Choosing a Job at MEPS

[Sierrascrapper (ETN2)]

Hi all...I'm a newbie here and I've been perusing the forums for some answers but still can't quite nail down a few questions. It's possible that I might not be using the best terms to search, but I did give it my best. My son Jonathan is currently a junior in high school and he is 17 y/o. He will be 18 when he graduates high school. He recently informed us that he wants to join the Navy.  He told us that he thought it would be a good decision because he can't really figure out what he wants to do in the future.  He is an exceptional student and is also in the school's award winning Marching Band and is currently enrolled in 4 AP courses in Physics, Calculus, English and US History and he will be taking 4 AP courses in Psychology, English, US Govt, and Music Theory next year along with a Dual Credit Calculus course at the local University.

My son and I recently paid a visit to the Navy recruiter and talked to him for a short bit.  He was actually the assistant recruiter, but he was pretty knowledgeable.  My son already took the ASVAB before we went to visit with the recruiter and he got a 93 on the test.  He performed very well in the Math, Science, and English fields but not so well in the Electrical/Mechanical fields.  The recruiter told us Jonathan could pick anything he wanted and suggested the Nuclear Field.  He talked about the STA-21 program and NROTC and joining the DEP.  He also suggested that Jonathan join the DEP this summer so that he will be ready to go to bootcamp after he graduates next summer.  There were a couple questions he couldn't answer either, so I thought I'd ask here.

We are supposed to meet again with the main recruiter in the next couple of weeks so that my husband can also meet with him.  I have more questions now than I thought I did when we first visited with the recruiter.  Here are a few:

Since my son has taken so many AP courses and will technically be a student at the University next year, how does that translate if he decides to join the Navy DEP program?  Is it wise for him to have all of these credits under his belt and enlist or should he take a different path like holding off signing up until he completes his sophomore year in college (which would be sooner than a two years) and join the NUPOC program at that point?

If we decide to enlist and since Jonathan doesn't quite know what he wants to do in life except that he wants to maybe make components or things that are technical.  What kind of path should he take in the Navy? Jonathan tried to take the test that helps you decide what you like, he said it was TOTALLY lame and didn't help at all.  He said that most of the questions didn't line up properly, especially because he is so influenced by being in marching band.   Nuclear seems amazing but are there other options that may be related to math and science?  I've done some checking on the Navy COOL site that the recruiter suggested to us.  However, it still seems difficult to decide on a pathway.  So...any suggestions for jobs would be so helpful.

That's probably more questions than can easily be answered...sorry :(  I will admit I am usually long-winded.  LOL

[Craig]

True Lemon....  not 100%, but if I was betting, I'd lay all my money on ship-2.  But he needs to tell them he was in the marching band....

[Sierrascrapper (ETN2)]

Good info from all of you. Thank you!

[Sierrascrapper (ETN2)]

Here's the update, my son finished at MEPS yesterday and now is in the DEP as a Nuke. His ship date for BC is July 1, 2014. My son had to take the NAPT aka Nuke test before he went to MEPS. He only missed 3 questions on the test and the recruiters were quite surprised at how he did as they don't usually see kids score like that here. Anyway, my son is excited to be an SR and have a ship date. The drive to MEPS was a long one so he had time to chat with the recruiter. The recruiter told him all about enlisted life. This recruiter was from a neighboring town. When my son got back and talked with his own recruiter, he said that his recruiter is suggesting he try to go the officer route through the NUPOC program because of his scores on the nuke test. Now he is trying to decide again what route he wants to take. He did say that he still wants to apply for the ROTC scholarship.

Ahhh, now what? I've told him all the info I can about going enlisted first or going to college first. It seems both pathways are rewarding and can lead to an officer position. My concern is that when I was in HS I was in NJROTC all four years and loved it and I planned on going to college and then go into the Navy. Needless to say, I didn't do as well in college and I never went into the Navy. I would hate for that same mistake to be made by my son. I would appreciate any input from both sides enlisted/officer.

[Sierrascrapper (ETN2)]

Thanks for the correction and the encouraging advice lemonelephant. I'm trying to put my Mommy fears in check and just sit back and let things roll. I trust my son and I know he will make the best decision for himself.