DAUGHTER GOING TO MEPS 4/18/2011.I have a lot of questions

[Silly Shell]

My daughter will be going to MEPS on the 18th of April in San Diego. She has been told by her recruiter that if they offer her a job of peeling potatoes she better take it and if she does not he will be upset.  Question. So my daughter who has a 4.5 GPA is going to just go in and accept any job thrown at her come the day of job assignment?  What happens if she does not choose a job they have offered her that day?  Can her recruiter choose to not work with her anymore?

[Angie]

Her GPA means nothing, unless she has a college degree and is going officer.  But if she is going to MEPS that means she is going enlisted. 

 

The USN is overmanned, and very few jobs are opening up.

 

If your daughter does what is called "job lock" herself (meaning only wants one or two jobs and won't take anything else) yes her recruiter can refuse to work with her.

 

She needs to go in there with the understanding of different job community's and put them in order of what she would like to be.

 

 http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjob1/a/navyjobs.htm

 

Peeling potato's is the cooks in the USN, there is nothing wrong with being a cook!

[Silly Shell]

I understand that her GPA means nothing to the Navy. She will be on a delayed entry she is still in HS and graduates this June. 

 

She has several options in mind. I understand that being a cook is not a bad thing however I feel that there is more options out there then telling her "She MUST choose this" 

 

I do apprecaite your advice and will have her view the link you sent me. 

[katydids61]

I went with my son to the recruiter's office today. Your question was one of my concerns also. When your daughter goes to MEPS she will take the ASVAB and that will determine what jobs she qualifies for. She will meet with the job counselor and he will ask her what her interests are and tell her the jobs available. Have her take a list of 10 jobs she will consider. It does not mean these jobs will be available. There may be no jobs available, or there may be a couple on her list. There are far more people waiting to get into the Navy than there are jobs available given the state of this lousy economy. As Angie stated, if she says "no" to a job that is offered the recruiter may not put any more effort into working with her. I know it sounds crummy, but they are not desperate these days. There are many others who would jump on the job offered. I understand where you are coming from because you hate to think that they may go into a job they really don't like just because that is all there is offered. It is a decision they have to make and live with. Any job is what you make of it. The Navy, regardless of the job, I imagine will be worth the adventure and benefits that you will gain. Good luck to your daughter and let us know how her day at MEPS goes!

[Silly Shell]

Thank you so much Katty..Good Luck to you and your son.. I will give an update come the 19th once I she tells me what she picks.

 

I do have to share that I keep hearing that the Navy has little to NO jobs right now but the last few times we have been at the recuriters station, there has been a fleet of kids that have gotten pretty good jobs recently so I have my fingers crossed..

 

PS~ Trying really hard to keep my eyes dry during all this

[navyswomom]

Here is the bare bones of the issue:

First, due to the extremely weak economy, many individuals are joining the armed forces because it does provide the stability of a paycheck, medical care, etc.  However, because of this, the military is overmanned to the point where they are discharging current service members and reducing (redux) the amount of civilians they are recruiting.

 

Second, if your daughter does not accept a "job", known as a RATE, that is offered from available list, she will become an undesignated airman/seaman/fireman.  The last thing your daughter wants to do is become undesignated.  While undesignation can possibly open a door later in her career, it may also end her career later (at 4 years) when she attempts to submit her Perform-to-Serve paperwork.  She needs to have a skill set (rate) that she can use for advancement.

 

Try to remember that the Navy can serve more than just a career.  Even if she gets a rating/job she thinks she would love, she may be surprised that it is not what she expected in the end.  Additionally, the likelihood of your daughter staying beyond her initial enlistment, by statistics is fairly small.  She should remain open-minded to the opportunity and use the experiences she gains when/if she decides to leave the military.  She will gain discipline, respect, timeliness as well as walk away with benefits such as the GI Bill.

 

I wish her the best of luck in her endeavours!  When I went to boot camp 18 years ago, I never expected that I would stay, let alone reach the milestones I have reached in that short time.  Tell her to keep an open mind and remain positive...she will do fine!

[jc-navymom]

My daughter was told the same thing, but she held out for the job she wanted and got it.  If it's not open now, it might open up in the near future.  The best advise my daughter got when enlisting was....hold out for the job you want -- don't just take what's offered.  After all, it's the next 5 years of your life.  Hope this helps!

[Silly Shell]

Thank you all for your advice. I went home last night and spoke to her more about her choices *WIthout tears, go mom* and she has a list of 5 jobs that she is interested in. Yes she would like to be a HM but understands that might not be a choice come selection time.  Her goal is to become a Nurse but does understand that she can become so many other things while in the Navy. She did indicate that she felt if she stayed in past her 4 years she was going to stay in and retire.  Now I am sure that is easy to say at 17.5 years old but I have to choose to support her on this.  My fingers are crossed that she is given a good selection of jobs on the 18th.  I will do my best to not cry in front of her and give her 100% support in this.  What get's me through the day is I hear about all my friends kids that are either getting ready to graduate without any goal or the ones that have graduated 4 years ago and still doing nothing..I have raised a strong young lady and I know in the end she will make the right decision..

 

Again THANK YOU all.. This site is going to be my saving grace I am sure...

[SonandSea]

You have a great attitude and it sounds like your daughter does, too! I hope she is offered something wonderful! 

hugs~Dale

[Silly Shell]

Thank you Dale....I asked her recruiter if I could join with her...LOL He said NO :( I so wish I could...

Have a super day!

[SonandSea]

LOL! I know what you mean! It is so exciting! I love the ocean and boats. I asked my son if I should enlist with him and he almost hurt himself laughing!! ♥

[zaksgranma(OCS)]

Funny!  our Grandson is in the Navy's Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI.  They say its the toughest training of any of the Military.  i told him if we had known how rough it was going to be, we'd have sent him with a note pinned to his shirt telling them to take it easy on him.  Good luck to your daughter.  Its such a big step for us parents and grandparents.  You go thru such a mix of emotions, you are dying inside but at the same time your heart is bursting with pride. 

 

[Silly Shell]

Lady Hamilton....

 

THANK YOU!

 

Yoemen was one of her choices