Hi,
I have been browsing these forums and found them very helpful, but recently thanks to internet I realized that I am in a very bad position. I am 20 years old, from New Jersey, in DEP for Nuke and scheduled to leave aug 3rd this year. I finished 3 semesters of college, and decided that I got as much of college I wanted and didn't want to bury myself even more with student loans so I started to think of a different gameplan for future. That's when I started thinking military and ended up joining the Navy, since I love traveling, sea, and ships. I got 91 on the ASVAB and picked AECF as my rate but soon I was offered the Nuke field so I took that. After months of researching about this field, I realized that this is what I want, because I love learning, and see the school as a great challenge that I am determined to take. Plus I have learned that the Nuke community is something I want to be part of.
The problem I have right now started at MEPS. I have a criminal record consisting of juvenile charges of assault (reduced to resisting arrest), underage drinking and terroristic threats and another under age drinking charge. As an adult I also have a DUI. I have told all of this to my recruiter, and he insisted that I do not admit to any of this at Meps, and I did that. As my rate changed, soon after the assault charge was found out and I met with an investigator. He asked me about this charge and I told him the truth about it and disclosed the other charges. He also asked me why I lied and i told them the truth (that my recruiter told me to). My recruiter said everything will be ok and since I didn't hear anything about this again that I shouldn't worry, because "if I was to be disqualified, that they would have let me know already"
I took his word but when I started researching about this matter recently, I realized that everything he said is wrong, and since the clearance doesn't get finished until after I am in the A school then I might be kicked out and I won't know till then.
I have spoken to him and the Navy counselor and they just keep saying to keep my mouth shut, because if I start yapping then they would definitely kick me out. He even showed me some paper about kids getting kicked out from boot camp for admiting at the moment of truth about speeding tickets and other minor things. What I was thinking of doing is changing my rate when I see a classifier at boot camp to reduce my chances of being discharged. I would rather be a non nuke in the navy, then not in the navy at all. But if I stay in the Nuclear Program what are the chances of me actually not getting discharged? If they do deny me clearance do I just go back to the classifier and pick another rate? Will I have limited options, and not being able to pick a good rate? Have you seen many nukes getting discharged rather then forced to pick another rate? If I do decide and get the opportunity to pick another rate in boot camp, if I don't like my options, will they let me keep the Nuke rate?
I appreciate your advice on this matter.
P.S. I know I should have been more honest in the beginning, but I really didn't think the recruiters would screw me over like this. I have also withdrew from college, and unemployed, so the last thing I want to happen is being discharged.