Curious about a couple of things...

[amya]

Hi everyone,

My son will be 18 in Feb. and he is a senior this year. When we visited a recruiter this summer, we were told that he has to graduate from HS before he can sign up in the Delayed Entry program. Unfortunately, he attends a charter school that the Navy regards as one step above a GED, so he also has to have 15 college credits in addition to his HS diploma from this particular school. This won't be a problem because he is concurrently enrolled in a vocational/tech program in which he is earning college credits towards an AAS degree in TV/Video Editing.

So, he will have 18 college credits by the time he graduates HS. So, my question...can he get into the DEP before he graduates? Should he go ahead and sign up when he turns 18? He would like to leave fairly soon after graduation...

Also, he wants to go into Mass Communications. If he can't get this rating, what should he do? When I was checking on ratings, MC ratings appeared to be only open to E3's, and he will be an E1 when he enters, is there an entry level rating towards MC?

thanks so much!!

[Marybeth]

I am very surprised that they are saying that your son needs to be a HS graduate already before signing up for DEP. Maybe it is because of your son's particular schooling that you mentioned... Or maybe they've changed the standards since the Navy is overmanned right now...

My Sailor and many many many others from this site joined the DEP while still in high school.

I can't answer your question on Mass Comm...

Good luck!

[PEGGY...PROUD MONTANA NAVY MOM]

My son was 17 when he signed up in the DEP program and was a Senior in highschool. Of course I had a bunch of paperwork to sign as well because he was only 17. This was last year and before the economy tanked and the Navy got full to the brim with people needing a job. Perhaps it has changed in one year time.

[Sherry R.]

Maybe you might want to go to another recruiter just to make sure you aren't getting conflicting information.

[PETTY OFFICER]

You do not need to go to another Recruiter, they all work from the same manual, His school is currently considered a TIER II, that does not make him elligible to join until he has proof of accredited hours, now remember that the fact that he has 18 credit hours automatically does not makes him elligible, they have to be major credits.

He will need to score at least a 50 to be more comptetitive for a job.

The MC rating is a veryy small commuinty in the Navy, however it is not always available at MEPS, he should join the Navy with an open mind and outweigh the benefits and opportunities the Navy has to offer not to just focus on the job. Every job in the Navy is significant to the Navy's mission and his ASVAB will determine his strength jobs.

[amya]

Thanks for the info...he actually took the ASVAB at the recruiters (the short version) and scored a 76 without a problem and in fact stated before he took the real one, he will study up and knows he can score higher, so he should be fine there.

His college credits will be specific to the AAS degree that goes with that program, so they won't be general education credits, I guess I will need to discuss this with the recruiter.

Also, I keep reading here that you definitely want to have a specific job before you sign your contract, so if MC is not available to him, is there another track he should consider in the same field...thanks for all the wonderful feedback...

[April]

My son was interested in MC but there was a long wait. He went in as an E-3 because he had an assiciates Degree. He decided on Sonar because it is in the Communications field.

[Tammy (Hunter-Ship 11 Div. 327)]

Amya:

Just as PO Sam stated, his ASVAB score will determine his strengths. Once the recruiter has his ASVAB score, he will review the jobs that his score qualifies him for. The recruiter and your son will then discuss his options, what jobs interest him, and finally what jobs are available. Just because he qualifies for a job or would like it, doesn't mean it will be available. It's about his needs, but also the Navy's.

My son was also 17 when he signed on with DEP, but he was going to a regular HS, not a charter school. He scored very well on his ASVAP, so his opportunities were increased, however, he could not go to BC until he had his HS diploma. I don't believe he had to be 18 because I signed a waiver, however, he did have to have his HS diploma.

[TX Karen]

Hi there! My son signed up for the delayed entry program right after he started his senior year of HS, he was 5 months away from turning 18!

[sailorangel]

Hi Anya my daughter was 17 when she signed up she had just finished her junior year at public school, she spent most of her senoir year over in Denmark as a foreighn exchange student, but long story short she had to come home 3 months early and take virtual school classes to get her English 4 credits (2 credits to graduate with a required 24 credits by our school system. so she was delayed entry though and she finished and got her diploma this past May and shipped out for boot camp July 21 and graduates Sept 11, a bit of advise she was very glad she had signed up in July of 08 because when she got back her recruiter told her that they were not excepting new recruits in her Job ( she is IS ) so I would double check about him delay entry I think he should be an also she was told that the year time from when she signed up and to when she shipped out will go towards her in-active time she will owe once she gets out. I hope this hels and is nottoo confusing good luck

[Kimandtheboys]

Drats, too bad he wasn't a Sea Cadet while in high school. My son was already an E-3 when he enlisted because he had progressed through his unit.

[Lora Gibson]

My son signed up for DEP while he was a senior in high school as well, but he had turned 18 already. He went in as an E3 because he was an honor graduate and an eagle scout.

[jenni(Jake's mom)]

Hi, Im not sure why the recruiter would tell you that he cant sign up, my son Jake signed up when he was 17 and still a senior ( with our permission ) he has been in the DEP program since Feb 09, and is scheduled to leave on Sept 17 for boot camp and will be an E2. I would talk with a different recruiter. hope that helps a little. Jen