Waiting game...

[Austinsmom]

My son has never wavered about joining the US Navy. Since our trip to DC in the first grade he wanted to join the Military and since the 6th grade he has said the Navy.

He scored well on his ASVAB but it expired this last November. He graduated High School in May 2015, but it took him until this past December (2015) to make weight. We started collecting medical records in October and all was sent for medical review once he made weight in December. At the beginning of January he was told he would go to MEPs to re-take his ASVAB and medical for waiver (ADHD). That same week he completed background check application and over two hours of paperwork. We were excited because he was finally going to MEPs!

Well...January is over and now 'maybe' he will go the 3rd week of February.

I've wanted him to enroll in community college and get a job, but he keeps hoping he is leaving soon and spending money on classes will be a waste. However at this point, he could have completed 1 year. Even if he went to MEPs in February, he probably wouldn't leave for Boot Camp for months.

I'm I being unreasonable asking that he enroll in school and find a job?

[chelsey]

Depending on how many course credits he has, there's a chance he can finish basic as an E2. As far as how many credits, I'm not entirely sure but more than just 1 semesters worth. That is what my man did before leaving for basic. Sorry I can't be more help! Best of luck to you both!

[CryptoDad]

24 semester hours are needed for pay grade E2.

Are you being unreasonable? Absolutely not.

[Austinsmom]

Thanks for your input.  I guess I wish he would have enrolled for last fall.  By the time he gets in, he may have gotten an AA.

Thanks!

[Anti M]

Not unreasonable at all.  If he can pick up basics now, it will help in the long run.  I had most of an AA when I enlisted, and was able to complete it using the tuition assistance program.  If he's enrolled at a college, he should be able to find work through work-study programs.  They expect short term employment, so that may be more useful than getting a regular job and then quitting.

[Austinsmom]

Thanks for your input.  Yes.  It would have to be short-term.  I wouldn't want him to leave anyone 'hanging'.

[Craig]

Well, I'll throw in my 2¢...

I truly don't know what the purpose is for getting a job this close to his shipment date, He will be working for the next 45 years, and a couple months matters?  I can totally see if there is a cash flow problem in the family and he needs to work to keep the family above water.  But, if he's like most of the young adults I work with, he is just waiting his time to start his career.  Why not have one last fling before going down that 45 year process...

Secondly, in todays era a college degree really doesn't mean much.  When I hire people I look for certificates.  If you have a CompTIA A+, Network+, or Secruity+ certificate, I can get you in the door immediately.  A general college degree you haven't a chance.  If the college degree is in Electrical Engineering then, that is a different story, but you'd still need the CompTIA A+, Network+, or Secruity+ certificate.

The old days of having a college degree in General studies are long gone.  Even with the Navy, a General Studies degree won't get you in.  

And yes, I think you are being unreasonable, unless you have a financial need for his income.
Just my thoughts....

[Austinsmom]

We don't have a financial need, but it seems to me it is has been a very long time waiting and we have still more waiting to do.  I want him to make him do 'something' in this time.

[Concernedad]

I totally disagree with Craig.

He's going to MEPS in February or to Boot Camp? It's possible to have a year wait from the time he signs a contract to actually shipping out. My son got in a year of college while he waited and entered as an E-2 due to some AP credits. 

I would suggest having him enroll in a community college for no other reason than to take some basic classes. I told my son, I didn't care what classes he took, as long as they counted for credit. My son also continued to work while waiting for Boot Camp. If for no other reason than keeping him busy keeps him out of trouble. 

If he's sitting home waiting for a year, that's not doing him any good.

[Austinsmom]

Thank you Concernedad.  You seemed to get where I'm coming from.  At this point, it could be two years post high school!  

[Craig]

Concernedad - 
Just trying to figure out your fuzzy logic….

Why would anyone spend like $100 per credit hour of college so they could get E2?  Why not just study the DEP handbook?  Why not go in under the Advance Electronic Field (AEF) or Advance Technical Field (ATF) or  the other many way in the Navy to make E2.    Why would anyone want to be sitting in an English 101 class learning how to keep dangling participles from grasping the closest noun?  

Most young adults that join the Navy do it because they are tired of school.  They want to get a move on with their life.  They want to journey the world to see what it has to offer.  

