Is this delay standard?

[dwaynesmom]

Hi. I joined navyformoms back in April when we realized my 17 year old son wasn't ready for college. We researched the branches and decided on the Navy. His excitement has steadily built up and he's ready to begin this chapter of his life. The problem is, we can't even get to the starting line. We met with the recruiter in April, filled out paperwork and assumed he would be on his way after graduating from high school in May. The recruiter says my Single Parent Affidavit was rejected (twice) and had to be resubmitted. Apparently the Navy thinks it is strange that I have had no contact with my son's father in over a decade and have no idea where he lives. I explained that the state where I live has never been able to find him to enforce his child support obligation, so it shouldn't be too hard to believe. We call the recruiting office once a week and get the same response. My son has just been sitting around the house all summer doing nothing. I didn't push him to get a summer job as we figured he'd be leaving for basic training in June. He HAS learned the sailor's creed, has been working out and is trying to learn the general orders. In the meantime he hasn't even been cleared to take a physical. He turns 18 in August. Is this delay in the initial stages standard?

[Anti M]

Yes.  Some of the paperwork takes far too much time.  Hang in there, when things begin to happen, they will happen fast.

"Hurry up and wait" is the real Navy creed.

[Concernedad]

Even after he gets to MEPS, he's going to be waiting a while before he leaves. I'd assume 1 year and hope for less. Long gone are the days when you sign up and ship out immediately. I'd suggest your son find something to do while waiting. Even taking a year of community college can get him enough credits to go in as an E-2 as opposed to an E-1.

[Angie]

Perfectly normal, and than even once your paper work clears it could be up to a year before he leaves for bootcamp.    I would recommend you push him to either get a job or sign up for a term or two at college.  Also there is no 100% that he will even get into the Navy, so he needs to have a back up plan not just sit around all summer and do nothing.

[BunkerQB]

Your 17 year old son is not ready for college. He may not be ready for the Navy. He is a "young" high school senior. Typically boys develop much later than their female counterparts - I am not talking about the physical aspect - more about the emotional and psychological aspects  Please, please give him a little time to grow up. My recommendation is for him to start taking some classes at a community college. Get a part time job. Continue to pursue the application processing to get into the Navy.  Don't let him hang with the wrong crowd (drinking, drugs, etc). Sit down, write out a plan and review it once week. In no time, he will be going to boot camp. Good luck. Be patient.

BQB

P.S. I have two sons (almost 25 & 29). Both with birthdays in July.  My older son (former sailor) has always been more mature for his age. His little brother is shall we say taking his sweet time.