If you have college credit you can come in with a higher pay grade. Did you do JROTC or Sea Cadets during High School? They usually come in with a higher pay grade. I heard that some boy scouts get a higher pay grade. I think it was for the really gung-ho scouts who stay with the program until they graduate or something like that.
They used to promote the honor grad.
Note: I am not sure how the scouting thing worked, but I am sure I knew someone who told me that a long time ago.