Per the AP classes, unless you plan on going to an Ivy League school, what is the purpose?  Yes, you could earn college credits “if” you past the test, but it’s not guaranteed.  However, if the same student went to the local community college and took the same course under the state sponsored Guaranteed Transfer Credit program they are “guaranteed” that those college credits transfer to a State college.  Being a highschool student, the college courses are free.

So many people think of yesterday rules for college fit in today’s society for college.  
For example, let’s say you want to be a Physical Therapist (PT) which is an 8 year college requirement, or, an Occupational Therapist (OT) which is a 6 year college requirement.  In that same 8 years you could be a doctor instead of a PT.  For 8 years you are going to college and will have a $800K college bill. In addition, you are not earning money in those 8 years because you might not have a job, or maybe a part time job.  So you’re a $1,000,000 in debt before you even get out to a hospital. 

On the other hand, you could go to Pema medical institute and earn a 2 year degree as a PT or OT assistant.  The difference in pay is the assistant gets ¾ of the pay of a PT or OT.  You will soon see a shortage of PT’s and OT’s because only a fool who doesn’t understand math can see the huge difference.  

So why am I saying this, it’s because people think full time college is the answers to everything, when it truly isn’t.  They are locked in a vapor lock on the old school way and not looking how it actually works in today world.  

Per making your kid "be busy"...
I have a great kid and I have never had a need to make him work or keep busy to keep him out of trouble.  He has been taught early on in his life not to get into trouble.  I truly cannot understand some parents logic in thinking keeping them busy will keep them safe.  If they can’t trust them now, how the heck will you trust the same young adult two months when they are sent to the battlefields of Afghanistan or Iraq where they have to make a split second decision to either take or save a human life?

I much rather my kid go to the YMCA swimming pool to learn to swim for boot camp, to run laps on the track, to get involve with the local DEP station, to work at a homeless shelter, or a wide range of other things instead of flipping burgers at some hamburger joint making minimum wage.   They need that like they need a hole in the head, which might happen during a robbery of that same burger joint.

Again, just my thoughts….

[Concernedad]

Craig, I don't see how education is ever wasted. My son took some basic psyche classes and history classes that interested him and would one day count towards his degree if he chooses to get it after he leaves the Navy. Not sure I agree with your viewpoint that it's a waste of time. 

As to working while waiting, also not sure how this is a bad thing? He earned the money to buy gas for his truck or hang out with his friends and STILL found the time to run and swim before leaving for Boot Camp. 

And whether or not someone is a good kid, time with nothing to do holds little value. Do you know the statistics on large lottery winners? A high percentage end up broke within 3 years. Why? because they quit their jobs and now have free time to spend money. Many end up in divorce from long marriages and they even have a high rate of suicides. 
I work with helping people reach retirement, and the biggest issue is, now that they have extra time from no longer working, they find themselves spending far more than they anticipated. It's just human nature. 

P.S. Just to add, community college is pretty reasonable. And, you mentioned Pema medical institute. Wouldn't that fall under the category of college?

[Craig]

Concernedad...
I actually am enjoying this topic because it is eye opening for a lot of info that people can use... 

Education is the key to life.  I don't think I ever said it was a waste of time (I need to review my text again).  What I said is a General studies degree gets you nowhere in today's world.   Companies what to see certificates and certifications.  I suggest Pema, because it does exactly that.  You are certified in 2 years and make 3/4 of the pay of someone going to college for 8 years.  While they are in school for the additional 6 years, you are working and earning money, without incurring a school debt. 

Per the E2, I did say there are way better ways to make E2 without incurring a debt from taking a bunch of college classes.  Why sit in a classroom for 12 weeks for 3 measly credit, when all the recruit has to do is take the DEP Personnel Qualification Standard (PQS).  That book info is great and will help them get the mandatory Warfare pin while in the Navy.   What so many people don't understand is those college credit go away after about 4 or 5 years.  There is a time limit to use them.  Most sailors get out after their 1st enlistment to find the college credits they had are gone.

I have helped 1000's of recruits.  I would much better see them join with a tech or trade school, and working as a civilian for two years.  They then become eligible for E4 or E5 upon enlistment under the  Direct Procurement Enlistment Program (DPEP).   However, some recruits want to join immediately.  They truly just want to move on with their life.  For those, I say go out and have fun.  For 45 years they will be working, why worry about it now?