Delays Delays and More Delays!

[VirginiaMom]

Please someone tell me this is normal...my son has been working at joining the Navy for about a year.  I'll be honest and say that most of the early delay is his fault...getting paperwork together or just delivered to the recruiter was the biggest issue.  He's a procrastinator.  But now I'm growing weary.  His paperwork was in in the spring, then we had to wait for the medical waiver which he got...but that took at lest 2 1/2 months.  Now that everything is in we're still waiting to go to MEPS.  Honestly...what is the delay.  My son is adamant about doing this himself, which I totally respect, but I don't think he asks the right questions. I know he's not assertive enough to really press the recruiter for info so here we sit a year later...waiting. 

 

Am I wrong to be at my wits end?  Has anyone else had this issue?

 

I love my son very much...but he's going to be 21 in two weeks.  He needs a direction.  Fast.

[Hannah88]

Couple of questions: what was the medical waiver for? What does your son say is the reason given by his recruiter for not going to MEPS yet? Some recruiters are more proactive than others...what were his AFQT scores and what rates/jobs is he interested in? You can lead a horse to water..... :)

 

[VirginiaMom]

Lets see,,,he had strep throat two years in a row...but that got approved.  And the only thing he tells me is that the recruiter says he should be going to MEPS in the next couple weeks...yeah right.  I'm not sure what AFQT is so I'll tell you his practice ASVAB was 85.  They told him they can't talk to him about jobs until he goes to MEPS. 

 

 

[Angie]

I will bet you the recruiter is trying to make sure he really wants it...as if he caused delays earler when the recruiter told him he needed things, and your son took his sweet time getting them...than odds are the recruiter is just doing the same thing to him to make sure he really wants it.  As why would the recruiter jump through hoops for someone who took his time getting what he needed. 

 

It is up to your son to do everything, he is an adult weather you want to admit it or not.  You calling the recruiter won't do anything to help.  Your SON needs to be on top of the recruiter, call him all the time, stop by the office see if there is anything he can do.  HE needs to prove he wants in.  There are TONS of people who want to join the USN...why would the recruiter want to waste his time on someone who hasn't proven he wants to be in the USN?

 

As for the jobs..the recruiter doesn't have anything to do with that...that is done at MEPS by a classifer and the recruiter doesn't even go in there.  His practice is good, hope he does as well on the real one...but even if he gets a perfect score he could be told that the only thing open is undes which is true. 

[VirginiaMom]

Thank you Angie...that's what I thought and that's what I've been telling my son all along.  I guess I'm just going to have to kick up my prodding...just a notch.

 

Thank you...Merry Christmas.

[Angie]

Not trying to be rude...but if he wants it he needs to get motivated...if he lives with you give him a dead line of him either getting things done with joining the military or he moves out of the house...he needs to stand on his own two feet...being almost 21 years old...yes he needs directions and he is the one who needs to do it on his own two feet.

 

Sounds like it is past time to push the bird out of the nest.

[VirginiaMom]

You're not being rude...because that's just what I did.  I told him he has three weeks to convince the recruiter that the Navy is his lifelong dream (he turns 21 in three weeks). If he doesn't go to MEPS in the next three weeks he will have to get a job that will pay enough for him to support himself.  He works a 40 hour/wk job now but couldn't support himself on it. 

 

He went to the recruiter yesterday and was told that his medical waiver had expired and that he'd need to send it back for reapproval (really?!) but said it wouldn't take as long since it was already approved.  Anyway, he also said the MEPS office in Richmond, VA was getting new furniture so they weren't sending anyone this week -- I swear...it's always something.

 

He then told my son that he should get to MEPS next week (12/26-30),  I find it hard to believe.  I just hope he's not just spinning a yarn for my son -- or me.

 

**fingers crossed here**

[MOMOF2BOYS]

My son is 17 and a senior in high school.  He took his ASVAB almost a year ago and even though he has always been "Navy, Navy, Navy" I made him go talk with a few others as well.  Once he called the Navy recruiter, things happened so fast, my head was spinning!!!  Actually I got a little snippy with the recruiter because I felt as though we had plenty of time and he was pushy.  He's still in high school!!  But once we signed the papers, he was off to MEPS within a week.  Met the recruiter at 4 am, was there all day and got home after 7 pm.  He picked his job as Air Crew and is leaving July 11th 2012.  Two weeks after graduation...  Thats when it truly hit me.....   Good luck!!!!

[VirginiaMom]

I understood from someone that high schools students were being accepted and finalized quicker since they can't really go to boot camp until next summer. Its the ones that are out of school that they're putting on hold.

[Hannah88]

Really? Can anyone else confirm that? Son is going to MEPS twice in the next two weeks. Graduates high school in June.

[Angie]

yes high schoolers normally get in faster..as they can wait around for a year...though they must still meet the same requirments

[Hannah88]

Thanks Angie!

[southsidesadad]

yes i've posted similar info somewhere on this site. not quite sure how to manuvar around in this site.i've heard recruiters state just that to recruiters. maybe to try & rush them to make a decision.