Enlistment Nuke, not sure if recruiter is being honest

[Umayrkaleem]

Want to enlist as a Nuke in the Navy.  Told my recruiter that, told me I would get it as long as they had it available since my test scores qualified.  254(EI,AR,MK,GS) and 232 for the other set of line scores. Listed under NUC on my score sheet.  

Recruiter took me to meps , did my physical stuff. While waiting for the job interview thing, Nuke coordinator came upstairs told me that he didn't have any spots open right now.  He will have to send in some stuff (high school grades, 33 college credit grades, and back ground checks, and based on my nationality he'll have to double check since my parents were born outside the U.S) to 3 of his bosses above him.  Told me to sign for a job right now and get the furthest date out.  Okay I was the last person to get the job, got SECF and I didnt get to swear in or anything so I shouldn't have a contract? Since I was the last person to get his job I didnt get the chance to swear in at the ceremony.  Told me I have to come back this week.  I really dont think I would like this SECF job, what are the career opportunities for this after my military career?  I don't want to do anything other than Nuke.  My recruiter is being really pushy about me just signing for any job and saying this is how enlisting for a nuke is done.  All my other military friends are telling me don't sign for anything unless its in the contract.  I don't want to join the navy right now unless I get accepted in this nuke program. Also when I called the Nuke coordinator back, he was telling me to sign for another position and I was like can I just not sign and wait for me to get accepted? There was a long pause and he was like its going to take about a month to figure out if youre accepted or not, its better to go ahead and sign your contract now.

[Umayrkaleem]

I just want Nuke to be in contract that's all, I don't care if MM, EM, or ET is in my contract.  I totally understand that's all decided based on the need's of the Navy which I can totally work with.  I just really like physics and math.  Shouldn't have my recruiter talked to the Nuke coordinator before I went to Meps to make sure I could get through this program and be allowed to join?

[HydroDave63]

its better to go ahead and sign your contract now.

That shows you that to the recruiter, your enlistment is simply a snack on his quota, and they could care less if you get nuke or not. Simply tell them you aren't coming back until they have Nuke.

Then again, poker is a 2-way bluffing game, and they may be telling the truth or bluffing if they say fine, there isn't an opening for 2 months. Do you have the guts to say no and wait?

[Higgs]

Do NOT sign a contract for something you DO NOT want. Simple.

Justin

[DontGoToNPTU]

What Higgs said. If they tell you you can rerate to nuke when you get to boot camp they aren't really telling you a lie, they are just simply omiting the fact that it isn't likely. If you want nuke sign up for nuke.

I'll give you a little back story since I have some time. Right now there is a HUGE hold pool of students between Power School and Prototype. Up until a few months ago that hold pool wasn't going to be cleared until sometime between 2020 and 2030, which would cost the government about 230 million dollars to pay those students on hold until the pool was cleared. A few months ago a plan was put into place to get this pool cleared by sometime in late 2014/ early 2015. This puts prototype well above it's maximum capacity.

Now, how does this relate to you? To make this plan work they can't take in a single sailor above their quarterly quota. Go back on October first the minute the recruting office opens and say give me nuke or stick it where the sun don't shine.

[Higgs]

So, if there is such a back log of students, you'd think they would install some filters at the discharge of the high head charging pumps.

Justin

[HydroDave63]

So, if there is such a back log of students, you'd think they would install some filters at the discharge of the high head charging pumps.

Justin

Or a 105 second bottom blowdown, as in the pre-DigiCamo days? 

[Styrofoam]

Jeez. Why does this conversation always come up?

I initially signed a contract for AECF while I was waiting for a nuke job to open up. Your recruiter isn't lying to you. That's really how it's done these days. I emphasize these days because some people's experiences are more recent than others.

Anyway, they get you to sign a contract so they'll have more confidence that you'll actually go to boot camp. However, what most people who sign those contracts don't know and your recruiter won't tell you is that you don't have to go to bootcamp under that contract. All you'd have to do is tell them you don't want to go anymore. Yeah, it may have an adverse affect on getting in the military in the future, but if it comes down to it (which it probably won't) you can use that knowledge to "push" the recruiter to work harder to get you a nuke spot.

