Can I get an option 40 contract as prior service Navy? If so, what hoops would I have to go through?

2020-09-16T07:42:38-04:00

I'm getting out of the Navy soon and have talked to a recruiter about re enlisting into the army with an option 40 contract. From what he's told me he didn't say it cant happen but said pretty much he wasn't gonna put in the work and kept talking about going 11b and trying from there. I'm just looking for black and white answer, can I get an option 40 contract as prior service Navy. If so what hoops would I have to go through. I already assume I will have to make a few trips to MEPs to actually get it.

Thank you for the help and advice in advance!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2020 9:06 AM

2020-09-16T09:06:37-04:00

I agree with 1SG Rudolph. I have a buddy that was prior Navy and got an Option 40. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to. They always say to just volunteer at OSUT. I don’t know about now, but when I was in OSUT the 75th RR liaison didn’t go to every basic training company. Option 40 is the only way to guarantee yourself a shot a RASP. The 75th RR Liaison might not come to your company and you might get stuck in a Regular Army unit for a few years before you get another opportunity. If the 75th is your goal, do not go to MEPS unless it’s with an option 40.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Sep 16 at 2020 9:30 AM

2020-09-16T09:30:02-04:00

I have to say that SFC Boyd, who is a current Career Counselor and served in the Regiment, convinced me that Option 40 isn't the best path to the Regiment. Volunteer 11B with an Airborne option, then apply at either OSUT or Airborne School. Even if you don't get a chance at either, rare if your performance is good, you land in an Airborne unit and can apply to RASP from there also. The other side of that is the failure rate at RASP is pretty substantial, at least this way you end up Airborne and in an Airborne unit.

The recruiting side of that is that Option 40 is a recruiting tool and only a certain number are allotted each recruiting year. Late in a recruiting year, as in now, there are seldom slots left. If that is what you want, ask the recruiter if he will have a slot when the next recruiting years starts.

Be aware that the 75th sends you to Airborne AFTER you pass RASP. If you don't make it, you are needs of the Army in what ever Infantry Division they need bodies at the time.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2020 10:55 AM

2020-09-16T10:55:16-04:00

Don’t bother. You don’t need one( RASP is voluntary to everyone. Just ask for an airborne contract.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2020 12:14 PM

2020-09-16T12:14:24-04:00

To expand on this a little bit, there are a limited number of Option 40 contracts a year. You certainly “can” get one, just like you “can” get a 31K or 12M MOS class seat, but they are limited and it’s very likely you won’t get one. Not to worry, you don’t need a guaranteed seat at a selection that anyone in the Army can volunteer for at any time. If you can, get an Airborne contract. The Ranger recruiter won’t come to every OSUT but they do go to every airborne school class to recruit. 99% chance you’ll fail RASP if you get an Option 40 contract, and you won’t get to Airborne School. But if you go to RASP after Airborne school, you’re still a Paratrooper and SF is a whole lot easier selection, and if you’re on Bragg where 60% of the Army’s Paratroopers are at, you can go to their selection immediately.
Second, Option 40 is not an MOS. Your recruiter is talking about 11B because you still have to choose an MOS. Whether it’s 11B, or MI, or signal, or medic, you have to have an MOS/Rating in the Army and any MOS can volunteer for the 75th.
Third, it doesn’t make sense to hold out at the MEPS for an Option 40 contract. Run that one through the logic box for a second: Delaying your enlistment to be guaranteed a seat at a class that any MOS can volunteer for at any time. The months you wait, stalling for a class seat, you could already have finished RASP as a volunteer and be on your way to the Regiment. Add to that the fact that, statistically, you’re almost certain to fail or quit, and you’ve got yourself a big waste of time. Of course “you” won’t fail or quit, just like every person who said the same thing. But, when you get to the course, there’s an average of 2/3 drop rate. Up to half the people who volunteer drop BEFORE the class starts just as a holdover or now they have Pre-RASP. So, you can hold out till next year till they have more option 40 contracts allotted; just annoying your Recruiter and making them unwilling to work with you and getting sandbagged until they need someone to put in that month. Or, you can just volunteer in Airborne school and run right down the road to RASP on the day you graduate Airborne school.

Also, you tagged USAR recruiter. There is no option 40 in the Reserves, that’s an active duty unit. I’ll assume that’s a mistake though.