join the navy or go to college first?

[Scarlet]

I know that I’m not a Navy Mom but I am some of you could offer some advice.

I'm currently 17 and about to enter my last year if high school. At this point I am very much considering joining the Navy. I have no doubts on my ability to pass the ASVAB because I took a practice test in school and got a 53 without even studying. At the time I was just took the test out of curiosity, which has now resulted in my interest to join. But I'm concerned as to how to break the news to my parents that I really want to join.

I am not planning to make it a career and I don't think I would join after college if I went to college right after high school. I want to join so I could afford college on my own, see the world, and have time to be independent from my parents. I want to be able to make my own money and pay for myself to go to school. I also don’t want to go to school right after high school because I don’t know what I want to do yet and don't think that I have the discipline to make that education count.

I'm looking for advice for introducing my serious interest of joining the Navy to my parents and family. I am also looking for advice as to what I should do in my situation.

[Anti M]

My answer is yes and no.  I went to two years of college before joining the Navy.  College credits mean an advance, and an advantage, in paygrade.   You can complete and acquire lower level credits without declaring a major, and they transfer easily to other colleges.  

Do you know your "line scores" on the ASVAB as compared to your total score?  Knowing what ratings you'd be eligible for would be useful.  Also, what might you like to do?  Office job?  Hands on?  Cook? Security?  How do you feel about going to sea?

http://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/asvab-and-navy-mos-jobs.html

https://www.navycs.com/asvab-test.html

[Scarlet]

My line scores were 59 in general science, 48 in arithmetic reasoning, 53 in Word knowledge, 57 in paragraph comprehension, 57 in mathematics knowledge, 58 in electronics information, 38 in auto and shop information, and 53 in mechanical comprehension. 

I am not completely sure what rating I would choose, but you know what they say, choose your rate choose your fate. I know I am eligible for many ratings, but I think that I want a hands on job. I like working with my hands, but I also like the office. I don’t think that I would want a flight deck job though. I scored high on electronics though, so maybe something like that.

I don’t think that I would mind being at sea. I like the water and I like being on ships.

However if I were to take the test again, id actually study well so I could ensure that have as many options as possible

[Anti M]

I was an ET, that's the AECF field.  Loved it.  I had friends who were EM and EN, and those are great ratings too.  Just don't let them push you toward something in order to ship out, take your time.  Be flexible too, so you have options and the recruiter will want to work with you.  

[Scarlet]

Since you were an ET, would mind telling me about your experience in that field so I can I have a little knowledge about it.
I don't think that I am going to be in a huge rush to ship out. I think that if the job I want isn't available I know that I would have to be flexible and be willing to wait. I'd rather not get placed in job that I have no interest in doing.

[Concernedad]

I'm not sure your current scores are high enough for ET. Plus, you would have to sign up for 6 years for that rating.

I think the way you explained it on here, is how you should explain it to your parents. I'm a parent, and I would say it sounds like you have been weighing your options and reasons for joining. 

If you do choose to join, you may have a year before entering, which may still give you time to go to a community college for a year and pick up some credits from basic courses. In this way, you still wouldn't have to decide a major. 

P.S. If serious, definitely get a study guide for the ASVAB. Your score is every bit as important in determining your job as the SAT would be in determining what college you could get into, maybe more so. 

[Scarlet]

I am also wondering if anyone could offer some advice on breaking the news to my parents or share their experience with telling their parents. I'd like to know so I can figure out the best way to tell them.

[Anti M]

I can tell you how not to do it... my parents were working overseas, and I sent them a letter from boot camp telling them I joined.   I was 22, and had been messing up in college (grades not a problem, it was the Bad Boyfriend, mostly).  They said, "Get a job", so I enlisted.  At the time, DEP was much shorter.  But yeah, don't do it that way.  

Recruiters have a lot of experience talking to parents, you can get some materials from one, and have them assist you.

Concerned Dad is correct, you need better ASVAB scores for a better choice of ratings.  Studying now will definitely help your future choices.  

My experience as an ET is outdated, I was not assigned to a ship, these days I certainly would be.  It is a good rating, with a lot of technical schooling.  

[Concernedad]

OK, first, grab your dad by the shirt collar and say, "LISTEN HERE OLD MAN!!!"......

well maybe not....I really like how you put it

 I want to join so I could afford college on my own, see the world, and have time to be independent from my parents. I want to be able to make my own money and pay for myself to go to school. I also don’t want to go to school right after high school because I don’t know what I want to do yet and don't think that I have the discipline to make that education count.