[eaton1981]

Do NOT sign a contract for anything you do not want. Just like Higgs said.

DO NOT SIGN A CONTRACT FOR ANOTHER RATE ANTICIPATING A NUKE SPOT OPENING UP AND THEN BOW OUT OF DEP ONCE YOU REALIZE A NUCLEAR STUDENT BILLET ISN'T OPENING UP. Getting back into DEP is a pain in the ass and requires a lot of hurdles to jump through compared to just waiting for nuke to open up (you can find the recruitment instructions online with minimal effort). The most recent info I got on this (last week from a nuke recruiter out near Chicago) is that it takes them (his recruiting district) about a year for someone who dropped out of DEP to get back in.

Wait until a nuke spot opens before joining into DEP.

[HydroDave63]

This thread is like a vortex....I should bet anyone a real biscuits 'n gravy breakfast we get another nub in here within 3 weeks, who just tested and signed for Aviation Boatswain's Mate but wants Nuke at MEPS..... any takers? 

[GLW]

This thread is like a vortex....I should bet anyone a real biscuits 'n gravy breakfast we get another nub in here within 3 weeks, who just tested and signed for Aviation Boatswain's Mate but wants Nuke at MEPS..... any takers? 

define "real",...

[HydroDave63]

define "real",...

not cooked by me, but by highly experienced folks

real white pepper, real corn-fed pork sausage, not the tumbleweeds-and-restaurant-scraps-with-plastic-wrappers fed stuff under the generic store brands, silky smooth gravy.

portions adequate for even the largest long-haul trucker

a B&G I don't mind buying, because I'll be having some too! And it's fairly close to the original Route 66...

[holicisms]

I had to sign for AECF while I waited for my nuc paperwork to go through. It's really no big deal.

You should make sure that this is what you REALLY want though. I'm not particularly enjoying the training myself, and I've been on voluntary hours since day one of  a school. (I'm not in second half power school)

I can only imagine the pile of dicks that you'd have if you were on 3s, 4s, or even 5s

[yota]

I had to sign for AECF while I waited for my nuc paperwork to go through. It's really no big deal.

You should make sure that this is what you REALLY want though. I'm not particularly enjoying the training myself, and I've been on voluntary hours since day one of  a school. (I'm not in second half power school)

I can only imagine the pile of dicks that you'd have if you were on 3s, 4s, or even 5s

It only gets better as you go further through the pipeline shipmate! 

My initial contract was Sonar Tech (STG), signing something shows commitment, but nothing is final until you ship out to RTC.

[Already Gone]

Signing a contract is signing a contract.  All this crap about "that is the way it is done" doesn't mean a damned thing.  You want to be a nuke; they want your ass in the Navy.  If you do what they say, they get what they want -- you get hosed.  All this DEP BS is just that, BS.  You either in the Navy or you are NOT in the Navy.  As long as you are not in the Navy, the choices about your future are yours.  When you put a pen against a piece of paper and write your name on it, you have no more choices.  DEP is a terribly bad deal.  A DEPper is not in the Navy; he's OBLIGATED to the Navy, but not getting paid, not getting healthcare benefits, tuition assistance, or even government-provided cheeseburgers.  So, getting into DEP just to keep your spot in DEP is a stupid, stupid, stupid move.  DEP is not for your benefit.  It exists solely for the manpower management needs of the Navy.
While you're waiting, go get some more college credits.  By the time these jokers get their act together, you may have a BS -- and a LOT more choices.

[MMM]

So, if there is such a back log of students, you'd think they would install some filters at the discharge of the high head charging pumps.

Justin

Because it won't help the back log. If we class up 100 students into prototype and filter out 20, only 80 get to the fleet. We can't just arbitrarily add new students in the middle of prototype. Now if you're talking about returning power school to the days of 30-50% attrition, you may be on to something.

[HydroDave63]

Now if you're talking about returning power school to the days of 30-50% attrition, you may be on to something.

