PACT Moms
Let's chat about our wonderful sons and daughters who have chosen the PACT program.
Undesignated....where do we go from here?
My son is an E3 Airman. He came to Pensacola as Undesignated for A school a few weeks ago. He became undesignated by following a recruiter's recommendation and not researching his options first. So here we are.
Question 1) When can an E3 APACT person be able to strike for a new rating? He has been told it was 6 months several times, but was just told yesterday it would be 12 months.
Question 2) When his ship deploys, he was told he would be deployed 7-8 months, then back in port working for the next 3-4 months. Will he be deployed like this for all 4 years?
Question 3) My son was told going in that if he did not make it through pre-Buds or Buds, he would have the pick of whatever he wanted to do, since his ASVAB score was 97. He ended up dropping out of the program and his new recruiter recommended that he go Undesignated, without even looking at his ASVAB score. So now he is in P-Cola undesignated and no rating. He is a little distraught at doing grunt work for a year, as the only reason to enter Navy was for seals. Any suggestions?
ReneeHum
I'm so sorry your son is going though this. My sons recruiter did the same thing they lied about his job & ended up without a job. My son has been in Point Mugu CA for about 15 months and is still waiting for his job. He will be deployed this year and it could be 7 to 9 months. your son will be ok right now there is nothing he can do, so just tell him positive things and he will be good. As for you anytime your sailor tells you anything always add ???? after everything he said. Things can change at the drop of a hat. It took me a long time to realize that and now I hate it but everything is going well. Good Luck
Feb 22, 2017
Redsmom
Hi dcpfarmgirl! My son was also same rank with a high ASVAB and was undesignated coming out of boot camp. If memory serves, he could not strike until he'd been with his ship for 12 months (not from boot camp or anything earlier) but I could be wrong (won't be the first time). My son was sent to Middle East right after Pensacola, catching the last several months of his ship's deployment. Yes, they will be back-and-forth, all during his enlistment. Grunt work goes with everything in life (not all jobs are glamorous) and if he's tough enough to train for SEAL, I know he can get through anything else! He will find his way, it is just tough letting him seek (for him and for you)! Support him, love him, be there. Go Mom!
Feb 22, 2017
katydids61
My son got dropped from his A school and when he went to rerate there was nothing available. And he too had a good ASVAB score. Just nothing available and you have to pick right then and there. So they sent him through A-PACT. He just arrived to his duty station last week. He will be going out underway for a weeks at a time and then in the fall for a deployment. Everything I have read says they can't strike for a year. He says he can. I personally think it is just someone telling him that and he has to wait at least a year. But, he is going in with a positive attitude. They way he looks at it is that he will see what other rates are like and then he can strike for something he likes. I think he said if you don't get something within 18 months you can probably pick another A school. Not sure how reliable any of this is.
Mar 18, 2017