My son signed up for a job that he really didn't want cause they told him it was all that was available, can he change jobs after he signed his contract?

[diane-anthony's mom]

His recruiter left him a MEPS to go get his HS transcript and he was speaking with the Job counselor. He told him the only jobs they had available were sub, seaman & aviator. He couldn't get aviator because of his vision, didn't want sub...and the job counselor talked him into seaman...told him he recommends it to a lot of people because it's a great place to start. He really wanted an engineering job. He ended up signing the contract and called me after the fact when he was back with his recruiter...he was upset and so was I. The recruiter said that more jobs would become available in February and when an engineering job came up he could change his job...I said even though he signed his contract? and he said yes...he can still change it...He is supposed to ship out in June, but his recruiter said he is 100% sure he can change his job before then. He told him he wants him to memorize the book he got at meps...so many things have not gone the way they have been promised and I feel sick to my stomach! Is this possible...does anyone know or is my son going to be stuck with this seaman job with no hope of getting the engineering job he wanted because they talked him into this and had him sign... HELP...PLEASE need some correct info!!

[CaptainFatso]

It wasn't all that easy to strike in my day as a matter of fact. The undesignated striker found his way to the deck department. More often than not, he ended up in a ratings like BM, QM or SM. Given the ever increasing technical nature of the ratings, I can see why its become even tougher. Based on that, I fully agree with your counsel.

That said, my kiddo signed a six year contract and if the river don't rise, she'll get and pass the schooling she signed up for and will have a crow on her sleeve before she hits the fleet.

But... stuff happens. Maybe MEPS didn't catch a medically disqualifying factor. Maybe school is tougher than she thought. Part of what I tried to communicate to her was not only that being a sailor part of the job, but that if things don't go according the Hoyle, being a sailor may be her only choice. I basically wanted that harsh reality to inform her decision.

[Angie]

I wish everyone was as blunt as you are (I am also).  I am a recently retired Chief who was stationed at Great Lakes..so I heard ever story you can hear that 99% started out with "my recruiter told me...."  So I come here to try and help people out....I was also an EN for the first 10 1/2 years of my career so I know hard work...than I became an NC (CCC type NOT recruiter) so I understand how they go about getting a rate.  It is a pain!!!

 

(fyi....SM went away...ummmm what 5 years ago? or there abouts)...also there is a BM "A" School now!   yep...really is, not sure what they learn...but there is a school for them.  Think it is how to hold  a paint brush, lol!  Also they changed how long people can stay in the USN at ever paygrade...that is why I stress that people get a rating before they go in the USN if they can...as they can't become a PO3 undes...

 

just my 2 cents...

 

So what was your rating while in the USN??

[CaptainFatso]

I was an ET.  As a result, I had the opportunity to spend a decade in Great Lakes for about nine months.  Back then graduating towards the top of your class earned you a pick of the orders.   I chose a precom crew for a Perry class frigate and that allowed me to attend a few C-Schools.

I spent the next four years aboard ship. I ran across a cute girl at Long Beach State and married about six months before my EAOS. As a result, I chose to separate. Twenty five years later we shipped our first born off and there she is now.

She comes from a family with oodles of Navy vets, so I don't expect that too much of what she will see will come as a shock. What she could be though is the first female in either side of her family to be assigned to a combatant.

Of all the changes, that's the one that is the most foreign to me. American females were creatures you didn't see once you departed from Pearl while on a Wespac.

[Hannah88]

BM A school is all of 3 weeks long.  That's the rate my son was talked into and that he's trying to change.....

[BunkerQB]

Love hearing you guys talk shop. Gosh, we you all were in Nor Cal, I'd invite you over.

[diane-anthony's mom]

Met with the recruiter yesterday to go over all the Welcome to the navy paperwork...he also discussed what he needs to do to get his job changed. He is memorizing that book he got...the sailors creed, the general order of duties, etc... The recruiter told him he needs to have all that memorized before he can put in a DAR to have his job changed. He needs to also try and get himself promoted from E1...when we started this process six months ago, they told him he would go in as an E2 with his college credits...he had 19 and is getting another 4 right now. Now they told us in the last month they changed it to 24 credits...so he is no longer eligible for the E2 with his college...if he would have had his physical months ago like he was supposed to instead of this week, we wouldn't be having this problem....but there were paperwork glitches all along the way and it kept getting put off and off and off and now he lost his college credit promotion! He is hoping he can get promoted from E1 before he ships as well as getting his job changed...he is studying that book hard!! And...BunkerQB...we are in North Carolina!!

[CaptainFatso]

I could be wrong, but something doesn't smell right here. I'd run this past someone like Angie.

If true, I'd love to see the BUPERS instruction that makes memorizing your General Orders a prerequisite to submitting a DAR.  Such a thing ought to be enshrined in a museum dedicated to preserving senseless government rules and regulations.

[Hannah88]

He DOES NOT need to memorize the START book before submitting a DAR, that's crap. Most deppers go to bootcamp as E1 and then they pass the PQS test or whatever it's called and go to E2. I would also check into this change of credits because that's what we were told too very recently (my feeble attempt at getting my son to go to a JC for a year before BC LOL).  Find your nearest MEPS and talk to someone there. Something's not right, like CaptainFatso says.  Let us know!

[diane-anthony's mom]

so what am I supposed to do?? the recruiter needs to submit the DAR and he said he won't submit it until he signs off on all of my sons paperwork in his book that he has memorized everything...showing that he is really interested in changing his job...he told him it would take him about two months to memorize the book and if he won't submit a DAR form until then and his ship date is June...how much time does that give us to change his job?? and MEPS is the one that told my son that the credits went from 16 to 24 in the last month...

[Hannah88]

Get another recruiter!! And don't let them tell you can't, because you can. Here is a map to all the MEPS locations nationwide. Click on the one you are going to and see if there is a staff member that can assist you.   

MEPS Nation Wide

Find out who the Chief is for the recruiting station you are dealing with. They can get into a lot of trouble for lying.  You might tell him that you know in no uncertain terms that memorizing the book IS NOT required to submit a DAR and threaten to go over his/her head. That may do it. 

If this recruiter is lying about this, god knows what other tales he's been feeding you and your son. And yes, I read your post wrong, my bad. It is 24 credits, not 16, so another lie to add to your list.

[Angie]

When you go back in the recruiters office...go right up to him and tell him you want to see the RINK (Recruiter in Charge) if he is the RINK, you want to see the ZONE SUP (that is the RINK's boss).  As you are not going to put up with that BS of the recruiter lieing.  Also after you find out there is no instruction that the recruiter can give you (and if he tries to pull the he can't show it to you line, that is also BS as all insturctions are on line for anyone to see)

 

As far as the credits as I posted a minute ago..that could be true that it changed to get E2..but that is all those credits are for...that has nothing to do with him doing a DAR.

[Angie]

that recrutier is LIEING!!!  You and your son need to go back to the office and DEMAND to see the Insturction that states what he said.  The recruiter will not be able to give you one, 'cause there isn't one! 

 

Also ask to see the message that changed the credits...that one could be true as it changes all the time...BUT he doesn't have to get E2 and do all that other stuff to put in a DAR.