[Higgs]

^^^

Justinn

[Gamecock]

Signing a contract is signing a contract.  All this crap about "that is the way it is done" doesn't mean a damned thing.  You want to be a nuke; they want your ass in the Navy.  If you do what they say, they get what they want -- you get hosed.  All this DEP BS is just that, BS.  You either in the Navy or you are NOT in the Navy.  As long as you are not in the Navy, the choices about your future are yours.  When you put a pen against a piece of paper and write your name on it, you have no more choices.  DEP is a terribly bad deal.  A DEPper is not in the Navy; he's OBLIGATED to the Navy, but not getting paid, not getting healthcare benefits, tuition assistance, or even government-provided cheeseburgers.  So, getting into DEP just to keep your spot in DEP is a stupid, stupid, stupid move.  DEP is not for your benefit.  It exists solely for the manpower management needs of the Navy.
While you're waiting, go get some more college credits.  By the time these jokers get their act together, you may have a BS -- and a LOT more choices.

Incorrect.....

[HighOctane23]

Look, I literally just went through this process. I got my nuke contract 2 months ago. Not 2 years, not 5 years, or 10 years, or 20 years etc..., but 2 months! I've read posts from a lot of the older guys saying that they signed a contract and shipped out to boot camp practically the next day. That's not how it works anymore. I depped in on April 24, 2012 as an ABH with an original ship date of October 30th, 2012, got my Nuke reclass in July, and now don't ship out until April 15th, 2013. All said and done I'll be in DEP for nearly an entire year before I go to boot. The reason I had to reclass is because I had to wait on some waivers to be approved (age, dependents, and them thinking I was prior service even though I wasn't). Like someone else mentioned, the contract to get into DEP means practically nothing. They don't pay you or give you any types of financial benefits while in DEP, therefore you really don't have an obligation to stick around if you change your mind. By signing a contract you do show the recruiter that your serious about joining, and I believe it makes them more inclined to help you versus someone who says they are just waiting for the right job to open up.
That being said, my advice would be to go back on October 1st (thats when the new fiscal year begins and when a lot more jobs will open up) and let them know your serious about joining as a nuke. If you have to sign on as something else then fine, but be serious with your recruiter and tell him that you do not intend to keep the job that you have and may walk away unless its for nuke. That should get him on the ball to get you reclassed. People do get reclassed all the time nowadays, but just know that its not a guarantee that you will. It will also depend on any waivers you may need and your ability to obtain a security clearance. Your parents being foreigners may unfortunatly hold up the security clearance process for ya.

[Styrofoam]

Look, I literally just went through this process. I got my nuke contract 2 months ago. Not 2 years, not 5 years, or 10 years, or 20 years etc..., but 2 months! I've read posts from a lot of the older guys saying that they signed a contract and shipped out to boot camp practically the next day. That's not how it works anymore. I depped in on April 24, 2012 as an ABH with an original ship date of October 30th, 2012, got my Nuke reclass in July, and now don't ship out until April 15th, 2013. All said and done I'll be in DEP for nearly an entire year before I go to boot. The reason I had to reclass is because I had to wait on some waivers to be approved (age, dependents, and them thinking I was prior service even though I wasn't). Like someone else mentioned, the contract to get into DEP means practically nothing. They don't pay you or give you any types of financial benefits while in DEP, therefore you really don't have an obligation to stick around if you change your mind. By signing a contract you do show the recruiter that your serious about joining, and I believe it makes them more inclined to help you versus someone who says they are just waiting for the right job to open up.
That being said, my advice would be to go back on October 1st (thats when the new fiscal year begins and when a lot more jobs will open up) and let them know your serious about joining as a nuke. If you have to sign on as something else then fine, but be serious with your recruiter and tell him that you do not intend to keep the job that you have and may walk away unless its for nuke. That should get him on the ball to get you reclassed. People do get reclassed all the time nowadays, but just know that its not a guarantee that you will. It will also depend on any waivers you may need and your ability to obtain a security clearance. Your parents being foreigners may unfortunatly hold up the security clearance process for ya.

I've tried explaining that stuff to them. They still get on here everytime this conversation comes up and use their capslock button and their exclamation points. So I just throw in my 2 cents and if it hits the original poster, great. If not, oh well.

[GLW]

.... I've read posts from a lot of the older guys saying that they signed a contract and shipped out to boot camp practically the next day....

