what benefits if I sign for my son to join at 17

[Barbara]

I was hoping to get anyones oppinion or has done this. My son wants to join he is 8 months from being 18. I had a recruiter come and we talked about this that and the other. My son wants me to go ahead and sign now so he can be an e2 possibly e3 when he starts bootcamp. The only benifit to this as far as I can see is about 300 dollars pay more. The recruiter states that by me signing I am not signing his life away as my family members are thinking I am doing. That my son has up untill the day he steps on the plane for bootcamp he can change his mind. And by me signing is basically only helping him with rank as his time in starting out. I am soo confused, My family is going nuts and when I try to explain as I have above the benifits and the only reason really to sign now, they say that the recruiter is lying. Once I sign he is the Navy's property and he has no choice but to go. And do I want his blood on my hands by signing and to let him wait to sign when he is 18. The recruiter seemed genuine and can he lie to me? I mean if he says that my son can change his mind up untill he walks on that plane for bootcamp, regardless if I sign now or he signs when he is 18. Am I signing his life away? Please help the recruiter is coming in two hours. I am having second thoughts now and need advice.

Barb

[Marybeth]

Barbara, we were told the same thing - that he could cancel his contract at any time leading up until the time he departs for boot camp (BTW, my son hasn't left yet...but he is in only 23 more days....sniff) Your son would be joining DEP - the Delayed Entry Program - they would meet with their recruiter and other DEPPER's once a month (or possibly more frequently) for physical training and some edification on the Navy comings and goings.

I also put off signing the papers as long as I could. I have no idea about the rate - my son is supposed to be going in as an E3 due to his 4 years of JROTC in high school.

Even if the recruiter is sitting in your kitchen right now, there is no reason to sign the papers today if you are still uncomfortable.

And what it really boils down to is what does your son want, and is it the best decision for him. You're right - in a few months he can sign those papers without you.

Good luck with your decision - you'll find a strong support network here...

[Hoppi aka Angie]

First off calm down...you are not signing his life away! If your son wants to join, he sounds like he will do it if you sign for him to leave at 17 or he waits until he is 18.

Your son has until the time he steps on that plane to say...sorry I changed my mind and don't want to join.

Another thing that might help, I have seen people who where 17 complete "A" school, well they couldn't transfeer to a ship until they where 18. the Navy does NOT allow 17 year olds to go into harms way. He would go to BC, go to "A" school and than have to wait until he turns 18 to to to a ship. So by you allowing him to sign up early is really just getting him a jump start on his career.

Can the recruiter lie to you??? yes and no, they don't really lie, they just only answer the question you ask. So you have to be careful how your word the question.

Below is the link to the instruction about 18 year olds in the Navy.

http://www.npc.navy.mil/NR/rdonlyres/A245D4CC-7FE9-4485-BED4-947A38...
1306-126
CH-2, 28 Feb 2003
Page 4 of 4
5. Members Under Age 18. At no time will an enlisted member
under the age of 18 be issued orders that require reporting to
an operational command (Type Duty Code 2, 3, or 4).

a. When practical, use the training pipeline to ensure
members will reach their 18th birthday before reporting (diaried
aboard) to their permanent duty station.
b. In situations where using the training pipeline will not
satisfy the age requirement, assign member to Type Duty Code 1
or 6, per this article.

[Cindy]

Hi Barb.
I was really confused too when my daughter asked her Dad and I to sign for her.She had just turned 17.I feel we did the right thing.Our children will do what they want with or with out our approval.Just ask the recruiter all the questions you can think of and get answers in writing.It really gave my kid an advantage.Ther were no suprises in bootcamp and she was rewarded many times over.If there is anything I can tell you to help just ask.
Cindy

[Hoppi aka Angie]

If the recuriter says your son will come in as an E-2 orE-3 insure it is on the contract! Also make sure what every school he is going to is on the contract, ask for an enlistment bonus also ask about the college fund. I have seen people come in with $5-10,000 bonus.

