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Posted on Feb 27, 2018
I was told recruiters will lie to you and you will end up with a different job after basic. Is this true?
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I am a high school senior and just scored a 98 on the ASVAB. I have to talked mostly to the navy, they told me nuclear was the best option. But while I was in the office they were talking to 3 people about it. I am skeptical if they say that to get you to enlist and then give you a different job. I don’t have any military members in my family and need some guidance.
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Posted 8 y ago
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Recruiters can lie because they are humans with quotas and that can make people do things they shouldn't. But plenty of them are upstanding individuals who tell the truth no matter what.
Bottom line. Make sure you read your contract. Ask them to show you where you are guaranteed an MOS. If they seem put off by those sorts of questions, take some time to make sure you understand what you're reading. If it's not in the contract, it doesn't exist.
Bottom line. Make sure you read your contract. Ask them to show you where you are guaranteed an MOS. If they seem put off by those sorts of questions, take some time to make sure you understand what you're reading. If it's not in the contract, it doesn't exist.
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Grant, I am Active Duty Navy to answer your question Recruiters don't exactly lie they tell you all the good that you CAN get into and leave out the suck.
So your thinking of going Nuke, I currently work at the Nuke training base so I talk to the Nukes a lot. Its hard... let me say that again.. its insanely hard... the amount of school these kids go through is like getting your Masters in a fraction of the time and with out the diploma on the wall. They study 7 days a week, and have mandatory 4 hour study sessions on top of their normal class work every day. IF they pass power school they move on to prototype IF they pass prototype they head to the fleet to spend their lives in front of dials, gages, and screens deep in Subs or Carriers. They do rank up fast and get huge bonus's but can never cross rate and don't get to be stationed overseas in cool places like England, Germany, Spain ect.
IF they fail out they end up being given a job at the needs of the Navy. They have no guarantee or even really a say in the rate they take if they fail, and the fail rate is high. Recruiters get a bonus if they sign up a Nuke so they will always try and get people with a brain to go that route. My grandfather was a Civ Nuke and I have the brains for it but went IT instead. There are so many other rates don't just look at the shiny the recruiter is offering. As others have said talk to other recruiters, while I am partial to the Navy it is a hard life and I want you to succeed. See what the others are offering for you, see if something else meets your standards and interests better.
I wont lie to anyone, Military life can suck, Navy life can be very hard, but the end rewards far out weigh the suck. As of next moth I will have been doing this for 14 years through all the ups and downs I can look back and know I made a difference. if I can help in any way please send me a message. For now I leave you with a quote from JFK.
“I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy.”
So your thinking of going Nuke, I currently work at the Nuke training base so I talk to the Nukes a lot. Its hard... let me say that again.. its insanely hard... the amount of school these kids go through is like getting your Masters in a fraction of the time and with out the diploma on the wall. They study 7 days a week, and have mandatory 4 hour study sessions on top of their normal class work every day. IF they pass power school they move on to prototype IF they pass prototype they head to the fleet to spend their lives in front of dials, gages, and screens deep in Subs or Carriers. They do rank up fast and get huge bonus's but can never cross rate and don't get to be stationed overseas in cool places like England, Germany, Spain ect.
IF they fail out they end up being given a job at the needs of the Navy. They have no guarantee or even really a say in the rate they take if they fail, and the fail rate is high. Recruiters get a bonus if they sign up a Nuke so they will always try and get people with a brain to go that route. My grandfather was a Civ Nuke and I have the brains for it but went IT instead. There are so many other rates don't just look at the shiny the recruiter is offering. As others have said talk to other recruiters, while I am partial to the Navy it is a hard life and I want you to succeed. See what the others are offering for you, see if something else meets your standards and interests better.
I wont lie to anyone, Military life can suck, Navy life can be very hard, but the end rewards far out weigh the suck. As of next moth I will have been doing this for 14 years through all the ups and downs I can look back and know I made a difference. if I can help in any way please send me a message. For now I leave you with a quote from JFK.
