"Cookie-cutter" enlistment contract?

[Aare]

Hello!

So, took my ASVAB, scored in the 99th percentile (280 NUC composite score), and was told I auto-qualified for the Navy's nuke program (working on a nuclear sub has been a dream of mine since I was about 12). However, the recruiter is not giving me a nuclear contract, but is requiring me to sign a "cookie cutter" enlistment contract (with a start date a year out) in order to get my nuclear packet processed. He assures me that I will be accepted into the nuclear program, and that when I do, it will trump the enlistment contract that he's giving me to sign now, but there is no guarantee in this contract for the job I am being promised. He is also telling me that he will get me out of my "cookie-cutter" contract should my nuclear application be rejected, but says he can't put this in writing (this would be after I have already sworn in). The whole situation just seems like red flag after red flag.

I guess what I'm asking is, did any Navy nukes here go through the same process? Should I be concerned about the contract that I am being told I have to sign first? Is this in fact the standard procedure, or am I setting myself up for the old horror story of "the recruiter promised me a job in this great field, but instead I'm shoveling sh*t in Louisiana." xD

Thanks in advance for your input! Just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing.

[spekkio]

Good on you for having a good b.s. detector. Ultimately, he is making promises to you that he can't keep based on what he *thinks* is going to happen.

Politely tell your recruiter that you will be happy to sign the enlistment paperwork after your nuclear packet is processed and approved.

[Rerun]

Agree with what spekkio said .

[Tylor]

You are wise to be skeptical. I went through the same process though, I signed a non-nuclear contract, and I got my nuke contract a few weeks later, which changed my ship out date. I see no reason why you'd be denied a nuclear contract, but don't accept a navy contract you wouldn't be okay with that being your final contract. Most of my peers have also had the same thing, having an initial contract (Usually SECF or AECF depending on if you volunteer for sub duty before you get your nuke contract) then switching to their nuke contract.

[Tylor]

It's probably good to mention that I've only recently finished the pipeline, while Spekkio and Rerun probably have much more experience than me. You can't go wrong with being cautious, and if you're patient and let them know it's something you want, and you won't do anything else, they should work for you and get your contract.

[spekkio]

You are wise to be skeptical. I went through the same process though, I signed a non-nuclear contract, and I got my nuke contract a few weeks later, which changed my ship out date. I see no reason why you'd be denied a nuclear contract, but don't accept a navy contract you wouldn't be okay with that being your final contract. Most of my peers have also had the same thing, having an initial contract (Usually SECF or AECF depending on if you volunteer for sub duty before you get your nuke contract) then switching to their nuke contract.

There's simply no reason for someone to take that risk. He's signing 4 years of his life away and if the Navy says something like "yea, you can't be a nuke because we found some really weird medical condition that disqualifies you from nuclear service," then now he is at the Navy's mercy.

[el batman]

I know this is really late to respond, and I hope that everything has worked out for you and you have your nuke contract already. I wanted to tell you that your recruiter is probably being lazy. I'm pretty sure that as a recruiter it is a big deal to recruit a nuke. As in it helps them look good. Don't sign anything that you don't understand. Make your recruiter earn his (or her, it's a new navy right?) paycheck. Just speaking as a semi-not-junior-but-not-yet-senior nuke.

[Aare]

Thank you everyone for your input! I really appreciate it.
My recruiter and MEPS managed to get me my Nuclear contract without my having to sign a "cookie-cutter" contract. My ship-date is in March.