Unless you climb ranks AFTER retirement, as of 2010 in which you already claimed to be retired seeking VA benefits, you claimed that you were an E-3 Seaman and a Third Class Petty Officer. Your words not mine. And "quite a bit higher" is a little odd for an IC man, but hey, that's your story. Highest IC man I know was E-6 after 25 years of service, which is still a far cry
from being "quite a bit higher" then E-3. I was IS 3912 when I was in the US, so I do know just a little about the Navy :) I'm not questioning the service, just the inconsistent statement about the rate.
First of all, I have no idea where you are getting your information.
If you must know, I did not retire from the US Navy.
When I left the Navy, I was an E-7, or designation of ICC.
I received advanced rank at times from some of the duty assignments I had, which I do not care to go into detail.
If E6 was the highest IC person you knew, then you ran in very low achieving circles.
After leaving the Navy, I worked at other civilian US Government agencies as a networking technician and electronics technician.
I retried in 2009 with 36.5 years.
Is there any other detail of my life you would like to know?