Expert: Howard Lorenz - 5/13/2010

Question
My son has been on USAF DEP since Sept of 09. He scored 88 on ASVAB. At the time of our initial visit with local recruiter, he (we) were informed that this was a great score, and could pretty much have his choice of jobs/career fields. I, as a father, of course, have been directing him to plan for something compatible, transferable, or adaptable, to civilian life in the event he left the Air Force. The recruiter has offered him jobs such as Security Forces, SEERS, Open General, and most recently, Open Mechanical. The recruiter has now stated that my son would be "DISCHARGED" from DEP if he didn't accept one of these specific job offerings. Therefore, my questions are: After being on DEP for 8 months, attending all meetings as required, following all instructions as required, Can the recruiter or his commander basically "muscle" him into accepting the jobs that they need accepted to fill their quota? Is this an authorized, legal, and allowable, recruiting tactic?  He got nervous and accepted the "Open Mechanical" by telephone only, because he doesn't want to be Discharged. I am furious due to the fact that accepting any "open" job drops his choices down to approximately 1 of 5 due to availability upon completion of basic training, which may or may not be civilian related. I thank you in advance for your time and response to my questions, John

Answer
One thing you have to remember....there has been alot of changes in the economy since he enlisted into the DEP. Where we had availability now we do not because the services can pick and choose enlistees. There are many  that in September would have had no issues getting in who now cannot.  The Airforce is also drawing down it's numbers. I left recruiting in 2007, we made our yearly goal the first two months of the physcal year. I'm very certain that it is the same situation now. Most of the jobs that the air force are getting people now are matched with atrition. It isn't uncommon for someone who is in the DEP to have to wait for well over a year. Times like these make completing a contract difficult since the contract is only good for one calendar year at Wichita another contract must be acomplished. By offering open contracts to those who have been in the DEP gets them in training and in the real air force. I know that it is difficult as a parent. We all want to make sure that our children get what we think that they deserve. But in these times, if he wants to serve he's going to have to take what's available. He needs to know that regardless of what the job is the benefits are well worth it. All first term airmen can cross train later into another career field once they complete a certain amount of time.

My advise is this. If he wants to serve ang get all the benefits that are the same regardless of the position, he needs to take what they can give him to get him in. He can do mode on the inside of the fence than he can from where he is now. Recruiters are cancelling contracts on many who don't accept position offers because they have so many who will. Once the economy turns to where the job market improves, only then will the recruiter have to return to selling the military ...at present time he does not.