Son is considering the Navy

[CindyB]

Hello everyone! This is my first post here. My son is 17 and a senior in high school. He took the ASVAB last year in school and did well I think. I think his score was something like 85, I'm sorry I don't recall the exact. We can't find the results, not sure where he put it, because he decided he wasn't interested in joining the military. Hopefully, the school will be able to provide him with a copy. 

At any rate, a Navy recruiter called him a couple of nights ago and said that his score indicated he may be eligible for the Nuclear Program. Well that got his interest up, and he spoke with a recruiter here in town yesterday. Oddly, that recruiter had no access to his ASVAB score, so we are not entirely sure what kind of offer he would get until we get that. 

I am theoretically supportive of a military career. It's a great opportunity for college and I would be proud for him to serve our country. However, I do have some concerns. I am unclear as to whether they actually pay for school, or just apply their training to be "credits toward a degree". What if he doesn't make it into the nuclear program? 

I guess one of my biggest concerns is that I see a lot of posts on here from parents whose child is talking with recruiters and who has been active in ROTC and things like that. These kids have been considering this. My son has been planning for college his whole life. 

Please don't misunderstand, there are SO many great reasons for him to enlist! I am just concerned that he is acting on almost a whim! Has anyone gone through a similar situation?

Thanks for listening!

Cindy

 

[austin'sproudmomma]

Hello,  I am new to this site as well but will be glad to share what I know, my son's recruiter also told him his score "88" would make him eligible for the Nuclear Program. He went to MEPS yesterday and took the test for this program and did not pass. There have been other parents who gave me a heads up that you have to score in the high 90's. So my son has decided to go back to his first love which is medical. This was his choice before the recruiter told him about the other program. I hope this helps. Good Luck.

[Concernedad]

First off, what your son took was a practice ASVAB not the actual test. There are study guides he should get at the local bookstore to practice before taking the official test just as he would for a college entrance exam. Consider the ASVAB every bit as important, probably more so. 

Recruiters are always looking for Nuke recruits so this is their biggest push, however, I would say unless he gets his score up into the 90's, in all likelihood he would struggle in the Nuke field. 

He doesn't need to have done ROTC, my son never did. He should go to the Navy website and look over all the jobs to get an idea of a second choice. They have the recruits select what they call a "critical rating" and a "non-critical rating" as well. He should determine if there are jobs he would be happy to be doing for 4,5, or 6 years (or longer) of his life.

As far as education, after he gets out, he will have money to go to college, and some of the C schools he attends may qualify for college credit. 

My buddies who went in as officers all got their Master's degrees while in the Navy. 

I'm sure there is more information someone else on here can provide. 

[CryptoDad]

"My son has been planning for college his whole life. "

Does he have a plan for how he is going to pay for college?

[CindyB]

Well, the original plan was just to keep costs as low as possible by going community college for the first two years. Then he would have had school loans to contend with. But, he has made his decision and will be enlisting as soon. He just has to drop a few pounds, and then will enter the delayed enlistment (DEP?) trying to learn the lingo!

[CryptoDad]

I raise the college cost issue because there doesn't have to be a choice between college and the Navy. The Navy College Program (NCP) will cover up to $4000 a year in tuition assistance (TA) while your son is in uniform. Its a benefit that too few Sailors take advantage of and Recruiters rarely mentioned.

Prior to our Sailor leaving for boot camp, we visited a local collage she was interested in that's a member of the NCP Distance Learning Partnership. We had a chat with an admissions person who was knowledgeable in Navy TA and GI Bill benefits. College without loans. Sound good?  She got her Bachelors a couple of months ago at the Navy's expense.

I suggest that your son look into it. 

[CindyB]

Thank you so much! That is exactly what I was hoping would be available. So it sounds like that is the thing to do. 

[BunkerQB]

Read some of the comments in this discussion.

http://navyformoms.com/forum/topics/talking-to-recruiters?

Don't know if it is still true but in the old days, recruiters get a bonus for get a nuke.

What is really more important is that your son find something HE wants to do and can qualify. Good luck.

[saval11]

Here is what I can tell you. Yes the military will pay for your college education. Recruiters, although great to have on your side, can promise you nothing.  They help by guiding you through a very convoluted process. Every person goes in with the same benefits. If you have college credits, you automatically go in at a higher level, E3 instead of E1. The ASVAB, at MEPS, is what determines what jobs you are offered and then you are only offered what is available. You have to know that simultaneously, all over the country, others are getting their job information also. My daughter just went through MEPS. She did well on the ASVAB and got  multiple job matches, except the one she really wanted, Master-at-arms. So we sat and tried to get an idea of what else she would like, chose one, then she went back in to the processor and suddenly there was an opening for what she wanted, she took it. It was explained to me by a USN Ret. Lt Commander, that someone, some where in the states, that had chosen MA job, either changed their mind or failed some portion of the requirements after accepting the MA job. The Navy looks very favorably on sailors who want to get their college and post graduate degrees. So rest easy, they DO PAY for college.

There are many jobs in the Navy. If you don't get what you really want and settle for something different, you can file a DAR about 1 week after MEPS to try to get into the job you really want. If you do have to go in outside your job preference, after a period of time you can request to retrain. That time period is different based mainly on how much school and training your current job incurred.

[Concernedad]

saval, depends on how many college credits you have. One year of college (full time) will get you to E-2. Two years will get you to E-3. 

College Credits:If you have satisfactorily completed 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours of college credits, you may be enlisted in pay-grade E2. For those who have satisfactorily completed 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours of college credits, you can be enlisted in pay-grade E3. College credits earned via classroom, Online or distant learning must be from a U.S. community college, college, or university accredited for postsecondary education and listed in the Accredited Institutions of Post Secondary Education published by the American Council on Education. Classes must be of the 100 and higher variety as remedial courses are NOT authorized for use in determining whether you qualify for Advanced Pay-grade.

also...

Entering the Navy at pay-grade E-3 will allow you to be eligible to advance to Third Class Petty Officer (E-4) only six months into your enlistment versus an E-1 who would only be eligible to advance to E-4 after serving a minimum of 2 years - you are a full year and a half ahead! Take a look at this current military pay scale and see the difference.

https://www.navycs.com/navy-advanced-paygrade.html

[Anti M]

Being an Eagle Scout will also make them eligible for E-3.

[Concernedad]

If you click the link I provided, it gives the whole list of ways you can get promoted, including bringing in new recruits. 

[saval11]

Yep... Thanks for the clarifications, I could not remember which numbers got them what rank but you are correct!!!