Expert: Howard Lorenz - 2/9/2008

Question
QUESTION: I recently signed parental consent for my son to join the Navy.  He was interested in an AT aircrew job and if he was not qualified wanted to consider the air force or coast guard but this was everyone agreed the perfect job for him.  When I did research on this site it appeared he was about 8 points short of a qualifying score. I mentioned this to the recruiter who told me that this site was out of date and that he did have a qualifying score and there was no need to  retake the ASVAB. I asked them the question again directly prior to signing the paperwork and again before setting up  the MEPs appointment.  He went to MEPS and you guessed was  8 points short of qualifying for the job and given a job which he will hate for 5 years.  He is still 17 is there anyway I can withdraw my consent.  I do not want to injure his chances of retaking the MEPS  and rejoining at a later  date however if he cannot raise his scores he has much better opportunities in the Air Force or Coast Guard with his current scores. The liaison officer at MEPS advised him not to retake because people generally get lower scores and   his opportunities would be even more limited.  I cannot tell you how disappointed I am  and my son still wishes a military career however I would rather he have none than one that he will hate.
Thanks
Larry Scott

ANSWER: Larry,

I am sorry that there are some out there that cant play honest ball when it comes to enlistments, but the Federal Government creates that when they place goals on respective recruiters. The one thing that I would have done when the recruiter stated that the site was out of date, was ask for proof.. ALWAYS get it on paper when you are dealing with these folks. When I was being questioned, I offered the proof to shut the parent who was doing the questioning up...It was my best defense!

As for the retaking of the ASVAB score, retaking the test was something that I did the same, I had several applicants retake the ASVAB and they did get lower scores..Not sure why, but it does happen. I however never told them that they couldn't retake it, I just advised against it....

As for your parental consent....Once you sign it, its done. You cant revoke them. But his enlistment, is conditional. 1. He has to graduate, 2 he has to stay out of trouble.

The other thing that recruiters will not tell you is that he is signed up in now is the Delayed Enlistment Program, Before he can be sworn on to active duty there has to be several things in place, 1 he has to have a diploma. and 2 no "Open Law Violations" and 3 HAS TO BE SWORN IN AGAIN....This will be done the day he is to ship out.

So in a nut shell, Yes your son is in the NAVY DEP, not the NAVY. Is his enlistment binding....No, its conditional....Its not binding until they swear in the day they ship out....

Now with that being said, I have questions for you. How do you know tat your son will not like the job? He has never done it! The one thing that did piss me off when I was a recruiter, was when little johnny got a job he didnt want... They went to bitching about it...remember, He didnt have to sign the contract! They did not force a gun to your or your sons head and make him or you sign. I always made sure that this is what the parents and the enlistee wanted before I sent them up on the hill.

Larry, you and your son need to sit and have a nice long heart to heart talk and figure out what you want. You both should have done more research into this before getting involved with the Military.

What I suggest is that you and your son talk with the navy recruiter and have him arrange a visit to a navy base where your son can see what the job entails, or have them put him in contact with someone that does his job.... I didnt like the sound of the job that I got either, but I wouldnt have any other job now... We all have an "IDEA" of what we would like to do in life, but it NEVER turns out the way we would like, but the one thing that I have found out in 19 years of service, is that "Its What YOU make of it"!! If your son goes into this job with a CLOSED mind thinking he will hate it, he will force himself to hate the job, but if he goes into it with an open mind and rides the wave in... He may just find that he does like it...

The choice is yours...or actually his to make...Let him make it!

HW



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION:   First thank you for your quick response and I agree it is his decision.  The recruiter has told him he could switch jobs  up until the day he shipped.  At the time he had been at MEPS  12 hours on 4 hours of sleep and would have taken any job because they told him he could switch.  The recruiter told us he was required to come by the house in 3 days this is the third day and we have not even received a phone call. What frustrates me is that if he had said lets look at some alternative jobs this one my not be open, we would have worked with him. My belief that he will hate the job is based on the opinion of a career Navy veteran who knows the job and my son. Before we did this my son talked to veterans of 4 branches of the service and his older brother who is in the Air Force.  We looked at numerous jobs in three branches.  I would like to talk more to a Navy recruiter but how do we progress with someone we already knows intends to deceive us.

Answer
Go above his head and talk to the boss... Thats where I would go next. If he is able to switch jobs, then I would hard press that issue untill you and your son get what he wants. Every Recruiter has a flight Chief, I would express your concerns to him or her...

HW