“I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy.”
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SSG Dale London
Grant, this is sage advice from the horse's mouth (no offense PO1 Jebediah Spencer). Nuke may sound like a dream come true but weigh up all your options. There are lots of ratings that may not be as sexy as Nuke, but much more achievable. Jebediah's comments regarding the fate of those who pass the course (limited options for stations and being locked into your rating, for example) ought to really give you pause. If you already have a deep interest in nuclear power and an aptitude for advanced physics then, sure, go for it. But if the chief attraction for you is the bonus and bragging rights, do yourself a favor and look for an easier A-school that leaves you broader options.
Don't forget what PO1 Jebediah Spencer said about washouts, either. You flunk out of nuke school and you may find yourself scraping paint for the next four years... really.
Don't let the recruiter snow you. Pick a rating that you actually find interesting and go for that. And then MAKE SURE it's in your contract before you sign it. If it isn't there then you're going to be assigned a job the Navy wants you to do and you probably won't be asked how you feel about it.
This is a true saying for all branches of the service: if it isn't in writing, it doesn't exist.
Don't forget what PO1 Jebediah Spencer said about washouts, either. You flunk out of nuke school and you may find yourself scraping paint for the next four years... really.
Don't let the recruiter snow you. Pick a rating that you actually find interesting and go for that. And then MAKE SURE it's in your contract before you sign it. If it isn't there then you're going to be assigned a job the Navy wants you to do and you probably won't be asked how you feel about it.
This is a true saying for all branches of the service: if it isn't in writing, it doesn't exist.
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MSgt John McGowan
One thing also happens, my civilian co loved these guys. Nukes could all to the gate and just about get a job.Knew some, very smart. use to ask him questions just to mess with him. he might take a day or two but he would answer the question
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CPO (Join to see)
SSG Dale London - No offense taken I grew up on a farm and know a compliment lol.
I sadly see the washouts all the time, most of the time its due to mental stress. The Instructors wont hold anyone's hand or slow walk them through the program. Anyone that falls behind is left behind. There are so many more rates that offer post Navy employment. That's the real kicker getting a job once you have done your 4, 6 or 20+ years. People should pick a rate that sets themselves up for post military. I have a Chief buddy that was a Combat Coxswain, that man can drive a boat like no other.... but he now lives in TN and has a skill set that does not translate to the civilian world. Nukes can get good paying civilian jobs, so can IT's, Less stress and cooler places to be stationed fir the IT's lol. Sure its not as cool as some rates (jobs) but I'm not dodging bullets and no matter what I can get a Civilian job with my skill set in about 5 Seconds.
What ever the OP does I hope they set them selves up for the long game and is successful.
I sadly see the washouts all the time, most of the time its due to mental stress. The Instructors wont hold anyone's hand or slow walk them through the program. Anyone that falls behind is left behind. There are so many more rates that offer post Navy employment. That's the real kicker getting a job once you have done your 4, 6 or 20+ years. People should pick a rate that sets themselves up for post military. I have a Chief buddy that was a Combat Coxswain, that man can drive a boat like no other.... but he now lives in TN and has a skill set that does not translate to the civilian world. Nukes can get good paying civilian jobs, so can IT's, Less stress and cooler places to be stationed fir the IT's lol. Sure its not as cool as some rates (jobs) but I'm not dodging bullets and no matter what I can get a Civilian job with my skill set in about 5 Seconds.
What ever the OP does I hope they set them selves up for the long game and is successful.
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If it is in your contract, and you meet the requirements, then that should be the job you get. That being said, it is the military. Nothing is really guaranteed. My advice, make them show you exactly what you are guaranteed, and then do your best to meet (and exceed) the standards and you will be fine. Things happen, though, and don't get discouraged if things change... it very well could be the best thing that ever happens to you.
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Don't limit yourself to one branch. Talk to the others if only for comparisons. You can also get a guarantee written into your contract. If you sign for it and don't get it you have grounds to nullify the contract and be discharged. Do your homework, read and ask questions.
