Navy Dads

Hello all, I am new here and I am just looking for some advice on the recruitment process. My daughter is planning on entering the NUKE program. She has been working with a recruiter and went to MEPS today. The recruiter advised her to go ahead and pick a rate and enlist in the DEP while she waits for her security clearance to be processed. He claimed they would change her designation later for NUKE once the "paperwork" was finished. So, she did that today and the only job available for a woman was ABF. She got a 99 on the ASVEB and has a BS degree. No disrespect to the AB rate but I can’t see that being a good fit for her at all. Is this a normal practice or was/is she just getting a runaround in this process? Has anyone else had this experience? How concerned should I be? She goes to Boot in July 2014 and unless a seat opens up for her it looks like she has to learn how to run a needle gun insted of a reactor.

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this is regarding another matter, but the advice follows:

IF the recruiter in charge does not handle it, you need to ask for the Zone Supervisor, if nothing happens there, the next one you should ask and speak to is the Assistant Chief Recruiter, then the Chief Recruiter. IF all that fails, then my next step would be to contact the Commanding Officer. I would wait no more than 1-2 days between contacts (ZS, ACR, CR).
I can tell you that the last thing a recruiter wants (or needs) is negative attention.

Hi James, My daughter had her Nuke rate (ET) before she left. As soon as they scored her Asveb she knew she was going into the Nuke program. Also because of her collage she was also pretty much guaranteed

E-3 out of BC. She's a 3rd class now in ProtoType. One thing I learned the hard way about the military when I was in the Marines is if it's not in writing, it will never happen. I agree with Paul, you need to talk with his supervisor. 

it's like buying a car....people can say what they want, but it needs to be on a piece of paper.....

James, that's entirely normal, although the part about waiting for the security clearance is misleading. Your daughter's clearance probably won't be complete until sometime during actual Nuke school. She will need to take a test called the NAPT that will determine if she can enter the nuke training pipeline after boot camp. Judging by her ASVAB score, that shouldn't be an issue.

Believe me, the Navy wants qualified Nuke trainees much more than aviation fuelers. 

Hi James, I normally just lurk here or search for information, first time I've actually posted a response because most of the others here are so much more experienced it makes sense to let them answer without me muddying the waters.
We had the exact same experience with my son when he initially signed, the recruiter told him to accept whatever job was offered and they'd change it before he left for boot, that it was easy to change but if you turned down what they offer, they viewed the person as uncooperative and getting a transfer becomes harder. Don't know if this is true or not or if the recruiters have this worked out as a psychological test to see if the recruit is willing to follow orders that they obviously don't want to follow and at the time are not obligated to follow but it did work out for him. There were two others with him the day he was processed and no one was offered the job they wanted, my son wanted Nuke and was offered Corpsman, one of the others wanted Corpsman and was told there were no slots open and was offered ET. End of story, my son is through A school and starts Power School next month, recruiters kept their word. Definitely have your daughter keep on top of things and follow up with her recruiter but I wouldn't spend an inordinate amount of time worrying or obsessing over this..........-Joe

When my son was switched to Nukes, he was temporarily given a yeoman rate, which he kept until PIR.

Then he was immediately promoted to E-3 and went on to A-school in Charleston. He is presently finishing up prototype.

I suspect (and hope) the same thing will happen with your daughter.

Having the signed Nuke contract while he went through Boot Camp gave him reassurance. He was also given his rate assignment (ET) during Boot Camp.



Joe Castle said:

Hi James, I normally just lurk here or search for information, first time I've actually posted a response because most of the others here are so much more experienced it makes sense to let them answer without me muddying the waters.
We had the exact same experience with my son when he initially signed, the recruiter told him to accept whatever job was offered and they'd change it before he left for boot, that it was easy to change but if you turned down what they offer, they viewed the person as uncooperative and getting a transfer becomes harder. Don't know if this is true or not or if the recruiters have this worked out as a psychological test to see if the recruit is willing to follow orders that they obviously don't want to follow and at the time are not obligated to follow but it did work out for him. There were two others with him the day he was processed and no one was offered the job they wanted, my son wanted Nuke and was offered Corpsman, one of the others wanted Corpsman and was told there were no slots open and was offered ET. End of story, my son is through A school and starts Power School next month, recruiters kept their word. Definitely have your daughter keep on top of things and follow up with her recruiter but I wouldn't spend an inordinate amount of time worrying or obsessing over this..........-Joe



James B said:

Thanks all. I sure hope things will work out for her. I think Joe may be on to something with the "psychological test". Maybe not so much for my kid but it sure does stress the parents. The recruiter seems to be on top of things and she is an adult after all. She has a good job now but is willing to give it up for the Nuke Navy. I did my time as an ET(R) quite a few years ago and this hurry up and wait exercise is bringing back quite a few memories.  

uhhhh yeah, here is a piece of advice. Even if she signs for another rate while in waiting to go nuke, do NOT let her leave for bootcamp if she does not have a signed contract to go into the nuclear power program. Once she leaves for bootcamp there are no guarantees to anything and she may then be stuck for 4 years doing something she doesn't want to do.

 

Also here is my biggest question for you. Why in the world is your daughter joining as enlisted when she has a BS. What is her degree in? She should be talking to an officer Navy recruiter and be trying to enter in as an officer. Some of the JO's on my boat got into the nuke officer program with even non engineering or science degrees. That is the real path she should be trying to follow from the beginning if she wants to be in the nuke program. Not to mention they have programs where she could get some of the money she paid in tuition back.

As far as the degree, it's in English. So now to explore her technical side. I tried to get her to see an officer recruiter but once she makes up her mind on something.....

SOOOO much more open to her on the officer side. Higher pay, more opportunities to fill high roles in the Navy if its what she wants to continue to do as a career, much easier to advance her education, better opportunities on the outside when she gets out. Take it from a nuke who has been in 10.5 years so far, it isn't anywhere near what its cracked up to be. If you want to see the largest group of individuals who sit there and think of how much they hate the Navy and hate their lives and decision they made, go look at a group of enlisted nukes lol............. not kidding at all, sorry.

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