Picking a rate

[Momtothree]

We were supposed to get the date for our son to go for his asvab and physical today but it looks like we will hear tomorrow.  My son would like to be an MA, and his recruiter told him, "so does every other male enlisting in the navy"  So now I am worried this is something he won't get.  Is getting the job you want hard? His recruiter said he did great on his practice asvab.  My son said he doesn't have a second or third choice rate he wants.  Do I need to push him to find a few other jobs he is really interested in?  Thanks. Also, I knew nothing about the navy a few weeks ago so I have been reading everything I can on this site.  You all have posted so much great unformation. 

[Momtothree]

Thank you for your response.  I have told him to read everything (like I have been doing) on all of the jobs.  It looks like he won't be up there until the first of July as his recruiter said all slots in June are full.  What happens if they don't offer you something you want?  How does the waiting process go?  Hopefully he doesn't have to. 

[My2kidz]

I think the best advice is to have patience.  It is natural to want to have everything settled but if there is one thing we have learned, hurry up and wait is the norm. My son started talking to his recruiter last September when he started his final year of college. We had to wait months for a medical waiver for a collar bone surgery he had years ago. I had to fly him home to meet with his surgeon because they wanted a report from the surgeon himself. Then the medical and physical. Then the PST. Then waiting for a contract. Now waiting for him to leave for BC. It is a long process and it is easy to get anxious. Tell your son to study and do the very best he can on the ASVAB. When contracts come up they go to the people with the best scores.  But he should also keep an open mind about other job options if the rate he is looking for is indeed as popular as his recruiter says.

[Momtothree]

Thank you again!  I bought him an asvab book to study.  I am getting the "hurry up and wait" as he was supposed to go take his physical/test yesterday and today and now it isn't until the first week of July.  

[hishippygirl]

Your son should have several options in his mind. This was the one part about signing up that I wish we had known more about. When he goes down to take his asvab, they will take his score and run it through the database of upcoming available jobs. (Ship dates within the next 6-8 months). If MA doesn't have any openings at that time, it won't be on his list of options even if he scored high enough to qualify for it. And almost all the jobs will be listed using their acronym with no descriptions as to what each job option involves. We had 5 minutes on the phone with our son to help him pick a career. It was crazy. And changing rate selection is super hard. So don't let them put just anything down for him with the promise of changing it later. It's nearly impossible. Pick something right then that he could live with if it stays that way. The job counselors there are still trying to fill all the jobs, even the ones nobody really wants. So know your choices before you go in. My son ended up getting the rate he wanted but it took a ton of time and effort and many many phone calls.

[Momtothree]

I just spoke with his recruiter and he is going to meps this Sunday-Monday. He said he will do the asvab and physical Monday, but since there isn't a MA open he won't swear in. He said they are thinking in the next two weeks it will and he will go back up and sign. I hope it goes like that and it isn't a long wait.

[antsmom]

My son went to MEPS yesterday and didn't swear in...Recruiter told him in the next few weeks he will call him in about jobs...have you heard anything yet?? This waiting is frustrating...It will be very hard to have my son leave, but I'm excited for him to start the next phase of his life :)

[Momtothree]

Before they got home from meps he had a call to be back up there the next morning. He was offered several jobs from his list that he made. He took one that ships out in Jan in hopes that MA opens up. It actually did on Tuesday and he missed it. Fingers crossed it opens again. Good luck to your son!

[My2kidz]

I am glad to hear your son found a rate that interests him in case MA doesn't open up. My son signed a contract for a rate that he was okay with if he didn't pass all his tests. The recruiters were trying to hold that contract for someone who really wanted it but was waiting for a waiver. It worked out great because by the time he passed all his tests and got the contract he really  wanted, the other young man had cleared waivers. My son signed the new contract and the other contract went to the kid who really wanted it. Everyone was happy. There is a lot of time between now and January so just make sure your son stays in contact with his recruiter on a regular basis. My son has a standing weekly call with his recruiter just to keep in touch until he goes to BC. Good luck to your son!

[antsmom]

My son FINALLY took the Oath last week...I was a little shocked when I found out that he signed a six year contract...He will be going in as an E3 because he has an AA degree.... His job is Aviation Systems Warfare Operator (AW)...I don't really know very much about his job so I have been trying to find all of the information that I can....He has to wait to leave for bootcamp until April! 

Vickie360, my son's recruiter kept trying to push him towards the Seals. Recruiter was telling him he would do very well because he works out and is fit. It was frustrating because my son wasn't interested and felt like he was being pushed into something he didn't want to do. I hope everything works out for your son. 

[Vickie360]

Thanks!  We are playing the waiting game.  He put in a DAR and the recruiter said something will probably come up before December, so we are hopeful!