I don't know you can explain it any better than that. 

P.S. it's a good thing you "wouldn't mind being at sea", because you will be. 

P.S.S. as to being an ET, my son is an ET and I'm not sure you can answer the question so simply. It really depends on what sort of ship you get assigned to. 

[Scarlet]

Also if anyone can share some experience or knowledge on the IS or OS field please let me know. I am very interested in those fields.

[LuciaPS]

Hi Scarlet,

My son is just about a year ahead of where you are. He just completed his freshman year of college. He didn't do very well, mostly because he is not good at time management and is not disciplined with himself. He lived at home this year, but still spent way too much time playing pool or video games with his friends. This summer we had lots of talks about what he was doing and career plans. It finally came down to him needing more time to figure out his life plan, and not wanting to take on any more loans just yet. It was completely his decision to join the Navy as a solution to this, but we were very supportive of this choice. He just finished MEPS and is waiting to ship out in March for .... yep, AECF ET. I don't know the break out of his scores, but I know he got an 81 on the ASVAB with an 83 on the pre-test.

As for telling your parents, I would suggest instead of "telling" them, that you discuss it with them. Start from the point of "I'm not sure I am ready for college" and "It is pretty expensive waste of time if I don't know what I want out of it". See what they say. Maybe you will be pleasantly surprised. I believe if you serve even 3 years, the GI Bill will pay for most of your college. You can also take classes while you are actively serving. 

I work in Human Resources, so I can tell you that having military experience is only a good thing on a resume. I have actually worked with a veteran's group several times to help military people getting out to rework their resumes into civilian terms. I think there are many office type jobs in the Navy that you could get that would give you experience in the working world that would help you once you leave- with or without college. 

[chili92046]

First of all Thank you for wanting to serve your country. From your email I think you already have a plan and I think whichever route you go you will be successful. the military will teach you skills that will last a lifetime it will teach you financial responsibility, teamwork, decision making,and allow you time to grow into a young adult, have money for college and a useful skill. Unless you know exactly what your major will be in college I say Go Navy. It's your choice to make you will be an adult. Your parents I'm sure will be proud of you either way. I joined the military when I was young got my BS Degree while I was in, did 20 years and now I have my dream job while receiving a pension. Good luck in your choice.

[Nuke wife/nuke mom]

Hi Scarlet! My son is currently in A school to be a Nuke MM.  Let me give you a little history. He did really well in HS - pulled A's & B's in all AP classes without studying.  He is slightly ADD so focus & time management are big weaknesses for him.  When he started talking about what to do after HS his first thoughts were to go Nuclear Navy (follow in his dad's footsteps), but then all the HS teachers started pushing engineering college.  I know my kid, he had no study skills because he never had to study in school. Just going to class & doing the homework were enough to get him through with A's & B's.  I knew that college would be a completely different story for him. Add in the fact that he had no time management skills (believe me, I tried to teach those to him to no avail) and being easily distracted.  He applied to and was accepted into the 3rd ranked engineering school in the country.  Did 2 years there and was completely miserable.  Came home for a year & worked & started talking to the Navy recruiter.  He aced the ASVAB.  He made the decision that it would be better for him to join the Navy.  He could pay off his two years worth of student loans while at the same time earning money for school later with the GI bill.  He would also be getting an awesome education in the Nuclear field which when he gets out will put him in the position for some terrific job opportunities.  So far the discipline of the Navy has been an awesome thing for my son.  He is so focused, he is setting goals for himself and he seems so happy with himself!

I think if you say pretty much what you said in the second paragraph to your parents, that they will  probably understand and be supportive.  If the military has never been discussed or experienced in your family, don't be surprised if their initial reaction is shock or denial.  Just keep your calm, keep explaining to them that you don't know what you want to do in life yet, that you don't want to spend and exhorbitant amount of money on schooling that you very well might not put your full effort into, that you want to be self reliant and that you want to see a bit of the world.

Also, to give yourself the best possible options of ratings, study for the ASVAB.  I believe that there are study guides out there.  I also know that you can find practice tests on line.  My son, didn't study, but he did take several of the practice tests.  He said it helped to be familiar with the types of questions on the test.

Good luck and I think it sounds like you have put a lot of thought into this!