All in all a nice story and I'm happy for ya but you're going to have to enlighten me as to where a lot of the older guys signed a contract and shipped out to boot practically the next day,...

I know of one older guy who presents his enlistment that way, but then, I'm "special" that way,...

No need to exaggerate as a nuke, NNPP life seems to have enough drama without any help from "bigging up" your stories nowadays,...

good luck, hope you make it to next tax day without a DUI,.....seriously,....

(when you enlighten me, please include links, lots of links, and that's a lookup   )

(psssst, no need for CapsLock either,...heheheheheheh)

almost forgot,...(sic)

[Dorian52]

I signed for Hospital Corpsman on June 25th and had an original shipping date of November 6th, 2012. The nuke recruiters at the MEPS came and scheduled me for a test so I came in the next week and passed it. I waited on waivers then resigned to nuke. Now my shipping date is April 2, 2013. But my recruiter did call me the other day and said that I might be able to leave this month. I'm praying on it haha.

[Marlin]

I signed for Hospital Corpsman on June 25th and had an original shipping date of November 6th, 2012. The nuke recruiters at the MEPS came and scheduled me for a test so I came in the next week and passed it. I waited on waivers then resigned to nuke. Now my shipping date is April 2, 2013. But my recruiter did call me the other day and said that I might be able to leave this month. I'm praying on it haha.

   We had some excellent Corpsman on the boats and the Marines are very protective of their Navy buddies assigned to them. I don't mean to demean the Nuke program I have benefited from it but it is usually better if you can follow your heart. Is Nuke what you really wanted?

[HighOctane23]

All in all a nice story and I'm happy for ya but you're going to have to enlighten me as to where a lot of the older guys signed a contract and shipped out to boot practically the next day,...

I know of one older guy who presents his enlistment that way, but then, I'm "special" that way,...

No need to exaggerate as a nuke, NNPP life seems to have enough drama without any help from "bigging up" your stories nowadays,...

good luck, hope you make it to next tax day without a DUI,.....seriously,....

(when you enlighten me, please include links, lots of links, and that's a lookup  )

(psssst, no need for CapsLock either,...heheheheheheh)

almost forgot,...(sic)

Look man, it's really not worth my time to argue with you about this and it's definitely not worth my time to try and go back through all the thousands of posts I've read in this forum over the last year or so looking for the ones that show what I'm talking about. All I know is I've heard more than a few retired sailors say that. Just because YOU only know one guy doesn't mean there aren't more, especially considering there's been how many sailors since the inception of the US Navy in 1775? I'll let you try and figure that one out. Anyway, I'm not saying I have anything against anyone who is now or has ever been in the Navy, especially the retired guys. I've got nothing but respect for them. All I was trying to get across is that things are different now. This isn't the same Navy my grandpa joined, not even the same one my uncle joined. Things are constantly changing and this is just one of them. Getting in and everything is different now then it used to be, thats all I'm saying.

And don't worry about me getting a DUI between now and tax day because I don't drive anyway, public transportation is just fine for me...

[HighOctane23]

Here's a link to a short little FAQ about DEP. It's pretty standard stuff, but somewhat informative in case anyone wants to take a look at it.

http://www.delayedentryprogram.com/

[frazcom21]

Your recruiter is not lying to you. When I went to MEPS I was told the same thing. "Sign  a contract under a different rate and we will re-rate you to nuke while you are in DEP" I literally told me recruiter "I will not sign a contract unless it is nuke because I will not ship out if I dont have the job I want" I then confirmed with my father, husband, and sister who are all in the navy that if I sign a contract in dep im not obligated to it. You are only oblogated when you sign a SECOND contract right before you ship to basic. So I did as my recruited asked and signed a contract for AECF and am in the process of waiting on my nuke paperwork to come back to tell me if ive been accepted. My recruiter is well aware that I will not be shipping if I do not get a nuke contract and he is still working with me to get what I want. I havent run into any issues at all thus far.

HighOctane is correct in what hes saying. Things have changed over time especially in  regards to enlisting.

[GLW]

....Things have changed over time especially in  regards to enlisting.

from the webpage:

http://www.delayedentryprogram.com/Navy_DEP.htm

Why should I join the Navy Delayed Entry Program first?

