Careers Career Paths U.S. Navy Rank (Rate) Determination for Prior Service Share PINTEREST Email Print Stocktrek Images / Getty Images Career Paths US Military Careers Technology Careers Sports Careers Sales Project Management Professional Writer Music Careers Media Legal Careers Government Careers Finance Careers Fiction Writing Careers Entertainment Careers Criminology Careers Book Publishing Aviation Animal Careers Advertising Learn More By Rod Powers Rod Powers Air Force NCO Academy Rod Powers was a retired Air Force First Sergeant with 22 years of active duty service. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 09/11/19 Below are the rules for rank retention for prior service members who enlist in the United States Navy: Prior Service Navy Members (NAVETS) Navy Veterans who meet the below criteria, and enlist into their previous ratings, usually enlist in the grade they held at the time of discharge (up to E-6). Those who must enlist in a different rating (PRISE III) program enlist in the grade of E-3, except for AECF, CTI(N) or Nuclear Program, who enlist in the grade of E-4 (if E-4 or above was held during the previous enlistment). In order to enlist at their previous grade, the following criteria must be met: E-2: Must have two years or less of total active federal service, and no more than six years broken service (time since last discharge).E-3 (with proof of passing E-4 advancement exam): Must have five years or less of total active federal service, and no more than six years of broken service.E-3 (with no proof of passing E-4 advancement exam): Must have two years or less of total active federal service, and no more than six years of broken service.E-4: Must have six years or less of total active federal service, and no more than five years of broken service.E-5: Must have eight years or less of prior service, and no more than five years of broken service.E-6: Must have 12 years or less of total active federal service, and no more than three years of broken service. In addition to the above qualifications, Navy Veterans must be able to meet the service obligation (term of enlistment) without exceeding the HYT for the grade. Non-Navy Veterans If the Veteran holds a skill that is directly convertible to a Navy Rating, they are usually enlisted at one paygrade lower than they held at the time of discharge, but not lower than E-3. If the veteran does not have a skill directly convertible to a Navy rating, they enlist at the grade of E-3, regardless of previously held rank, in most cases (there are a few exceptions). For those who hold a skill that is directly convertible to a Navy Rating, the following criteria must be met: E-1 through E-3: Must have six years or less of prior service, and no more than five years of broken service.E-4: Must have six years or less of prior service, and no more than three years of broken service.E-5: Must have eight years or less of prior service, and no more than three years of broken serviceE-6: Must have 12 years or less of prior service, and no more than three years of broken service. In addition to the above criteria, all prior service must be able to complete 20 years of service by age 55. No waivers are authorized.