A couple of guys in my shop did it but they were A school grads. When I was in {76-80} they liked to use E-5 as a re-up carrot. Chief offered me E-5 and $15K to try & get me to stick around. LOL
E-5 is the best rank to have in the Navy really as far as what is required of the rank. You're not doing the trivial dirty work, usually not sent to mess cooking etc unless as a supervisor, and in most cases they don't have the headaches most First Class and Chief's deal with on bigger ships.
I was an E-5 on subs...We got screwed.... we did all the work cause we were the only ones experienced enough or qualified to do it ;)