate, not an Officer. You're not an "O-1" with prior service. You're a civilian for all intents and purposes, until you raise you're hand and swear in as an Officer, and get the butterbars pinned on.

After that, if you had the 4 years, 1 day of continuous active duty service, you should be getting paid 01-E.

You get paid at your current rank, which for me was an E-6 or you get promoted to E-5, whichever is higher. There were several guys in my class which got E-6 pay as part of their Nuke contract that had no prior service. What I don't know is what happens if you get out prior to OCS. If someone is an E-6 and gets out for a few years, then reenlists I don't know if they start automatically back at the same rank or 1 lower.