What Do We Do Now?

[Jane K.]

Hello everyone. I need some advice from other Navy moms because something just happened that has left me in shock. After months of anticipation for going off to boot camp, my son was finally picked up by his recruiter at 3am and taken to MEPS for processing. I thought he'd be at Great Lakes by tonight. We have all made enormous changes getting ready for this. He left his university without finishing his Freshman year. We cancelled his auto and health insurance. He gave up his room at CSUF. Well I just got a call from my son. He happened to mention, after they swore him in, that he had an ROTC college scholarship application pending. The officer pulled him out of line and explained, that he can't go to boot camp if he has an ROTC scholarship pending. And apparently he won't know about the status of that application until May 2009! The recruiter knew about this application and never said anything. If we knew about this rule, he would have stayed in college until the outcome of the application was finalized. Now he has no car insurance, no health insurance and the chance of finding even a part time job in this crappy economy is slim to none. I am absolutely stunned. I don't even know how to get him home from MEPS today, I'm working late. I thought he'd be half way to Chicago by now. Has anyone ever heard of something this crazy happening? Please write, I am exhausted and desperate.

[Brenda Sue]

I am sorry for this happening to you and your son. I bet you that they will bring him home from MEPS, though.
Man, what a dissapointment!! I bet getting car insurance won't be hard getting again - just expensive for young boys.

[Jane K.]

He was really geared up psychologically and ready to go, too. I guess this is the biggest example of "hurry up and wait" ever. Well, thanks for your support Brenda Sue.

[Kathy]

I too would think they'd take care of getting him back. I'm not sure who you'd call on this one. Maybe you could check with a detailer to even see if this is true, the part about not being able to go through boot camp.

By the way, if he put the application in to apply in the fall of 2009, it could be longer than May before he finds out if he's been selected. I know this from experience as one of my son's had put in an application, applied to several universities and two weeks before he was set to report to school, he found out he'd received an ROTC scholarship to one of the other schools on his list. Seriously, we found out in August of his freshman year.

I wish you the best with all of this and will keep you in my prayers!

[TheyGrewAgain]

Same thing happened to my daughter, got a scholarship from a NROTC school that wasn't even on her list, completely out of the blue in May, after finding out she didn't get one during the final Board. She was DEP at that point set to leave for Basic in July.

We were concerned about the late college application, but it all finally fell into place.

[Jane K.]

Looks like timing is everything. Thanks for letting us know that it all worked out for your daughter. I'm sure it will for us too, we will just have to be patient.

[Marybeth]

What a shame.... I hope it all works out.....

Is there any way for him to withdraw his scholarship application????

(we tried the scholarship route, but he wasn't accepted. and in the meantime, our recruiter explained the difference between ROTC/4 years of college and THEN the Navy, versus getting an education while enlisted).

[Kaye S.]

Dear Jane, There's a member here who's a Navy recruiter. His (her?) site is: http://www.navyformoms.com/profile/NAVYRECRUITERFORSUBMARINES

That would be a good person to ask for advice/help. The very first call I'd make would be to his university admissions office and explain the situation. Perhaps their "withdrawal" work hasn't gone so far that they can't reinstate him. What an awful situation to have happen just at the holiday... however, he's not being put out for covering up a jail record or something, so he's still an active recruit prospect... not all is lost. Good luck and prayers are with you, ks.

[dana]

what kind of tattoo's because my son had several but they are not visiable to the eye...he had know problem...

[Dorothy]

Hey Jane...It is your son's recruiter's job to get him home from MEPS. I have never heard of this particular circumstance....I am so sorry...I have two children in the Navy and know that things that seem really odd can happen. My daughter's recruiter was very much like your son's. My son's recruiter was wonderful...... This is a bump...a pretty jarring bump, but still, a bump. I would be on the phone with the insurance companies tomorrow to get him reinstated, call the college...just one thing at a time....Hang in there.......take a deep breath....it really will be ok...I will be praying for you and your family!

[Debbie (Paul's Mom)]

I wish you better luck than what we had with my daughter. She was gonna go Navy Reserves, was sworn in as DEP and was told by her recruiter that if she changed her mind, she could always NOT do the 2nd swear in the day she would leave. Howvever she would have to write a letter stating that she changed her mind. She was going to be an IS. Well, she did change her mind and started college after she wrote a letter to the Navy. Her recruiter once again said everything would be fine and she would not have to go. The day she was supposed to leave, he showed up at the house at 4:30 in the morning. She was in Great Lakes for 3 weeks before getting discharged. She never has gotten anything back from school. I had to call and explain the situation, which I gave them a copy of her orders. Anyway, I stalled for about 1 week because she left on my birthday and was just in complete shock. Don't make that mistake. DO NOT wait!! Call right away and MAKE things happen. All recuiters seem to be about numbers. Good luck. You will be in my prayers!

[Jane K.]

It's sounding more and more like reality is a moving target for the recruiters. What an eye opener. Everybody's comments are so helpful, and thanks for the prayers. We still feel like we've had the rug pulled out from under us though.

[Viki]

God has a crazy sense of humor?! Things always work out for the best Jane.