Information needed for a mom!

[Cheryl]

My son and I went to see a Navy Recruiter on Saturday, is it important to see more than one recruiter? I have heard where it is better, this way they can get a better "deal"? I'm confused and want to do what's right for my son.

Thanks!!
PS. I love this site.
Cheryl

[Achseh]

My son's recruiter told us that once a recruiter finds out that you've seen another recruiter, they won't deal with you and will refer you back to the first.

Best thing to do is to continue asking questions. If something doesn't sound right, question it until you understand.

Ask away!

[Barbara's Page]

Dear Cheryl,
There is no better deal. The facts and information are all the same. I aggree that another recruiter will tell you to go back to the first recruiter All the information is on their computer.

Just ask what ever comes to mind, that's what the recruiter is there for. But, you will get personal experiences from the Navy moms. We have all been through this. We are all here for one another.

Please, feel free to ask anything you want, to any one of us Navy moms. That's what we are here for, support and encouragemnet for one another. You'll get straight answers from us, we all went through all of this already.

Take care and God bless,
Barbara

[Debbie H. (Casey & Kelly)]

If your recruiter isn't the Chief, you can ask for Chief to sit in with you and your recruiter. He'll have more information and maybe a better handle on the whole process. It worked well for us as the Chief's daughter is a friend of my son's from school. What we found is that our recruiter was a newbie and didn't really have as much info as he should have. Don't be afraid to ask questions...anything that comes to mind AND if you can find other families that worked with that recruiter talk to them. They may have insights for you.

[Hoppi aka Angie]

Not every station has a Chief.

[Kristine]

My husband was a recruiter for 14 years and when our son decided to join, one of the things we told him was not to let the recruiter "bully" him into doing something he did not want to do. Just remember that your son has a right to ask for a specific rate and the right to say no if that rate is not immediately available. Another thing to be aware of is a recruiter who wants your son to ship "right away" so the recruiter can make their monthly goal, despite what is in the best interest of your son.

Our son did talk to another recruiter because he did not feel comfortable with the first one he had spoken to. The recruiter will help your son through the process from beginning to end and it is important that your son is comfortable with the recruiter.

Also, keep in mind that your son is at the mercy of what he scores on the ASVAB as to what rate/job he is eligible to do.

[DebbieG]

You also need to figure out if the recruiter is willing to go to bat for your son. My son worked with 2 different recruiters. He wanted a particular job, but he would have needed a waiver to get it. The first recruiter was not willing to go the extra distance and was only interested in getting a slot filled. My son walked out. He went back a year later and hooked up with a recruiter who was willing to go the extra mile for him. Now my son is in 'A' school due to graduate in 3 weeks and he got the job he wanted. Make the recruiter do his job.

[Tim Talbott]

Cheryl,

The only time you should go see another recruiter is if you dont trust the one you spoke with or something has happened that you no longer wish to work with them. Recruiting has the same "deals" no matter where you go. The best thing to do is stick with the one you have unless something happens. This site is a great place, you can even ask me and I will answer your questions the best I can. I hope this helps.

[Tim Talbott]

As far as asking for the Chief. The CHief could be new as well. If you are uneasy about anything or dont understadn, ask to speak with the Recruiter in Charge. They are the most knowledgeable in the office.

[Debi Fitzgerald]

What Tim says here is absolutely accurate. I am a former Navy Recruiter and Command Career Counselor and the "Chief" might be a brand new recruiter. The Recruiter in Charge or "RINC" is the most knowledgeable, however, he/she might also be the one most interesting in making quota. The RINC might also be a full-time Navy reservist who is very knowledgeable about the recruiting side but not so knowledgeable about the fleet, jobs, training, sea/shore rotation. If your son hasn't taken a practice ASVAB yet have him do that so that you know what his "raw" score is. Your son might want to go into the nuclear power program but might not have the scores. Once you know what your son qualifies for then it is best that you and/or your son talk to current or former sailors about the different job fields, training, sea/shore rotation. If that is not possible please search out websites such as this and others where you will find current or former sailors who are knowledgeable about career fields and have no incentive to sugar coat the truth or lie.

