21 year old talking to Navy & Air Force recruiters -Needs some advice

[astro]

Need some advice for a young man talking to Navy and Air Force recruiters.

He is a clean cut young man and an Eagle Scout and they are seemingly quite interested in recruiting him. He has a (to be frank) spotty academic record but if he focuses can usually accomplish what he sets out to do.

The Navy recruiter is talking up the Navy nuclear program. He scored a 75 on the mini-ASFAB, but was hit with the test cold and feels with a bit of study he could increase to the level (87) they are telling him is necessary to be part of the nuclear program. He is excited at the opportunity as they are indicating it has huge upside for employers if he has a Navy nuclear background and education.

I really just want to ask if you think they are playing him with talk about the nuclear program or if he has reasonable chance to get into this program if he applies himself.

[Zsofia]

The number one rule of dealing with recruiters is to get EVERYTHING in writing.

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by Zsofia

The number one rule of dealing with recruiters is to get EVERYTHING in writing.

This, in spades. If possible, he needs to at least be guaranteed duty within a certain arena of interest, and preferably be guaranteed a school. When I joined way back in the dark ages, I was guaranteed Group 8 in the Navy, which is construction trades. I scored high enough on the tests in boot camp that they were practically begging me to be a translator, but I was locked into the Seabees and ended up as an electrician. Bottom line is, verbal promises aren't worth doodah. Without having anything in writing, he'll take his tests in boot and then will have to fight with everybody else to get a billet in a school of choice. He'll need to know ahead of time what it is he's interested in, and what a second and third choice would be. I got my second choice, as the school I wanted was full, and the specialty was overcrowded.

The nuke power training is excellent, even for enlisted folks, and the training transfers well to civilian life. But it's a tough grind, with a lot of math, from what I've heard.

[Martin Hyde]

I don't know but I've known a lot of only moderately intelligent people who score 95+ on the ASVAB. A 75 I'd be very surprised if he's the ability to go into one of the nuclear MOS in the military, whatever his later score might be.

Anyone can test bad, but the ASVAB is really, really easy.

[gaffa]

Recruiters are used car salesmen of the military. They can promise you the moon and it means nothing. Even if he scores perfectly on the test, that doesn't mean that particular specialty has a spot open.

[astro]

Thanks for input!

[TonySinclair]

There have been some 60 Minutes type reports on how much recruiters lie. I third the motion, get everything in writing.

[Hampshire]

What has he been doing between graduating high school and now?

My nephew just entered the Navy Nuclear program in January (well, at least the 12 week basic training portion in Newport) and was recruited right out of college. He graduated top of his class with a Civil Engineering degree.
I believe they get the choice of later being assigned to a sub or aircraft carrier (he chose the sub). Pay sounds really good and the education tough but great. It's a 5 year commitment.

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by Hampshire

What has he been doing between graduating high school and now?

My nephew just entered the Navy Nuclear program in January (well, at least the 12 week basic training portion in Newport) and was recruited right out of college. He graduated top of his class with a Civil Engineering degree.
I believe they get the choice of later being assigned to a sub or aircraft carrier (he chose the sub). Pay sounds really good and the education tough but great. It's a 5 year commitment.

Totally different from an enlisted man's opportunity, of course. Officers are chosen from engineering fields and from the top portion of their class. They go on to be engineering officers aboard the ships you mentioned and may eventually command a vessel. The screening is rigorous. Enlisted folks are the technicians aboard the boat and take care of the systems. If you're not a college graduate with an engineering/math degree, you will not be joining as an officer.

It used to be that you actually had to be interviewed by Admiral Rickenbacker, a notorious asshole. I knew a man who, after having to listen to this blowhard yell at him for a half hour, was asked at the end of the "interview" why he should be allowed into Rickenbacker's beloved nuke program. He told him "I can't think of a single reason" and left the interview, while the Admiral bellowed at him to get his ass back in the chair. The guy was white-faced as he told me about it, and waited months for some sort of repercussion that never came.