would navy recommend more college

[Rebecca-Jordons mom]

Just a quick question. My son and I are meeting with the recruiter tomorrow, but my son was wondering if one more semester of college would benefit him before signing up? He already has 42 college credits, and the first recruiter told us he'd go in as an E3, but I'm not sure if that was 100% truthful or not. I"m not sure how to answer him on this, so thought someone could offer more insight. I was going to ask the recruiter this tomorrow, but thought I'd get a heads up from this group before getting his advice!

[Achseh]

Unless he has a degree or feels the need to give college another try, the extra semester will not have any effect on what will occur with him should he choose to join the Navy at this point. He should be able to join as an E-3, but that needs to be in his contract or it doesn't happen.

[Anti M]

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/navyjoin/a/advancedrate.htm

College Credits:

E-2 -- Authorized enlistment in, or advancement to, paygrade E2 having completed 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours of college credits at an accredited educational institution.

E-3 -- Authorized enlistment in, or advancement to, paygrade E3 having completed 48 or more semester hours or 72 or more quarter hours of college credits at an accredited educational institution.

According to about.com, six more hours would lock it in. ALL recruits "go in" as E-1, and receive the promotion upon completion of basic training.

[Achseh]

Thanks, AntiM! My son was told it wouldn't make a difference. Things that make you go hmmmm.

[Rebecca-Jordons mom]

Yes, I also saw that on about.com yesterday...something to ask the recruiter about. thank you guys!!!

[Rebecca-Jordons mom]

60 credits??? I just spoke to the recruiter on the phone that we'll be meeting with tomorrow and I told him that on about. com it said 48 and he told me it was now 40 so my son would be going in as an E3 after bootcamp??? How long ago did your son sign up??? Definitely, we will have it in the contract if my son chooses this...he also said that if he gets in the nuke program, slim to none chance he'll be going to the mideast on land...i'm going to go to the nuke moms section and verify this...

[JacquieKSMM3]

My son just went to boot camp Sept. 08, after 7 months DEP he enlisted in the Nuke program and entered BC as an E-3 pay rate. He has no College credits at all he just graduted High School in May of 2008. His rate was an E-3 because of being in the Nuke program.

[Anti M]

The program changes often, so what is true one day may have changed the next. But I assure you, it is in writing somewhere. Insist on seeing the current regulation if you have doubts.

Ah, the nuke program. Very intense, my nephew is there now.

[Rebecca-Jordons mom]

thank you very much! This website is awesome and I appreciate you all so much. Hopefully my son will make his decision on what he wants to do, and it will be the navy, and I can help others like ya'll have helped me!!!! This new recruiter sounds very honest and forthright, and has told me that he will not pressure my son into doing something he is uncertain about. Another good thing about him is that he knows alot of my sons friends that have enlisted the past year. One of his best friends is also in the nuke program, and is loving it, so that's a plus!!!

[Navy_recruiter]

ok heres the low down, about.com is wrong and outdated. in order for a kid to get e-2 he needs 24 college credits, for e-3 he needs 42 college credits, it is and never has been 60 credits.

heres the other thing, most kids who join are going to be in dep for atleast 6-12 months anyway before they ship, rarely will they get a seat leaving before then now a days, it does happen but its rare. so i tell the kids i put in to go to the local community college where class's are cheap and knock a semester or 2 out, this way it keeps them busy while they wait and gives them something to do, and it makes them smarter.

about nuc. if a kid comes in the nuc program he will be an e-3 anyways, so credits and college doesnt mean much here excpt to have them, all nuc's are e-3 when they come in. also a nuc can only go on a sub, they have to volunteer, or an aircraft carrier, so while its not impossible, it is very, very improbable that they will see the middle east on land. most defiantly on a ship, but not on land.

hope that helps.

also ask the recruiter about the a2e program.......

[Navy_recruiter]

make sure to have a copy of his official college transcripts prior to him going to meps, its the only way they can put e-3 in his contract that day.

[Rebecca-Jordons mom]

Thank all of you. He met with the recruiter and will finish his testing and interviews for the Nuke program next week. His recruiter told me the navy is not signing up any new recruits next week???? so he can talk to job classifier, etc and then come home without signing anything.After talking (texting) to his friend thats in the nuke program, he's really excited about the possible opportunity to go for that, although my brother who is a retired master chief, strongly discouraged him from trying for that. He said it was a very hard school, and many don't make it...and have to be reassigned. I don't think he realizes how intent his nephew is to make this happen. Any advice would be appreciated!!! And although he already has his 42 credits, if he does make the nuke program, he will be an E3anyway, but having his basics out of the way will help him achieve his bachelors degree after nuke school, so i strongly recommend any credits they can get going in...

[Debbie06 (Medical Discharge)]

Rebecca,

My son just left for bootcamp on Monday and left with a Degree in his field of choice. He went into RTC as an E2 but will advance to an E3 upon completion of RTC.