Questions from a Potential Recruit

[El Cid]

P Condon:
It's good knowing that you were doing bad and that you want to do better now. As far as enlisting goes, I entered in late 99 and waited for a few years before dropping a package. Life was rough at some point but really good at others. Being enlisted teaches you a LOT about how things get done on the deck plate level. I would trade my enlisted time for anything. It helped me to grow up and become a better person and it helps give you skills that might help you with school in the long run. As far as sticking it out in college I'm with Webmaster on this, KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING YOURSELF INTO!!! One way or the other make it your decision so that you have nobody else to blame when things go good or bad. Also, my 2 cents, find out what you want to do as an officer and choose a rate that is in that field (for example: Sub Officer go Nuke, Pilot or NFO go NAC on the aircraft you like, SWO be a boatswainsmate or operations specialist). Go look at ALL the jobs before you lock yourself into it. Most of all, GOOD LUCK!

 

[Steve Wilkins]

find out what you want to do as and officer and choose a rate that is in that field (for example: Sub Officer go Nuke, Pilot or NFO go NAC on the aircraft you like, SWO be a boatswainsmate or operations specialist).

Yes, definitely figure out what you want to do as an officer. Aside from that, it really makes no difference what you choose to do as enlisted. You should do something that interests you, because that is what is going to help keep you motivated.

 

[P Condon]

I've got to say; you folks have been a lot more candid and helpful than most of the other boards I've asked about enlistment on!

There's a lot here to digest, but I'll answer a few points people have made:

Yes, I am interested in serving even if it is not as an officer. If I end up fulfilling my entire time in as an enlisted man that's fine with me. I am however interested in serving as an officer for several reasons:

The pay, benefits, prestige, etc.(obviously!)

The chance to exercise what I feel to be a talent for leadership, both for my own benefit, and for the benefit of the Navy and the United States.

The opportunity to further my education through the STA-21 program.

Just to clarify something: I'm not particularly interested in the Pilot program. Don't get me wrong; I've got immense respect for pilots, and I'm sure the training and challenges of the job are fascinating! But it's not a personal goal of mine to become a pilot. I'm asking on this board because you guys came up in a google search for "STA-21"

I'm currently in DEP as an HM, a rate I chose after much research and speculation. It strikes me as one of the more flexible rates in the Navy, with the opportunity to work just about anywhere the Navy or Marine Corps goes.
The breadth of duties associated with the rate is wide and varied. It also offers a more tangible feeling of helping out fellow servicemen than I imagine some other jobs might: I know that the even the guy doing paperwork, or driving a truck is important in a team effort, but personally I'd rather be the guy patching up injuries than the guy making sure *that guy* has enough bandages. . . I feel I've made a good choice for myself when it comes to enlisted jobs.

However I'm still not entirely sure in what capacity I'd best fit into the officer's ranks. There doesn't seem to be nearly as much info available on the duties of the various officer lines. I'm also somewhat limited by my aspirations for later in life, none of which really involves a technical degree. That being the case, while I feel that I would be at my best as an officer I am not sure how I can integrate my desires with the needs of the Navy in order to serve as one. I don't have the single goal of being a pilot, or a nuclear officer(or whatever) to drive for, so I'm curious what you guys think someone with an interest in teaching or law can best do as a Naval officer to suit the needs of the Navy, while furthering his professional goals?

Thanks,
Patrick

 

[El Cid]

There is a job called DIO (direct input officer). You teach nuclear power for the second phase of Nuke training. If you act soon they'll help pay for and pay you a lot of money. Then you serve a four year tour and you have the option to transfer to something else. Since it is a day job you could probably take a few night courses and work towards getting your law degree then you could be a JAG officer or after your DIO tour get out and do law school full time using your GI Bill. These are a few of the options that are not traditional so they don't get a lot of publicity.

How close are you to a Navy base? It is a long shot but you might be able to get an appointment with the Command Career Counsellor or try calling a base Public Affairs Officer and get a phone appointment. Then you can ask all the crazy and interesting questions that you want in real time. It's just an idea but check it out. The CCC's are specially trained on all the E to O type jobs.

 

[eazymfme]

If you like HM you would probably like the nurse option. I thought about it because the medical field runs in my family, but decided on pilot. If you like helping people and taking care of them being a nurse would help the navy.

 

[ygut]

I'm in a similar situation, except I already have my degree and therefore am not eligible for STA21. I graduated in August with a BSEE and a low (2.34) GPA from UT. I've spoken to several different recruiters and can't get a straight answer as to what I have to do to overcome my low GPA and earn a commission (preferably SWO or Nuke-sub if possible).

