Recruiting Questions

[tjsmom]

Hello to All!

I'm new to this site and find it extremely helpful and informative.  My son who is 19 is interested in joining the Navy, we have met with a recruiter a few  times and he has taken the ASVAB (scored an 85). Although we find the recruiter very likeable, we both seem to find him somewhat evasive when answering our questions and we often get conflicting information from friends and co-workers (who have either been in the military or have family in the military) that contradict the information provided to us by the recruiter.  Tends to take 20 minutes to answer a yes or no question and we often leave the office more confused and with more questions than when we came in. 

1st question.  My son has his heart set on being a Corpsman.  Our recruiter tells us that it is not possible for him to "guarantee" his job.  Is this true?

2.  My son has 25 college credits, 3 of those credits are from a class is the 080 category (as opposed to he 100 or higher category).  It is my understanding that the Navy will only accept courses in the 100 or higher category.  Our recruiter tells us this is not so, that the Navy will accept any college credits regardless of category.  True or False?

3.  If, when he completes his physical and is presented with his contract, our recruiter tells us that if he doesn't sign and join at that time, he cannot join the Navy EVER.  True or False?

4.  We are fortunate to live in an area not far from several recruiting offices.  Can we speak with another recruiter or are we required to see the one that is in our district?

5.  A few years ago my son contracted Lyme disease.  Because of this he is unable to donate blood.  Is there potential for this to be a "sticking point" when joining?

Many thanks for your time answering my questions.  I look forward to your input as I'm sure I'll have many more as we progress through this process. 

Bhall

[Anti M]

1.  He would be considered "job locked" and therefore difficult to work with.  Usually they like the candidate to have at least three rates picked out in case the most desired one is not available.  So kinda true.  

2.  Shoot, I saw a good answer to this in another discussion today.  Stay tuned, I'm sure it will be answered shortly.  

3.  False, when becoming a DEPPER (start of the process).  True if he is at MEPS (right before shipping out).  I think.

4.  You can go to another recruiter.  You can also talk to the recruiter in charge and express your concerns.

5.  I'm looking for a concrete answer, but I think if he HAD Lyme he is okay, if he HAS Lyme, he is not.   Absolutely disclose it.  He'd be in more trouble than it would be worth to lie about it.

[tjsmom]

Thank you for the information and for your quick response.  Can you explain to me what we can expect upon completion of the physical?  (assuming all goes well) will he be presented with a contract and expected to sign at that point?  If he chooses to "hold out" for Corpsman - how will that work?  I've asked this question but the answers I get only leave me more confused.......

[lemonelephant]

Yes, the credits must be 100 level or higher to count for paygrade advancement.  This is from http://www.navycs.com/navy-advanced-paygrade.html:

If you have satisfactorily completed 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours of college credits, you may be enlisted in paygrade E2. For those who have satisfactorily completed 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours of college credits, you can be enlisted in paygrade E3. College credits earned via classroom, online or distant learning must be from a U.S. community college, college, or university accredited for postsecondary education and listed in the Accredited Institutions of Post Secondary Education published by the American Council on Education. Classes must be of the 100 and higher variety as remedial courses are NOT authorized for use in determining whether you qualify for Advanced Paygrade.

[Anti M]

Lyme disease isn't on the pre-screen.

http://usmilitary.about.com/library/pdf/DD2807-2.pdf

[Angie]

The recruiter can not guarantee him anything.  The person who is trying to join the USN, talks to a classifier after they are done with everything at MEPS and the classifier (not the recruiter) is the one to offer them a job.

 

If after he goes to MEPS and if they offer him something else that he doesn't want, the recruiter can do one of two things.  1) allow him to go bacm to MEPS at a latter date to see if what he wants is there, or 2) (and more likly) drop him, meaning not work with him anymore and put a note in his record that he is job locked (wants one job and only one).

 

The second is more likly, why you may ask?  There are people lined up to join the USN who will take anything...so why should the recruiter take his/her time on someone who only wants one thing and only one thing.

 

Now if he signs for something in the hopes that he can change his contract latter on...odds are it won't happen.  Once he signs a contract and is in DEP, he can put in a DAR to change jobs...but there is no 100% that it will happen.  He can not change once in bootcamp (unless they find he isn't qualified for what he signed up for), and he can't change once he is in "A" school.  He can TRY to change jobs once 24 months after he finishes all his schooling (if he gets a job), 12 months if he went undes.

You can talk to any recruiter you would like to...but the second recruiter you talk to will be able to see that your son talked to the first recruiter.

[tjsmom]

Angie, thank you for the information; I think I have a clearer understanding of what to expect. 

Do you happen to know if it's true that the Corpsman position is difficult to get due to over staffing?  Does there tend to me a long wait for Corpsman?

Thank you again.

[Anti M]

Definitely yes on the overmanning, and some deppers wait up to a year for it.

[Concernedad]

Guess I'll throw my opinion into the ring, although I believe there may be other websites that can give you more definitive answers.

1. From what I recall, he will pick a critical and non critical job. His ASVAB score will limit or open him up to his opportunities. Tell him to buy a study book.

2. If he has credits from less than 100 level courses, they will not count. Those are remedial classes to prepare him for college courses.

3.The Navy is pretty cocky right now. He doesn't have to accept what is offered him, but again, depending on his attitude and ASVAB score, will determine how willing the recruiters are to work with him further. I don't believe he is actually officially committed until he swears in the second time at MEPS.

4. I would definitely find a different recruiter. My son dealt with three different ones over his 1 year wait in DEP, and one just made up stuff, one was clueless and new to the job, and the other one knew his stuff but had quite the attitude when dealing with me. A new recruiter might question why you'd want to be changing offices, but I'd suggest being honest with him, and let him know you just want honesty. Recruiting is a sales job and some salesmen are better than others.

5. I have no answer here. Although not donating blood isn't an issue as once he starts traveling to various countries, he may not be able to give blood anyway.

All just my opinions.