Got picked up by a pro board today! But here's a question

[Dmitriy]

Got a call from my recruiter today telling me I got picked up by the CEC board. Got my MEPS scheduled this Thursday. I'm super excited, the last time I was this excited was when my college acceptance came.
Here is the thing though: back when I started the application process I put down August 1st 2013 as my earliest available date. Since then I started coaching a university rowing team and I have a contract with them through May 2014. I'm concerned that since the only two CECOS courses are in July and January I will be placed in OCS around March or April. Legally, I can break my contract at any point (I think) but that is something I'd rather not do, especially two months before a national championship after taking my athletes through a whole season. Do you think being under contract would be considered a legitimate reason to postpone OCS (from the Navy's point of view)?
I know I'm getting a bit ahead of myself here.

 

[Steve Wilkins]

Consider this your first lesson in the "needs of the Navy." You were selected because the Navy needs fresh bodies to start putting through process. That said, I would make sure your recruiter knows your situation as well as whoever you end up working with to schedule your OCS start date.

 

[BackOrdered]

"Service before self", nuff said.

 

[BusyBee604]

Do you think being under contract would be considered a legitimate reason to postpone OCS (from the Navy's point of view)?

What are your priorities? Coaching a rowing team to a championship, would be a great achievement on a resume, but not a life changing event. Having been selected for the opportunity to serve as a CEC Officer is. With all due respects, the Univ. & the team will understand your reason for terminating the contract early, and they will find a qualified coach to fill in. If you choose to stay with the team, and that opportunity for a CEC Officer slot is no longer available in the future, you may forever regret the missed opportunity. You know, the ol' 'bird-in-the-hand.... bush' thing!
BzB

 

[BackOrdered]

I think my first post may have come off as being about service vs self. I see my atletes as my troops who look to me to teach them and lead them. In this case and I see abandoning them to go chase my dreams as the selfish choice here. But that's an aside.
The qiestion has nothing to do with selfishness. The reason I ask is that essentially the reason I can walk away from my contract is because Pa happens to be a right-to-work state where a contract cannot be binding. In some other states I wouldn't be able to walk away from a similar contract unless my commitment was up or I was fired.

You will miss SOMETHING personally important while on active duty due to the needs of the Navy. Some guys missed child births to be at OCS. Consider this a test. If this is getting to you, consider another line of work because you will have trouble counseling sailors to do the same.

 

[Dmitriy]

First, the Military Clause can pretty much allow you to walk out of any contract if they keep you from completing your PCS orders.

Thanks! This is more along the lines of what I was asking. I know full well that serving means sacrificing your personal life to a huge degree. I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Hell, at the rate my package has been processing so far, I'll finish up my contract an still end up waiting.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Got a call from my recruiter today telling me I got picked up by the CEC board. Got my MEPS scheduled this Thursday. I'm super excited, the last time I was this excited was when my college acceptance came.
Here is the thing though: back when I started the application process I put down August 1st 2013 as my earliest available date. Since then I started coaching a university rowing team and I have a contract with them through May 2014. I'm concerned that since the only two CECOS courses are in July and January I will be placed in OCS around March or April. Legally, I can break my contract at any point (I think) but that is something I'd rather not do, especially two months before a national championship after taking my athletes through a whole season. Do you think being under contract would be considered a legitimate reason to postpone OCS (from the Navy's point of view)?
I know I'm getting a bit ahead of myself here.

Don't worry about when the CECOS courses are, that doesn't really indicate when you will go to OCS, none of my CEC guys went from OCS directly to CECOS, most spent several weeks to several months at their new command before going to CECOS.

I am sure your university will be flexible, I happened to put an assistant crew coach in and her school was understanding.

 

[Dmitriy]

Don't worry about when the CECOS courses are, that doesn't really indicate when you will go to OCS, none of my CEC guys went from OCS directly to CECOS, most spent several weeks to several months at their new command before going to CECOS.

I am sure your university will be flexible, I happened to put an assistant crew coach in and her school was understanding.

Thanks NavyOffRec, I'm sure they will be too! Could you tell me more about the whole spending time at the new command before going to CECOS? I understand this is a different practice from other communities where you usually go straight for additional training or end up sitting at a desk not far from home while waiting for the class to begin?

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Thanks NavyOffRec, I'm sure they will be too! Could you tell me more about the whole spending time at the new command before going to CECOS? I understand this is a different practice from other communities where you usually go straight for additional training or end up sitting at a desk not far from home while waiting for the class to begin?

CEC is unlike any other community, and just because a person doesn't go to CECOS first doesn't mean there isn't something for them to learn, for a while SWO's would go from OCS right to a ship.

 

[PenguinGal]

Congrats on getting pro-rec for CEC! Welcome to the community!

 

[Steve Wilkins]

Don't worry about when the CECOS courses are, that doesn't really indicate when you will go to OCS, none of my CEC guys went from OCS directly to CECOS, most spent several weeks to several months at their new command before going to CECOS.

I am sure your university will be flexible, I happened to put an assistant crew coach in and her school was understanding.

Now why do you have to go and ruin it?

 

[Dmitriy]

Now why do you have to go and ruin it?

?

 

[Steve Wilkins]

?

NavyOffRec provided you with good gouge unlike the rest of us clowns who really have no idea what the pipeline is like for CEC. Our version is usually more entertaining, however. Comments about needs of the Navy, and service first, etc are all still valid though.

 

[Dmitriy]

NavyOffRec provided you with good gouge unlike the rest of us clowns who really have no idea what the pipeline is like for CEC. Our version is usually more entertaining, however. Comments about needs of the Navy, and service first, etc are all still valid though.

Haha well its the effort that counts right?

 

[exNavyOffRec]

NavyOffRec provided you with good gouge unlike the rest of us clowns who really have no idea what the pipeline is like for CEC. Our version is usually more entertaining, however. Comments about needs of the Navy, and service first, etc are all still valid though.

How about his... the order the CEC has you go to OCS is based on how physically attractive to the board members you are, so if you the last to go for your FY start accumulating cats.