The first recruiter I spoke to was an officer recruiter who told me my only chance at an OCS spot was to go back to school and get a second bachelor's degree and have an excellent GPA (3.7+). So my first option is to work and go to school nights and get a degree in something like business management or economics at UTA or St. Edward's or someplace like that.

Enlisted recruiters that I have spoken to including an officer at the recruiting district hq have told me that I will most definitely qualify to enlist as a Nuke ET. From the enlisted ranks, the officer told me that if I kick ass at A school and Nuke school, submit an application package every time I am eligible, and do well in the fleet, he would be surprised if I didn't get picked up for OCS before 3yrs after boot camp. He said since I already have my engineering degree, the chances of me not getting accepted to OCS before my 6th year are slim to none. He also said that the idea of getting a second degree to improve my grades would be a waste of my time, and would not improve my prospects for applying to OCS as a civilian, the best way was to go the enlisted route.

Who should I believe? Should I work and go to night school and apply as a civilian in a few years, or should I enlist (and make a fraction of what I'm being offered as an EE) and take the chance that I won't get a commission at all? Obviously the enlisted recruiter is trying to fill his quota, but I still don't know who to believe, or if my chances are slim to none either way.

I am now very dedicated to earning a commission in the Navy and will do whatever it takes to get there. Any opinions as to how to get there, or is it a pipe dream?

 

[El Cid]

I know Nuke world is hurting for manning so I am personally surprised they haven't picked you up as a Nuke officer (sub or surface). You should apply at least twice as an officer before you try enlisted at all. Just be prepared to explain why you would do better in the Nuke pipeline than yu did in college and why your GPA does not reflect your ability and so on.

That's my .02 for what it is worth.

 

[NukeWife]

Who should I believe? Should I work and go to night school and apply as a civilian in a few years, or should I enlist (and make a fraction of what I'm being offered as an EE) and take the chance that I won't get a commission at all? Obviously the enlisted recruiter is trying to fill his quota, but I still don't know who to believe, or if my chances are slim to none either way.

I am now very dedicated to earning a commission in the Navy and will do whatever it takes to get there. Any opinions as to how to get there, or is it a pipe dream?

Going nuke is a good way to eventually become an officer, but really make sure your heart is in it before you go this path. The pipeline isn't easy, even if you have a degree. There may be 15 ways to answer a physics problem, but the "Navy way" is the only right answer. There were more than a few guys in my hubby's classes who had problems grasping that. Out of my hubby's A school class, there were very few who were right out of high school, most had a couple years of college. I can remember a few who already had their bachelor's degrees. And I know for sure that one of those people who had her BS flunked out of the pipline in glorious fashion (she's my best friend, lol).
Having said that, my hubby did great through the pipeline (no mandatory study hours in Power School, woohoo!). He was 3rd in his A school class, 3rd or 4th in his Power School class (#2 mechanic) and was #1 on his boat in Prototype. He was the asst class leader in A school, and class leader in Power School. He was picked up as a staff pick-up after Prototype, and then got selected for STA on his first try. So, yeah, the Navy has been a good fit for him, and great for our family. The key to success here is to have your priorities in order, and know what you want.
Alright, I've been up for hours wil my youngest, and I see that the sleep deprivation has lead me to ramble...In short- if you can focus on what you want and will work hard, getting into OCS via the enlisted nuke route should be within your grasp.

 

[Country Boy]

From personal experience with guys in situations similar to yours, I'll tell you what I know. First off, a degree in music education or english is definitely not going to help you (you don't have to worry about that since you have a technical degree). Second, I know of quite a few guys who already had a bachelors before coming in or finished them while in the nuclear pipeline and most of them did put in for OCS. No one who put in for nuke with a degree like english was accepted. So getting a second degree in business management will probably not help. I had two friends in your EXACT situation, pretty poor college grades, but outstanding grades through the pipeline and neither of them was accepted. So it is pretty hard mainly because of the GPA, although not impossible. I also met some officers that came through OCS with pretty low GPAs. The good thing about OCS is that the board convenes very often (i.e. more than once a year) so you would have many chances to apply. Another good thing is that if you did enlist and go nuke and did well in the schools, then you could put in pretty good-looking packages while you're being trained (and the training commands for nukes have excellent command career counselors who will do everything to help you put in a good officer package). Ultimately the choice is up to you, but prior to enlisting (especially as a nuke because the recruiter probably knows nothing about the nuke field but only gets more points for recruiting more nukes and will tell you anything you want to hear), you should be absolutely sure that is what you want just in case you don't get accepted to OCS. And by the way, the slim chance of not being accepted in your first six years is a pretty big exaggeration.

For the record, El Cid's avatar is awesome!