Son just filled out paperwork...

[Flute76]

My son went and filled out his paperwork at the recruiter's office..all on his own...the recruiter said the background work is back and fine, and the med records are back and were sent to the navy doctors for review and then he will schedule his physical, etc...he has already taken the test and did very well..how long does it take to hear back to know when he will take the physical?

[PhillyBeth]

For what it's worth, our son's package (Grade 3 MCL tear and a broken wrist from HS football) took about 2 weeks but that included the holiday stand-down. His recruiter was able to tell him the exact date everything would be back so you can probably just ask your's and get an accurate estimate.

Since your son has already taken the ASVAB he'll have a good idea of what jobs he's eligible for. But be aware that because the Navy is pretty much full (except for nuke and spec. ops. and even nukes are looking at 9 months in DEP) he should have a couple of alternatives in mind. Remember too, he is not obligated to sign a contract on that date - if nothing he wants is available (and it changes week to week, maybe day to day) he can always go back later; his recruiter will know when the jobs he wants are available, though he may have very little advance notice.

Congratulations and thanks to your son for his service!

[Flute76]

Thank you for sharing. He wants to be a Navy seal...I called the recruiter today and he had not yet heard back from the medical...so he said he would call them next Monday if he had not heard from them and would let us know...I am anxious for him to know if he makes it in or not! I am very proud he wants to serve his country and we hope he gets the chance!

[PhillyBeth]

Welcome to "Hurry up and Wait" - it's the Navy way ;-)

[PhillyBeth]

Don't let Hoppi scare you! As of 2007 the success rate was actually a little better than 21% and the Navy has been working hard to improve that without sacrificing the qualities that make a SEAL a SEAL.

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/04/navy_sealrecruiting_training_...

So, for 100 SEAL recruits who complete basic training:

90 % complete pre-indoc (90 remain)
85 % complete SEAL indoc (77 remain)
33 % complete BUD/S Phase 1 (25 or so remain - this is where the famous Hell Week happens)
87 % complete BUD/S Phase 2 (22 remain)
96 % complete Airborne (21 remain)

Best of luck to your son - it's going to be hard, but it's far from impossible.

[Flute76]

Thank you for your comments....I just wish we would hear back on him getting his physical scheduled..I think that is all we are waiting for...but the recruiter says since he just had lasik eye surgery that will delay him entering a little...which is okay...he is shooting for BC late summer.

[Interested]

Hello Flute76,

I too have a son who is interested in Seals and has a vision problem. He wears contacts. He just was told by his recruiter yesterday that he thinks he won't be able to qualify because of his vision. He is waiting to hear back from him on his options. If lasik or PRK is possible and allows him to qualify he is definitely interested. I am very interested to know about your son's surgery and what process he has gone through to be allowed to try for Seals. Any information you can provide is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Another Mom

[Flute76]

He had the lasik "ultra lase" surgery...the very latest...and one the military uses. Our eye surgeon did a soldier headed to Iraq just before our son, and had a flag posted that had been flown over a military base in Iraq in his honor..so this surgeon, we feel, knew the military requirements. As we have not heard yet whether he will get to go for a physical, his eyesight went from 20/800 to 20/15 the next morning...it is unbelievable! The recruiter said it would probably delay boot camp a month doing the surgery, but if it means him getting into seals training, he was all for it. Again...we have no confirmation on this, but without it, there was also no way he would have gotten in....best of luck to you! Perhaps our sons will end up together!

[Colleen in PA]

Be prepared that the surgery may delay boot camp more than a month, he may have to wait for an opening and with the Navy overmanned that could be awhile. My son had appendicitus Memorial wkend 2009, I know it's a different situation but he was out of the Dep 6 mos (mandatory military reg our recruiter wasn't aware of) and had to start over again with the Dep. He enlisted again on Nov. 25 and was set to go Aug 24th. An opening came up and he is now at Great Lakes, left home on 1/26.2010.

[Kimandtheboys]

Here is a post regarding eye surgery from another site:

"There is a 180 day minimum waiting period until you can go to MEPs and enlist with LASIK. PRK only is a 90 day wait. Then add a minimum of 90 days from getting your SEAL contract to being allowed to ship LASIK will only allow you to ship nearly a year from surgery PRK is about 6 months big difference.
http://navyseals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161718"

[navytwins]

Both my son & daughter took their phyicals within a few days of passing their ASVAB's. My daughter was able to sign on within a week or so of her phyical. It took my son a little longer to sign on. He was finally able to sign on this past Tuesday. It took him about 2 months to get his contract. Like PhillyBeth said have your son choose lots of alternative ratings. Both of my kids went to MEPPS with what they wanted and got something totally different. There are not many ratings available right now because of the influx of people joining. My son is quite happy with his rating even though it wasn't exacting what he was hoping for. My daughter has choosen to become a rescue swimmer instead of the HM rating she received. There always seems to be alternatives in the Navy. :)