Is it wrong to contact my daughter's recruiter?

[JulieR]

My daughter is in the DEP program and I'm wishing she'd go in sooner that September. I have questions and would like to talk to her recruiter but I wasn't sure if I should do that. She made this decision on her own and I didn't know if it was OK to contact them or if I should just stay out of it. If anyone has any advice, I'd appreciate it.

Julie

[JulieR]

I really do hope they find her a differen job. Machinist Mate just doesn't seem like something a girl should do or that she would enjoy. She made it sound like that was her only choice which I find hard to believe.

[RuthAnn]

The job that she picked she qualified for by her ASVAB test. They take the line scores and have formulas that fit with certain jobs. So that the job fits their strong points and aptitudes. For example, my son had three jobs that were available on the day that he went that he qualified for...they were hospital corpman, master at arms, and hull technican-advanced technical field. The recruiter told me that as the economy went south the lower jobs have been snapped up and that it is harder and harder to qualify and fewer jobs available. My son has a friend that graduated a couple years ago, she went in as an aircraft mechanic and loves it. My older son has a girlfriend that is a machinist mate and is very happy in her job. Is your daughter happy with the choice? I think if she is happy with it, you should let her pick her job. i completely understand your concern. I have the same concern with my younger son. He picked the Hull Technician - ATF. The only reason I am okay with it, is the ATF because that is an advanced class along with the regular rate. If she isn't happy, then she has to tell her recruiter to look for another job that fits her qualifications on the ASVAB. As long as she is in DEP, she can change her job. After she goes, she is in it for at least 18 months.

[JulieR]

It's just all so confusing to me. She said that when she had her physical and she didn't have 20/20 vision, the eliminated half the available jobs. She then said they found something in her background and the eliminated the rest of the jobs, all accept the machinist mate. I'm not sure she's happy with that, she seems to be just accepting it because they told her that was all she qualified for at the time. I don't know if she's asked for something else, or just resigned herself to doing this because that's what she was told at the time. I just want her to be happy and I'm afraid she's not. I don't want her to settle and be miserable for the next 4 years.
Am I wrong to feel like this?

[Toni Mother of Tara]

Hi Julie,
Wow I also have daughter who's job will be (MM) Machinist Mate, she not leaving for BC untill Dec.09. I'm very happy she is going in the Navy. I just wish it would be sooner then Dec. I would like to know more about the Job (Machinst Mate), do you have more information on it? I'm hoping it works out for both our daughter, I know how you feel. Please feel free to email me.

Toni

[Jennifer Ann Hall Small]

Girls can do ANYTHING and EXCEL at ANYTHING ... don't try to choose for her ... maybe she is just not comfortable trying to justify her choices with you. She will be fine ... it is a great field.

[Jim Gramza]

Julie,
We tried to get my son in sooner too, but it didn't work. Just let her finish out the time she has on the DEP program and it will be fine. This also gives her a chance to get prepared for boot camp. This is a time for her to use to get herself into shape. Once she is in, then you will miss her. Good luck.

[JulieR]

Jim,
Thanks for your input. I guess I'm just a worry wart! She wants one last summer to be with her friends. It just seems like that's all she's done since graduation 2 years ago and I'm anxious for her to get on with her life. I guess one more summer won't hurt anything at this point as long as she doesn't get into any more trouble with the law before it's time to go. I don't want her to screw up her chances to make something of herself and get on with her life.
Trust me, I miss her already and she's still here.

[Linda Jarrett]

You could contact the local recruiting office in your area. With her being in the DEP program I don't know if you can get her in sooner or not. They only take a certain number of recruits at a time for each position. My son joined and he was shipped out in 12 days. That was only because they had openings in the department he was going into. Best of luck, sorry to hear that your not on the same page with her.

[Linda-Josh's Mom]

Hello - we also had the opportunity for our son to go into Bootcamp earlier than was scheduled. It didn't work out, but my son's recruiter was there for him through DEP and he was there for the mom and dad as well. Our son had PIR 12/24/08 and now in Pensacola studying cryptology. I ran into his recruiter a month ago (they are in our neighborhood) and I had many additional questions and he answered them all. As parents we have questions that need to be answered for our peace of mind. You can make that decision on your own, but the Navy is family and there for you every step of the way. Hope this has assisted you.

[JulieR]

Wow, the day before Christmas. That must have been hard. I'm hoping to patch things up with my daughter soon so we can talk more about her plans. I'd like to ask her first if she minds I talk to her recruiter instead of going behind her back. Thanks for your input.

[RuthAnn]

Julie~
The vision can make a difference as to the jobs they qualify for and her background has to do with the security clearance she can qualify for. Have you checked out the job of machinist mate? You can research it yourself on the internet and it will tell you almost as much as the recruiter can. This link will explain the job to you. http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjob1/a/mm.htm

[RuthAnn]

Also, it is my understanding that after 18 months if they are not happy, they can change their job. I have a nephew that was was in for several years on a sub as a sonar somthing or other... he switched to a master at arms.