Going to MEP's with your son or daughter

[katydids61]

My son went to see the recruiter again today. He wanted to schedule a time to take his ASVAB. He has taken his practice and scored a 68.  The recruiter is telling him to take it at MEPS then they can do everything at one time. Well, before my 18 year old signs anything I want to read it and make sure what they are telling him is in the contract and he has a clear understanding of it. This is all so new to me and as much as I have read it still is a bit confusing and overwhelming. So, do you usually go to MEPS with your child? How about when they go and meet with the counselor and they talk about the rates offered? They get sworn in at the same time, right? And we can watch them getting sworn in? . What if he takes his asvab and is not happy with the score and wants to take it again. At MEPS you cannot do that since they plan to put you straight through. Ah, so many questions! Please advise.

[Angie]

What does your son what to do?  What ever happens is his choice.

 

Lots of people take the exam at MEPS and do the rest there, than get to see the classifier and there are no jobs open.  The odds of him getting what he wants the first time to MEPS is pretty slim.

 

If he wants to retake the ASVAB, he has to wait a certain amount of time than can retake it, BUT if it is lower they take the most current score not which ever one is higher.

[ChrisAmo]

A 68 isn't very likely to get him a good choice of jobs. He needs to do some serious studying (ASVAB for Dummies may help). The competition is very strong so the higher score he can get the better. He doesn't HAVE to do everything at once, despite what they tell him. His recruiter should be willing to explain everything to you but in the end it's your son who'll have to make his own decisions. Tell him not to be in such a rush, study, retake the ASVAB, score higher and then worry about MEPS.

[BunkerQB]

Check the info on this site.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/navy/l/blasvabscores.htm

and this discussion.

http://www.navyformoms.com/forum/topics/the-navy-has-no-jobs

[katydids61]

Thanks all. And BunkerQueen I had read that thread about "the navy has no jobs." The 68 was a practice asvab score. He hasn't taken the actual test yet. But the recruiter told him it was a good score and that you usually score 10 pts. or better on the actual ASVAB. And yes I know that does not always work out that way. So he was interested in sending him to MEPS as soon as he would go. The recruiter even went as far to say that once he gets through MEPS that he would probably ship out in 2 weeks to 2 months. He advised him not to do delayed entry. I told my son I have been reading a lot (on here) and other places and that it can take months or even a year to get in. I know most likely he can get to MEPS and there be nothing at all available. The game plan now is he wants to have the last summer vacation with his family. In the mean time he will be studying and when he is ready he will take the ASVAB. Then he plans to go to MEPS as soon as we get back from vacation. I have told him that if what they have to offer is nothing he can see him self doing then he needs to see about delayed entry. And with our luck he will go end of July to MEPS, get in within a couple of months and then boot camp graduation would be right around the holidays or in the midst of a snowstorm! I'll keep you posted.

[BunkerQB]

If you have been reading then you know your son must stay on the straight and narrow. Senior year in high school!  The boys get arrogant and think "nothing" can happen to them. Warn him that marijuana usage can stay in his system for 2-3 months. It's not uncommon for young guys to think, "It'll flush out by the time you get there, etc. etc."  He goes to a party, people start smoking. Tell him to get out of there. You get the drift. He sounds like a good kid.  Good luck.

[katydids61]

My son has already graduated from high school. He went  to college for the first semester out. He did fine there, but he came home and said he just did not like it and could not see himself doing 4 years of college. He had talked about the Navy since his junior year in high school. He gave college a shot, probably more to please me, and it is just not going to happen for him now. I am a high school teacher and I certainly know how these boys get their senior year! So he is fully aware of what he needs to do. His best friend's dad is an officer in the Navy and for years he has been talking to my son and his about a Navy career and to stay in line. I have a few neighbors who are Navy retired and they are encouraging. As my son put it, "this is the most excited I have been about anything I have wanted to do." Hopefully, he will keep that enthusiasm and if he wants it bad enough he will certainly get there. I think it is a great move for him and am excited for the journey. Thanks!

[Arwen]

The following is based on my son's experience, and my own experience 20 years ago (it hasn't changed much). If I'm wrong on some details, please, whomever has better information, help me correct my error.

 

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For what happens in MEPS: no, you may not be able to look over the contract before his signs it. At this point he is a legal adult, and the Navy does not allow parents or spouses any part in the process. The only parents allowed to be part of the process are those whose sons or daughters are not yet 18.

 

Your prospective recruit will ride to MEPS with his recruiter. He arrive the night before and stay in a hotel at the Navy's expense.  The next morning your son then undergoes testing - the ASVAB, medical tests, a drug test, interviews, and more.

 

After lunch, prospective recruits are taken to meet with a specialist who matches applicants to jobs. At this point, even the recruiter will not be allowed to remain there with him.  Once he enters that room, he has no contact with anyone, no cell phone (phones are not allowed in that room).

 

If there are no jobs available to fit within his scores, or if he rejects all of the jobs offered, he is sent home. Most recruits have to go to MEPS several times before they get a job. There are a lot of people who want to join, and few jobs available.

If he is offered a job, he will not be allowed to contact anyone until he signs the contract, or rejects it.

 

Once he signs the contract, he will be allowed into a special room where he can call someone to tell them the basic information, and when he leaves, he is given a copy of the contract.

 

You can look at that contract all you want, or have a lawyer look at it. If you find the contract is unacceptable, and he agrees that it is not what he wants, he *can* get out of it, but it would be very difficult for him to sign a new one in the future. Its uncommon for someone who has backed out once to be given a chance to try again.

 

You *can* watch them get sworn in, but that happens at another time - when they get ready to leave for boot camp.  Yes, there is a ceremony to swear-in for DEP the day they sign their contract, but it's not the important one.