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!!

[Hannah88]

Angie, thanks for the chain of command at the recruiter's office. How can you tell who is who? Thanks to this site and bunch of research I know our recruiter is telling the truth, but he is VERY new so he doesn't know a lot yet and his boss is downright sneaky and I'm not sure if I believe her when she says she's faxed the DAR and it's now going "up the chain of command" and once approved we will get a call if one of the new rates he applied for is available and he qualifies for it. Does that sound right? 

[diane-anthony's mom]

Angie...Anthony is supposed to call and check in with his recruiter today and he is supposed to have a meeting with him once a month until his ship date. His first meeting is next Tuesday and the recruiter said we are all welcome to come...there are supposed to be other recruits there as well. Should I go to the meeting and address this there or should I set up a private meeting with him and call him out on this alone? The nearest MEPS office is in Raleigh NC, should we be calling them directly...where do we go from here to get a DAR form in the works? You had asked me several messages ago why my son signed the contract for a job he didn't want,,,the recruiter told us if he didn't sign that day, that they wouldn't have let him come back and sign for another job another day...they frown upon that...

[Angie]

The meeting he will be going to is a DEP meeting.  It is where all the DEPpers from that recruiting station get together and the recruiters talk to them about what they need to do and what to expect at bootcamp. 

 

It is really up to you and your son if you should go with, my 2 cents is your son should be the one to step up and ask the questions...but if he is going to not say anything or step up and do what needs to be done, than yes you should go with...but ask your son if he wants you there.  If he is all good with doing nothing, than dont go.

 

MEPS won't work with you, they deal with the recruiters only.  So the recruiter is to put in the paper work and s/he is the one to try and get your son a new rating.

 

As far as them not allowing him back at MEPS to try again, unless he had been there 3+ times and said no to each time, they would have let him back.  Sorry to be the barrier of bad news.... 

 

 

 

[marketmom56]

From my understanding once you sign for a position you have to stay in that position for one year. My son was told to go in as undesignated "seaman" and when he got his orders and is now deployed on the ship there were only three jobs available to choose from "cook", "working in the gift shop" and "something with supplies" all of the other jobs listed about 10 were full.  Recruiters are the one that told him to go in undesignated.  He said they give you the worse jobs to do when you are undesignated.  Try to make sure he is going to be in the job he wants and he has tested well enough to get into the position that he wants.  He still has time before he leaves.  God bless you and your son.  My so is not very happy with the advice he was given by his recruiter.  And now has to select from only three jobs and remain in that job for one year.

[Hannah88]

That is only true once you ship. Between now and his ship date he is free to select another rate if it's available and he qualifies. My son did really well on his asvab (82) and afqt scores (topped out at 233), so he qualifies for a lot more than just BM which is the RATE they talked him into and that he signed his initial contract for. He is NOT undesignated, although he will probably be grouped with a bunch of undesignated recruits. Between now and his ship date, as long as we keep resubmitting the DAR every 30 days, there is a chance he can get another rate. It will be his decision as to whether or not he wants to drop his contract if he can't get a different rate between now and then. He was accepted to a state maritime school, so that is also an option he is considering, but he'd rather get a new rate and be in the Navy.

[Angie]

The use of the word "rank" for Navy enlisted personnel is incorrect. The term is "rate." The rating badge is a combination of rate (pay grade, as indicated by the chevrons) and rating (occupational specialty, as indicated by the symbol just above the chevrons).

[Hannah88]

I referred to Rate, not sure what you're responding to.

[Hannah88]

Okay. I was confused by Angie talking about rank vs rate. Thanks for clarifying.

[CaptainFatso]

That's OK... You won't get any push ups for the error.

But your son may if he makes the same mistake. :)

[yondaj30 (ship 11 Div 134)]

My best advice is not to let him leave with a job he dont want. I was a victum of the same thing and I was stuck with my job until I got out. Stay firm and refuse to leave. He is not obligated at this point.

[Suzy]

Does anyone know if you can change your orders after you sign up and take the oath at MEPS? My son is scheduled to leave for bootcamp in Dec. He ended up taking a position as BM because the positions he asked for "weren't available. Please help!

[Hannah88]

You can but they won't make it easy, so be persistent, fill out all the paperwork and then make sure to keep AFTER THEM.  It's hard enough being in the military without being stuck in a job he doesn't want.  My son ended up dropping his contract (yes, you can until they get on that plane!), and is now a Lcpl in the Marine Corps, stationed in Afghanistan.