By joining via the Delayed Entry Program, you give yourself up to an entire year to research, think about, and decide if you made the right choice in joining the military; while ensuring that you get locked in for the training, tour length and duty station of your choice.

Well it would appear things have changed;

We were never locked in for the training, we got the rate the Navy gave us not our ensured choice,....

We went to school as long as they made us, not how long we ensured we chose to go,....

and we got the ship and port we were assigned to, not the ones we ensured we chose to go to,...

[Hilariousity]

My original contract was SECF then I passed the NFQT and signed a contract to become a nuke. I would say that there is a good chance that you could sign a contract for nuke. There are two things you should pay attention to before you sign up for another rate if you are waiting for a nuke contract. Do you qualify for the job? If not, how many waivers will you need in order to qualify for the job. The more waivers you need, the less likely you are to obtain a nuke contract... obviously! For example, I looked at my contract around 7 weeks ago and it said I had three waivers on my contract.

PS I just graduated from RTC recently

[NukaTex]

  Thanks for the input about this. It seems so awkward that they would have you sign a contract for something you don't want. I'm currently waiting for my eyesight waiver (MEPS exam diagnosed me for something I don't even have, but now it's on my record & I needed a waiver  ) from Big Navy. If I go to MEPS & NF isn't available that day, The only options I see are:

-Threaten to go to a different service if you don't get NF
-Hope the recruiter isn't being sneaky & sign up for something
-Ask your recruiter to confirm with MEPS that a spot will be open that day

 The first option is probably not going to work, since no spots means no spots. The second will leave me second-guessing everything I do involving the Navy until my contract is changed. I don't think my recruiter is willing to go through the trouble of the third option, since he seems to have a lot on his plate, going to high school cafeterias & whatnot.
 What is the likelihood that NF will be available on the day I go? I've heard there's no telling, but I've also heard that they're dying to get Nukes, SEALs, & other high qualification rates. If I have to sign onto something else, even if only as an interim spot, I'd prefer to make it something that I might not mind being in too much.

P.S. This is my first Nukeworker question. I've managed to go without asking redundant questions since August, due to the community's entertaining & informative posts  

[AbidingProduce]

We were never locked in for the training, we got the rate the Navy gave us not our ensured choice,....

To be fair, they do let you choose your top three, and guarantee you one of those.

We went to school as long as they made us, not how long we ensured we chose to go,....

Some people choose a shorter school length by asking for happy pills, others get on their work hard and get SPU/ ELT/ ETMS/ J-NETCORE (or however you spell that one) for longer ones.

and we got the ship and port we were assigned to, not the ones we ensured we chose to go to,...

Uh... well some people... that is you have to option to... I mean you can always...

Alright, I give up. I guess I should learn that while trying to defend the Navy can be a good mental exercise, it's turns out being in vein most of the time.

[HeavyD]

You can pick any of the three rates you want to.  The Navy decides what rate you get based on the needs of the Navy.

The ONLY rate you can get guaranteed, unless they changed it in the last 10 months, is MM.

You go to school when and where they tell you to because those are considered ORDERS 

You put in your "dream sheet" of which ships/boats you want to go to.  Then the needs of the Navy decide where you get assigned to.

EVERYONE who volunteers to join the military needs to remember that the military follows orders.  Period.  You are contractually obligated for a certain time period.  There are a great number of things that are NOT guaranteed in your contract.  I would recommend that each person take the time to read before signing.  I did and yes, it did frustrate my recruiter 20 years ago.  I didn't care though.  I was not signing for something I didn't fully read and understand.

Just my 2 cents on this.

[AbidingProduce]

Perhaps I forgot my/sarcasm tag.

[GLW]

Okay, this is getting to be a circular discussion,...

All I'm saying is I have been corrected by more than one younger poster here that the historic "needs of the Navy" paradigm has little to do with enlistment and service in the modern era and cautions against high hopes and dreams vis a vis enlistment and service in the modern US Navy are tired old platitudes from a bygone era,...

And I accept that,...

The modern Navy accommodates the sailor as exemplified and codified in this US Navy on-line publication;

http://www.delayedentryprogram.com/Navy_DEP.htm

Why should I join the Navy Delayed Entry Program first?

