Once you've been given a job....

[Sherri]

Once you have signed a contract for a particular job in the Navy - can it be changed? What if it is just not a good fit?

[Anti M]

You're pretty well stuck. Changing rates can only happen if the Navy needs the change. This happens in boot camp, before the training for the rate begins, or after two years. Now and then, students fail A school and are reassigned or sent to the fleet undesignated, but this is chancy, and if they think the failure is on purpose, that's a bad conduct discharge in the making.

[Sherri]

Interesting - thank you very much for your reply. My son has hot yet signed his second contract -- before his swearing in. Is he still locked in at this point for the job assignment he signed his contract on? I hope this is not a silly question.

[Anti M]

If he has not signed that contract, then his options are open. He doesn't have to take any job until he signs. The DEP contract is not binding, although he may have trouble getting back into the program if he drops out.

Not a silly question at all. The recruiter won't like it, but that's too bad. Keep negotiating.

[Sherri]

Awesome - thank you so much. I'm encouraged. We may end up leaving things as is, but atleast if I can revisit it, I will. I appreciate you!

[Anti M]

Which rates is he interested in? I used to be active duty (and my dad, and hubby and ... well lots), so I know about some of the ratings quite well. I could give you a different perspective if you like.

[Sherri]

Wow - In my ignorance, I don't know what you are asking? Help?

[Ellen Isabel Hudgins]

My son just started boot camp yesterday, Oct. 28. He had to choose a different job than the one he really wants, CTI. He passed the language exam I think is called Dlab, but his recruiter -- or classifier? -- sorry-- said that in order to be assigned or given a CTI job he had to renounce his Mexican citizenship. However, his recruiter could not tell him how to go about this, even though my son was on the DEP program and didn't go to boot camp until 3 months later. We tried contacting the Mexican authorities, which said that if the Navy has this requisite, the Navy has to have a means to go about it, usually through a signed and notarized oath. But in what department? Office? Person? We are looking for a way to do this before my son gets stuck in a job that he does not want, especially since he passed the DLAB exam. If anyone out there has any suggestions, PLEASE forward. Thank you.