My son wants to enlist in the Navy. Some college. Scored in the 90th percentile on the ASVAB. He needs to have his job detailed on the contract, correct?. Any other recommendations? There seem to be quite a few veterans here. Thanks in advance.

Make sure he knows about Navy jobs in supply chain logistics, as a background in supply chain has inumerable private sector applications once he leaves the service. Even if the service is a career.

I'm not very familiar with the enlistment process, but one thing I have noticed is the importance of being physically ready for your rating if its one of the more competitive ones (SEALs, divers, EOD, etc). My running mate wanted to be a diver when he joined, but couldn't pass the PT test after boot camp and wasn't accepted into dive school. He was then sent on to become a GM. And while I was working in Pensacola, we continually ended up with lots of BUD/s dropouts who showed up for the aircrew school. That's about all I know.

(01-31-2011 03:51 PM)TiggerFan Wrote:  My son wants to enlist in the Navy. Some college. Scored in the 90th percentile on the ASVAB. He needs to have his job detailed on the contract, correct?. Any other recommendations? There seem to be quite a few veterans here. Thanks in advance.

At least in the Army, a 90th percentile will get you into any enlisted field. As T said, if he's trying to get into some type of specialized training, I.e. Diver, etc., it would depend on his fitness test. In the Army, you have your job guaranteed on your enlistment paperwork, so long as you can meet other requirements, I.e. clearances, APFT, etc. You can go into your training with an interim clearance, but if you fail to obtain one, it's "reclass per the needs of the Army. Let me show you how to work the spatula."

(02-01-2011 08:18 AM)Rebel Wrote:  

(01-31-2011 03:51 PM)TiggerFan Wrote:  My son wants to enlist in the Navy. Some college. Scored in the 90th percentile on the ASVAB. He needs to have his job detailed on the contract, correct?. Any other recommendations? There seem to be quite a few veterans here. Thanks in advance.

At least in the Army, a 90th percentile will get you into any enlisted field. As T said, if he's trying to get into some type of specialized training, I.e. Diver, etc., it would depend on his fitness test. In the Army, you have your job guaranteed on your enlistment paperwork, so long as you can meet other requirements, I.e. clearances, APFT, etc. You can go into your training with an interim clearance, but if you fail to obtain one, it's "reclass per the needs of the Army. Let me show you how to work the spatula."

In the navy if you don't make it thru the chosen A-school or can't obtain the clearance you go to the fleet as a striker. That is basically a non rated person who will perform menial tasks (deck division, mess cooking, etc..) while learning a rating either chosen or assigned. Typically you can strike a rating and if your performance is adequate you can later go back to the A-school for that rating. Not really a bad thing given that you actually get to see what the rating is and what is involved. The best advice to give to your son is to take advantage of the college available while in service, it's really not hard to get a bachelors degree during an enlistment if some effort is applied. There are also commisioning programs that were available that actually pay you while you attend college. The Navy also has some of the best technical schools in the military or at least did when I was in.

Three thoughts:
1. Make sure he knows his objective. If he's seriously considering a navy career, then focus on picking something he'll enjoy doing. If he's undecided and doing it more to gain life experience, then look for something that will set him up better later--like the supply chain discussed above. If he gets the same answer to both of those questions, so much the better.
2. Get everything nailed down in writing. If the recruiter makes a verbal commitment, get it in writing. Six months from now, the detailer won't know what the recruiter promised and isn't bound by it--unless it's in writing. Since he has tested at the 90th percentile, he should have some leverage--they want him.
3. As noted in a couple of posts, be aware of the possibility that physical qualification issues may arise, or he may wash out of some training program. Those things happen, and be prepared to make the most out of it if they do.

The military is a great experience, and you learn life skills that last a lifetime. Make the most of it.

In the Coast Guard almost everyone is non-rated and placed at a station to perform general duties while trying to strike a job or waiting for detail to get you into a school that you're interested in. But like everyone said, he needs to make sure he'll pass all of the side requirements for the job. Since "The Guardian" came out, we've had a lot interested in AST that subsequently wash out. When I see them next, they're BMs or worse SK.

I believe that if he enjoys computers, he should get into them as his job. If he could get those certifications he can get a job.

(02-03-2011 02:11 AM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  In the Coast Guard almost everyone is non-rated and placed at a station to perform general duties while trying to strike a job or waiting for detail to get you into a school that you're interested in.

Sounds like day laborers at Home Depot.

On the ship that I served on non-rated personal was deck seaman. They painted the boat, worked on the ships heaving lines, and the booms.

I totally recommend him being an ET or IT. There's a lot he can use from those rates in the civilian world once he gets out. That's a huge mistake I made when I Enlisted. I decided to take to be a TM. I do know a lot of GM's that went on to become Cops.