Gunner's Blog

By Chief Journalist (SW/AW) David Rush, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs



PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- Chief Electrician's Mate Robert Cruanes, reactor control division leading chief petty officer stationed aboard USS Bremerton (SSN 698), is slated to receive $100,000 by staying Navy as part of the Enlisted Supervisor Retention Pay program.

According to the Navy Personnel Command, nuclear-trained Sailors with at least six years of service but no more than 10 can get as much as $65,000. Sailors eligible for the Enlisted Supervisor Retention Pay can get even more, up to $100,000 if they meet the requirements.

The Enlisted Supervisor Retention Pay program is separate from the Selective Reenlistment Bonus and is designed to keep senior enlisted supervisors in critical jobs. Those who accept the supervisor bonus are not eligible for the Selective Reenlistment Bonus.

"I would have reenlisted with or without the bonus," Cruanes said. "This was icing on the cake."

As a submariner who holds a nuclear Navy Enlisted Classification
(NEC), Cruanes credits the Navy's latest bonus increase for senior Sailors with addressing the gap the Navy saw in leadership in the 12-17-year career mark.

"It's for the Zone 'C' reenlistment under the Enlisted Supervisors Retention Bonus for the nuclear trained ratings," Cruanes said. "It just started last November."

The ceremony included gifts for those in attendance at his ceremony.

"I was the first one on my boat under this new program," he said. "I gave out $100,000 candy bars to all the people at my reenlistment. I thought they would appreciate that."

According to Cruanes, he has been fortunate to get reenlistment bonuses, and even more fortunate to see them grow over the years.

"The bonuses for the nuclear ratings have always been there since I have been in the Navy, but it seems like they are getting better and better," he said. "My first bonus was $12,000 and for my second I got $60,000. That time we were in the Persian Gulf, so it was tax-free."

Although the bonus was a factor in reenlisting, Cruanes said he loves his job and the camaraderie of submariners.

"I love being in the Navy; there's a sense of doing something worthwhile in my life. Whenever I retire, I can look back and say I made a difference," said Cruanes. "I tell my Sailors the Navy's not for everyone, but I have heard from a lot of my friends who have gotten out of the Navy that they miss the people that they worked with and that they were doing an important job."

For related news, visit the Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/subpac.