Rates your female sailor loves!

[purplegiraffe69]

Would love to know some rates your female sailor loves!   Mine wants HM but isn’t sure that will be available at meps.  

[dmj]

my daughter is still in A school but chose AV which went into AE =she is doing well in her classes=until she actually gets out there doing the work she won't really know if it is for her-she will be diagnosing problems with the aircraft electrical systems-not fixing them-hope this helps

[LeAnn ⚖]

This "job" is a commitment for years. With any rate in the Navy, your daughter should research the field and not rely solely upon the recruiter for information. Further, she should not sign on for a rate in which she is not interested with the thought that once at Boot Camp she can switch to another - change in rates based upon preference for another is unlikely. It is better to wait for the desired rate to open even though it may take a few months - the wait time would be "short" in comparison to serving years in one that she dislikes. Additionally, within any rate at any given duty station, there are differences in the command and fellow sailors - akin to any work place in the civilian setting.

With her interest in Corpsman (HM), it may be the most diverse rate for the enlisted - serving within many medical areas and with assignments to Navy and Marine bases. HM offers numerous venues for advanced training. If she accepts HM, once out of A school she should be seeking areas of advanced training - like in the civilian world, opportunities do not fall in the lap but should be sought. My daughter (Navy doctor) is one of the doctors on the selection committee for HM advanced training at Walter Reed.

Update us once she has her contracted rate!

[Anna]

purplegiraffe,

Don't know if you saw the comments on the Mothers of Daughters 2 page, but several moms have responded to your question on the group pages.  LeAnn gave some good advice both here and on the group page.  Make sure your daughter signs up for what she really wants and doesn't just take what is available!!!  Yes, changing afterwards can be very difficult if not impossible!!

My first daughter to enlist went into the Navy right out of high school and wanted to be a PS, hoping that it would lead into bigger and better opportunities.  She liked her job but because of circumstances out of her control she ended up not going in the direction she had originally thought she would.  She also had a really hard time advancing and ended up getting out at the same rate she went in as.  

My other daughter (twin sister) went to college right out of high school and then joined the Navy at the end of her second year.  She was in a program where she finished her college and then went to OCS to commission as an officer.  She is a Naval Flight Officer currently teaching Aviation Safety in Pensacola.  Like JayDee said on the group page, somedays she loves her job, somedays she wants to quit!!!! 

My older son also enlisted back in 2003, did his 4 got out and then went back in.  He was able to go in at a different rate because his first rate (AO) did not give him too many opportunities for civilian jobs.  He also loves his job sometimes, but other times not so much!!  In a way, Navy jobs can be just like the civilian job world except you can't just up and quit and go find a better job!!!  But all of my sailors do love being in the Navy and take great pride in serving!!!  

And thank you and your husband for your service!!!