By joining via the Delayed Entry Program, you give yourself up to an entire year to research, think about, and decide if you made the right choice in joining the military; while ensuring that you get locked in for the training, tour length and duty station of your choice.

It's a better Navy than it was when I enlisted, if your recruiter asserts to you that your training, tour length and choice of duty station is ensured, you should believe your recruiter becasue old timers like me have no clue what service in the modern Navy is like,...

And I'm good with that and hope you all a happy term of service,...

[NukaTex]

I signed my contract as MT & i'm waiting for papers to come back from the Nuke coordinator so that I can make a DAR to reclass for NF. I signed about a month or so ago & I have 5 1/2 months until my ship date. I should have no problem getting a new contract by then. Needs of the Navy is still very relevant & my recruiter made sure that I didn't forget that. I think the reason people are refusing to accept the concept is because they're haven't had the same experience as people who are/were in the Navy. New recruits are just trying to get every piece of info they can & see how they can get the best of what they think they want.

Update: I reclassed to Nuke yesterday, so anyone else will probably have a similar experience. Just remember that you can opt out anytime in DEP if you're only a couple weeks from shipping & they haven't changed your contract to be what you want it. BTW, I got 11,000 as my bonus. less than 24 college credits, which is not significant enough to change anything. Hoping to put in a DAR to ship sooner.

[A Random ETN1]

I really think your best bet is by talking more with the nuke coordinator at meps. Also... make sure if you had a decent amount of college you got your college kicker, when i joined in 2008 I got 25k awarded. (it is not paid all at once you get a certain percentage after A school, power school, prototype) most usually get 15-20k w/o college. Also since you haven't shipped yet. The main focuses I would work on would be :
1. get in shape to meet at least good standards of prt. The prt standards are so low in my opinon. there is no reason a 18-21 year old can't run mile and a half in 10minutes, at least 70 push ups and 80 sit ups.

2. Learn all the general boot camp stuff that you can early like sailors creed, chain of command, rank recognition etc. boot camp is really mostly a mind game.

3. Pay attention during A school and on. Will save you time learning the material vice studying after class. Don't be afraid to ask questions once you get to A school and power school and prototype. People these days are afraid to get help and ask questions, but instructors are there for a reason.

4. Don't go crazy and do stupid stuff with friends. Be smart about it. There are so many people i've seen throughout the pipeline drop out cause of spice, weed, lsd, dui. Seen people get reduced in rank and reduced pay for really stupid stuff. If you are going to a party with a lot of underage people and alchohol is present, do not go to it or at least be smart about it. (can't tell you how many friendships don't work out and someone then rats out everyone there which leads to everyone at the party going to captains mast)

[Fermi2]

I really think your best bet is by talking more with the nuke coordinator at meps. Also... make sure if you had a decent amount of college you got your college kicker, when i joined in 2008 I got 25k awarded. (it is not paid all at once you get a certain percentage after A school, power school, prototype) most usually get 15-20k w/o college. Also since you haven't shipped yet. The main focuses I would work on would be :
1. get in shape to meet at least good standards of prt. The prt standards are so low in my opinon. there is no reason a 18-21 year old can't run mile and a half in 10minutes, at least 70 push ups and 80 sit ups.

2. Learn all the general boot camp stuff that you can early like sailors creed, chain of command, rank recognition etc. boot camp is really mostly a mind game.

3. Pay attention during A school and on. Will save you time learning the material vice studying after class. Don't be afraid to ask questions once you get to A school and power school and prototype. People these days are afraid to get help and ask questions, but instructors are there for a reason.

4. Don't go crazy and do stupid stuff with friends. Be smart about it. There are so many people i've seen throughout the pipeline drop out cause of spice, weed, lsd, dui. Seen people get reduced in rank and reduced pay for really stupid stuff. If you are going to a party with a lot of underage people and alchohol is present, do not go to it or at least be smart about it. (can't tell you how many friendships don't work out and someone then rats out everyone there which leads to everyone at the party going to captains mast)

Superb.

[Marlin]

Superb.

If you were a Gold Member you could have given him Karma.