Keep asking questions and was already said, if it dosen't feel right don't sign the paper work

[Paige (Billy's Mom)]

Hi Barb,

Are you signing your son up for the DEP (Delayed Entry Program)? If you are than this is a very good way for your son to enter into the Navy. My son went into the DEP just before starting his senior year of high school and because he was still 17 at the time, his father and I had to sign his enlistment papers also. During the time my son was in the DEP he worked closely with the Recruiter and other DEP recruits training and learning some of the basics that they will be taught while attending boot camp. Because of all the training through this program my son was mentally and physically ready for all the challenges he would be faced with during basic. The DEP recruits are able to go up in rank (E1, E2 or E3) while in the program. My son was able to make E3 before leaving and graduated BC with that ranking. And, yes he will have an oppportunity to change his mind if he chooses.

Hopes this helps. Let me know if you have more questions.

Paige

[Barbara]

Thank you all soo much. I feel a little bit relieved. I did however call the recruiter and told him we needed more time to think about this.

As far as i understand it, it is the DEP, and if we sign now he will have 8 months in prior him signing himself. Giving him an e2 status before bootcamp. Which is just more pay as far as that goes, as I understand it. And a head start on advancing to higher rank by 8 months if I sign now. Plus the advantage of early training, meeting with his recruiter, getting to understand what will be expected of him in bootcamp etc.. I am not signing his life away, I am not committing him to the military, he has a choice till the day he leaves for bootcamp to change his mind, which by then he will be 18 and would have signed himself regardless if I do it today or not.

You all have confirmed what I understood by signing now would happen. Thank you. Now explaining this to my husbund and his family and not being told how bad a mother I am for signing now means.

[Christie U]

Do not let anyone tell you that you are a bad mother for signing now! You are a mother that has raised a son that is strong and brave, and ready to follow a noble, honorable path! I signed for my son at 17, and think that was the best thing I could have done. He had his eye on a goal all through his senior year, and that worked to keep him focused, I think.
Good luck with your decision, you and your son will make the one that is right for him.

[J from O]

The recruiter is telling the truth. Your son can back out of going to the navy until he swears in right before leavign for GL. Most recruiters don't want you to know that but it is fact. Your family is uninformed. You are only helping your son. He is going to join at 18 anyway so go ahead and let him make rank. Good luck.

[Dawna Widmar]

I want to respond to the "do I want his blood on my hands" quote from your family. Not to be morbid, but, if your son were killed in a school bus accident would his blood be on your hands because you put him on the bus? I don't think so. People think that just because someone is in the military they are going to get shot at. Yes, our saylors put themselves in harms way FOR US. But, there is nothing saying that they won't get hit by a car tomorrow. There are no guarantees in this life, military or civilian. We signed for our son at 17. Because he made the decision almost a year before he went to boot camp, he got the job and school that he wanted and when he finishes A school, he will get his enlistment bonus. Be proud that your son is thinking ahead and trying to make plans for his life.

[Chris A.]

Being in the DEP is really a great idea. My son is older so we didn't have to make the decision you have to, but he was 5 months in DEP and spent that time getting himself into really good physical condition, going to weekly meetings with his recruiter, learning as much as he could from the Navy handbook, so when he finally got to BC he was well-prepared (or at least as well-prepared as you can get..............no one is totally prepared for boot camp!). Kids who go in right away (not DEP) have a a very rude awakening, they have to work twice as hard because they were unprepared for the rigors of boot camp. So I would say, sign him up for DEP, and he can wait until he's 18 to actually go in.

[Hoppi aka Angie]

Depends what is on his contract , if he is an E-1 or E-2.

[Anti M]

Cathy, I got out of bootcamp as an E-3, it was in my contract. It was dependent on my rate choice/qualifications. My husband was in DEP a long time. His mom signed for him at age 17, but he did not swear in and go to bootcamp until he was 18. He too had the E-3 clause, advanced electronics, same program I was in. The DEP program is even better than it was 20~30 years ago.

DEP does count toward time in service advancement. The faster a sailor advances, the more pay, benefits and privileges they can acquire.

DEP gives the sailor a very good head start and prepares them for bootcamp. Do ask a lot of questions before signing a contract; the choice of rate/job is very important. Don't choose a rate simply because the bonuses are high, see what he's interested in and qualified for.

Bad things can happen anytime, anywhere. I am from a long liner of military members, only my grandfather was injured, and that was WWI in 1918. The Navy is a good career, or at least a decent boost in life. I did nine years, my hubby did 20, we know we have health insurance and his retired pay always will cover the mortgage. We will never go hungry or uncared for. I loved the Navy, even on a bad day.