Daughter MEPS on Thursday

[LidasMom]

We filled out all the paperwork in June, but the recruiter made us come back in to "update" her paperwork, which suspiciously looked like the same paperwork with different dates on it. (thinking he had his June quota and needed her for July) ANYWHOOO....

She is going to MEPS on Thursday morning and is nervous her job will not be available for her to pick. her recruiter tells her that it wont be a problem and she can pick any other job she might be interested in because as soon as it becomes available during the next year ( DEP ) they will secure it for her.  I dont know the accuracy of his statement but both recruiters did say it wouldnt be a problem.  Still nerve racking to say the least.  Does anyone know about the possibility of changing jobs once she has been to MEPS and filled out her paperwork? Can the recruiter put his "feelers" out and change the job for her once a HM becomes available?  Her ASVAB scores were good and she qualifies for it.

Thanks!

[Maria (Matt's Wife)]

If she goes to MEPS and her rate isn't available, She does not have to pick one. She will finish the other paperwork and then come back home and wait. Then later she can go back to MEPS in a few weeks or a month and she can try again. This is what happened with my husband and he ended up getting the rate he wanted. Just make sure she is clear in that she won't settle for another rate when she goes to MEPS and it should be fine. Hope everything works out. :) Good Luck.

[Arwen]

My son went to MEPS for the first time with a guy who went back 5 times before he found the right job. However, some recruiters do NOT appreciate this and will tell a recruit that if they don't take the first job offered, they can't come back. Basically, it's a lot of work for the recruiters every time they go, and they just want to get it over with. Other recruiters are more flexible, it helps if you live close to your local MEPS.

If your daughter takes a job, she can request a job or departure date change. Sometimes they get it, sometimes they do not. Your daughter should expect to go in with whatever she initially signs up for, the chances are only about 1/3 or maybe less that her preferred job will show up.

If she signs up as an "undesignated" seaman, airman or fireman, there is almost no chance she will be able to get into another job for at least 2-3 years. The Navy needs deckhands too much to allow them to "get away."

[Hannah88]

As long as she hasn't picked a job/rate while at MEPS she can change it to one when it becomes available. However, if she doesn't have a job before her ship date, if she doesn't drop her contract (which she can do until she gets on the planer :)) she will go in as indesignated and that is not recommended. Also, if she picks (is talked into) a job she really doesn't want, it is really hard (depending on her recruiter) to change it. Not impossible, but not easy either.  Good Luck!

[LidasMom]

Well - she got to MEPS and of course they had her pick a job - she wanted HM but her ASVAB was 4 points from qualifying for it.  The liason spoke with her and suggested DC, i dont know how this will work out. Our plan was for her to have some sort of Medical training/experience from Navy to become an RN.  DC is not close to HM - like the liason told her.  I am assuming because of the EMT training is why she was told this.  I guess we can hope for the best -I suggested to retake the ASVAB but her recruiter has her scared because she could "lock herself out of this job if she doesnt score as well". Its very frustrating and I am not sure of what her options will be at this point.

BTW,. what is induction? we have to be back at her recruiters for this on Monday afternoon.

 

[Hannah88]

Induction is when she is sworn in at the rate she picks, signs the initial contract and gets a ship date.  Is DC the only other rate she qualifies for that's available?  She does not have to pick a rate she doesn't want but they do want to "get it over with." They put a lot of pressure on them.

[LidasMom]

She did all that at MEPS, I have the contract and she swore in down there and her ship date is 07/09/13, maybe he just does something for the families in the office.  There was culinary, quartermaster and military police( dont know the correct lingo yet) as well as DC.  but her recruiter said he would change it if something became available but idk if that will happen!

 

[Arwen]

I was a DC, most of the training involves firefighting, how to stop flooding, pipe fitting (most flooding comes from broken pipes - so ya gotta fix it), welding, and defense against CBR (chemical, biological and radiological) warfare. In some ways I liked the job, but it wasn't right for me. I wasn't miserable, but I wasn't happy. The worst part was dealing with the CHT tanks and equipment. CHT is exactly what it sounds like. Ugh.

We also spent a lot of time sitting (bored) in an empty little room, during helo operations. We were there just in case it crashed into the ship or blew up or something. Did I say it was boring? Boring is good in this case. You don't WANT exciting.

DC are also in charge of training all of the other crew members in damage control. Everyone on a ship knows at least some firefighting. The general rule is that if the DC crew doesn't get the fire out/flooding controlled in 5 minutes, they go to General Quarters and the whole crew turns out to do the job.

She should study to re-take her ASVAB, to improve her ASVAB scores, and request a change of rate. She has a whole year, so there is a decent chance, but nowhere near a guarantee. If her rates changes, so will her ship-date, It could be earlier, it could be later. DC isn't horrible, but if she's not suited, it might be worth it to go the extra mile to try to make the change.