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The job you sign for on your contract is the job you will get as long as you pass the schools for that Rate/Military Occupational Specialty. What the recruiter will do is push you towards the jobs that require that entrance score and are generally harder for him to fill. I would go to the Navy website and look at the jobs available, including the ones mentioned by the recruiter, and see which you might be interested in doing. I have a couple of friends that are ex-nukes, they say that the rank come quick and the re-enlistment bonuses are insanely generous, as long as you don't mind living in a tube of a couple months at a time with a 130 or so of your best buddies. And you should be very employable when you decide to get out.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
SN Greg Wright - It took me a minute to convert Navy slang into Army. I assume you mean that there are Nukes on Aircraft Carriers that are also treated with special care. Yes, I would suppose that's true. The Navy bonus system for the Nukes doesn't specify Submariner.
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98 is so stellar a score that I am not surprised they are pushing you to nuke. You will sign a contract before you enlist in MEPS. They cannot change your job unless you were lying about your enlistment, or fail to perform to the standards of the job you chose. So. If you were/are honest, and you can hack it, you WILL wind up in the job you signed up for. If you lied, or you somehow gamed the system, you're going to wind up chipping paint.
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Short answer Grant. No it's not true, the job you choose is the job you will get as long as you meet the requirements and pass the schooling.
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The problem, or most common sticky point that often goes unsaid with the more technical programs is: that if you become unqualified for the promised position for any reason, your contract is still valid for the time you chose to get that position and your job is now a needs of the service item that may or may not take your preferences or desires into account. To some this feels as though they were lied to. I found it out, and opted not to go nuke(was probably a good choice) as I barely made it through Radio Tech School as it was.
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I'm an Army Recruiter, so I can't speak on behalf of Navy, Corps, AF, or CG. But Army Recruiter will reserve you a spot for a job that you qualify for AND there's a training slot available for - they should show you the screen with everything available to you. They reserve the spot, but you are not locked in. It is at MEPS with the guidance counselor where you for real lock in and are signed up for a specific job.
As others have stated, shop around. The military has an absurd amount of jobs. Combat, Intel, Signal, Healthcare, etc... What are you interested in? What are you experienced in? What is your dream job? All of these things can help you choose a job best for you, it may be the chAir Force (hehe, had to) it could be the Coast Guard. Check them all out based on what you are interested in. Some may lie and push you one way or another. Street recruiters have a mission, and you are it. Treat it like you're buying a car, get all the information before you commit.
Use Rallypoint to talk to people in specific MOS/Ratings/Specialties. This is an open forum and people can be honest.
It's your career, don't just be another number for the recruiter, use the recruiter to get into the service that will best provide you the training and specialty you desire.
As others have stated, shop around. The military has an absurd amount of jobs. Combat, Intel, Signal, Healthcare, etc... What are you interested in? What are you experienced in? What is your dream job? All of these things can help you choose a job best for you, it may be the chAir Force (hehe, had to) it could be the Coast Guard. Check them all out based on what you are interested in. Some may lie and push you one way or another. Street recruiters have a mission, and you are it. Treat it like you're buying a car, get all the information before you commit.
Use Rallypoint to talk to people in specific MOS/Ratings/Specialties. This is an open forum and people can be honest.
It's your career, don't just be another number for the recruiter, use the recruiter to get into the service that will best provide you the training and specialty you desire.
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Grant Varnum I agree with SN Greg Wright about recruiters. In addition to the Navy, I would consider what the other branches of the military have to offer. Please keep us informed on what you decide to do. Excellent score on the ASVAB!
https://www.thebalance.com/u-s-military [login to see]
http://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/NNPTC/
https://www.thebalance.com/u-s-military [login to see]
http://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/NNPTC/
US Military 101 - Organizational Structure and Roles
Information about the U.S. military: the mission of the five military branches, organizational chain of command, and an overview of military ranks.
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