[MIMI]

this is the info I got too. The problem is, I had no idea about any of this, and so not many questions came to mind. so, because my son has been sitting at a base, waiting for a school for almost ten weeks after BC, let me see if I can make this better for you.
First and foremost understand your recruiter wants to meet his quota and once they get a kid in their sites they will lie, tell you to lie, and lie some more in order to get you signed up. Once you take the oath, believe me, they could care less...it's all an act.
So, it is up to you and your son to ask and find answers online on non military sites . Just google whatever topic and put Navy in front of it and you will get all kinds of stuff.
Second, Do not sign up to be an AZ. They have more than they know what to do with ...in fact, find out where the school is for the job your child is thinking about and if it is Meridian MS. turn it down. I wish I would have known about this site before my son picked his job because I would NEVER have let him settle for what he was talked into taking.
Ask them to give you a list of all the jobs your son can pick from with his score. Its on the Internet somewhere, Then look when you go to pick your job, stay with your son. When they pull the jobs folders look for where the A school is, then read the entire profile for the job, and what the requirement's are, what is the rate of promotions available, and are the duties something your child will be interested in.
This is your responsibility, they will try to get you to take whatever gets him in the fastest. That's why you have to have a pretty good idea before you go in there. Sit and talk with ex Navy. ask as many questions as you can. You have one chance and that's before you sign up, after that they are at the Navy's mercy and unless they are an officer, it can get pretty rough.
My father was a VET, my son grew up excited to serve his country and looked forward to the day he could enlist. He loved Boot Camp! and now, sitting around and wasting time for oh 10 weeks now, he is becoming depressed and wants to leave. This was a kid voted most fun and one of the most likely to succeed. Now he is sad and dissipointed in the military and life in general. He's learned his heroes only care about themselves. So now, he will get his education and get out. Very sad all because he was lied to Oh yeah, his first recruiter wanted HIM to lie about a health issue, it meant nothing yet the guy told my son to lie. Of Course he didn't, but we should have known, and reported it, and got talked out of what we knew because my son wanted to believe so badly that it was the exception...not the rule.
I have found many people with my story on this site, an equal amount of those with good stories. So, the beginning makes a difference learning what you can on here asking around reading all you can, makes a difference, and I wish someone on here would have told me this. I would have a happy healthy sailor instead of an angry dissilusioned one. That is hard to take at 18. Best wishes.

[Vikki]

Wow - MIMI - your son is is "sitting around wasting time." But he is getting PAID very well for "sitting around." I am pretty sure the Navy does not want to just have all these recruits just sitting around waiting at the tax payers expense - though it is commom to have to wait to class up. But again he is getting paid.

I am sure that it is a disappointment for him, but my goodness, do neither one of you see a light at the end of the tunnel?

I am sorry you did not have a good experience with your recruiter. That is unfortunate. But to lump all recruiters into one basket and say that they lie and don't care and that it is all an act. That is wrong and wrong to lead new Navy parents and recruits to that conclusion.

Again, I am sorry for your unfortunate experience, but perhaps after your son starts school and then begins his job, he will again find his enthusism for the Navy and for serving his country. Best wishes for you both. ~ Vikki

[Lynn]

As the mom of a sailor just finishing up 3 years of recruiting (his shore duty after 6 years of school and the fleet), I can say that I'm more than a little offended by your comments!! I've watched my son go to bat for his "kids" at school, jobs, court, and anywhere else they needed him. He spends at least a couple hours a night on the phone with sailors who respect him and his judgement and consider him their friend. He's brutally honest with recruits on life in the Navy and bootcamp. He will also tell them when they need to straighten up, fly right or get out before they leave for BC. For you to classify him and many others who work so hard for all of your "recruits", with one recruiter that you feel wronged you and your son, really makes my blood boil.