Billy Mitchell Award Enlistment Bonus Applying to Other Branches???

[Aquacordion]

Hello everyone, quick question.

I found a article(https://patch.com/new-jersey/mendham-chester/cadet-2d-lt-derek-petrin-receives-cap-billy-mitchell-award), have no idea if it's reputable or legitimate, but this it what it says:

" Billy Mitchell Cadets who enlist in the U.S. Air Force are promoted to E-3 (airman first class) instead of E-1 (airman basic) upon completion of basic military training. Billy Mitchell cadets who enlist in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps are promoted to E-2 instead of E-1 upon completion of basic military training. Likewise, Billy Mitchell cadets who enlist in the US Coast Guard are promoted to E-3 (seaman) instead of E-1 (seaman recruit) upon completion of boot camp."

This is totally new to me, since I only thought it applied to Air Force. I then was working with a recruiter that said it applied to the Army. Now we have this article.

Can anyone clear the air on this subject?

Thank you.

[Paul Creed III]

https://recruiting.army.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2141843/some-new-soldiers-can-now-qualify-for-higher-rank-more-pay/

[PHall]

Air Force recruiters know about Mitchell Award winners being eligible for E-3, it's the same deal they give AFJROTC cadets who complete three years of AFJROTC. It's not a little known program. As for the other services it's up to them and their recruiting needs.

And you DO NOT automatically receive E-2 when you graduate BMT. You are promoted to E-2 four months after the day you enter the Air Force/Space Force.

[HandsomeWalt_USMC]

Also good luck getting the Marine Corps to honor the Mitchell for contract PFC. The recruiter has to be willing to push the paperwork through while simultaneously explaining what CAP is and why Mitchell cadets should get E2 to a bunch of SNCOs who truly believe that being a Marine is enough and recruits should be happy with that.

Even JROTC cadets can have a hard time getting their program time credited for E2 and it's much better known within MCRC. More often, but by no means commonly, recruiters have some luck getting CAP credited with time in the same manner as JROTC and a cadet can get contract PFC based on years in the program rather than by virtue of their Mitchell.

[MSG Mac]

Talk to the recruiter(s)! The bottom line is that they are the ones who push to get you the advanced grade, whether it's for CAP, ROTC, or academics. Have a copy of whatever paperwork they need to backup (Mitchell Certificate, Academic grades and degrees, etc.)

[PHall]

Do not trust your recruiter, get everything in writing.

[LSThiker]

Talk to the recruiter(s)! The bottom line is that they are the ones who push to get you the advanced grade, whether it's for CAP, ROTC, or academics. Have a copy of whatever paperwork they need to backup (Mitchell Certificate, Academic grades and degrees, etc.)

If you go Reserves or National Guard and are drilling with a unit prior to shipping out to basic (or split option), you can also talk with the company commander about the promotion. Since the commander is the promotion authority for E-2 thru E-4 for the Army, they can authorize. They are usually more invested than most recruiters when it comes to advanced rank.

Caveat: I have been in a very specialized unit lately with 90% officer, 10% NCO, 0% enlisted (E-6 preferred but will take a few E-5 on a case-by-case exception). Not sure if recruits join a unit to drill prior to basic or not anymore. Or if they are held at a special unit (was like that with some states for Guard units a long time ago I believe). 

[Shuman 14]

Do not trust your recruiter, get everything in writing.

Trust what your recruiter tells you, verify what they tell you in writing.

Let's not be negative.

[Shuman 14]

If you go Reserves or National Guard and are drilling with a unit prior to shipping out to basic (or split option), you can also talk with the company commander about the promotion. Since the commander is the promotion authority for E-2 thru E-4 for the Army, they can authorize. They are usually more invested than most recruiters when it comes to advanced rank.

Caveat: I have been in a very specialized unit lately with 90% officer, 10% NCO, 0% enlisted (E-6 preferred but will take a few E-5 on a case-by-case exception). Not sure if recruits join a unit to drill prior to basic or not anymore. Or if they are held at a special unit (was like that with some states for Guard units a long time ago I believe). 

Most States' National Guards have a Recruit Sustainment Program (RSP) in which new ARNG Soldiers attend Drill before, in between (for split options) and for a couple of months after, Basic and AIT, with a special training company in which they work on basic drill and ceremony, physical training, common Soldier tasks, etc. to prepare them for BCT and keep them focused (for split options) in between BCT and AIT. They have them come back afterwards to share their success stories with the brand new Soldiers that came in after them. This sets the Soldier up for success and then they finally get to their actual a few months after they complete RSP. The RSP Companys are housed within the State's Recruiting Command.

I do not believe the USAR has a similar program and have had, in the past, brand new USAR Soldiers show up for Drill before Basic and AIT and they really don't get the good training the Guard RSP Soldiers do because the individual units aren't set up for that level of hands on "pre-basic" training that an RSP Company can do.

[Stonewall]

I enlisted into the Army in 1991 at the rank of Private E-2 (PV-2) because I had the Mitchell.

My son enlisted into the Air National Guard and leaves for BMT on 9 July. He is already an  A1C (E-3) because of earning the Mitchell.

To those who say "don't trust your recruiter" based on your experiences 20, 30, 40 years ago, times have changed. I'm not saying there aren't some bad eggs, but by and large the system forces them to be straight with you. My son met with Army, Air Force, and ANG recruiters and there wasn't a moment of pressure from any of them.

35 years ago, my senior year of high school, I went to the recruiter and got exactly what I asked for. No problems.

[Aquacordion]

Thank you for your replies, everyone. It's very appreciated.

You all have been very helpful 

[Stonewall]

Update for clarification.

My son, who earned the Billy Mitchell Award, is an A1C (E-3), however, in BMT (where he is right now) EVERYONE is referred to as an Airman Basic. No one wears rank, period. But my son is still an A1C and is being paid as such, he just won't be able to wear the rank until graduation.

The important part is the fact that he'll be making a couple thousand dollars more during BMT and Tech School compared to if he went in as an AB (E-1). Also, he won't have to wait for eligibility to promote to SrA (E-4) as long.

[Shuman 14]

Update for clarification.

My son, who earned the Billy Mitchell Award, is an A1C (E-3), however, in BMT (where he is right now) EVERYONE is referred to as an Airman Basic. No one wears rank, period. But my son is still an A1C and is being paid as such, he just won't be able to wear the rank until graduation.

The important part is the fact that he'll be making a couple thousand dollars more during BMT and Tech School compared to if he went in as an AB (E-1). Also, he won't have to wait for eligibility to promote to SrA (E-4) as long.

Yes, regardless of which Branch of Service you join, everyone is equally worthless at Basic Training... but that paycheck is the key.

I wonder, what would they do if a SrA from the Guard or Reserve showed up at BMT with all their uniforms having the Nametape, Branch Tape, and Rank already sewn on?

I know I'm dating myself but when I got out of the Marines and joined the Guard, I had to go to an Army MOS School, so I didn't have to do BCT, just AIT. The thing I always noticed was the Guardsmen all had the embroidered Tapes, Unit Patch and Rank sewn on already while all the RC and AD Soldiers only had the stenciled Tapes and no rank or unit patches on their BDUs. The Drill Sergeants Treated everyone the same regardless but the actual classroom instructors would always put a Guard PFC or Specialist in charge for accountability after breaks and such. It was a different time of course.