Some of you may remember my recent post worrying over my 17 1/2 year old son who wants to graduate from high school a year early and go into the Navy. I would link the thread, but the board is too darned slow. Anyway, I was a little freaked out, because I thought I’d have him around for another school year, but I’ve kind of gotten used to the idea. Last night he took his ASVAB – this is the Armed Services Vocational exam (I don’t remember the actual acronym) that determines what type of jobs he’s qualified to train for in the Navy or, I assume, the other services. And he scored 98%! His scores qualify him for any enlisted rate he chooses – even the nuclear rates which are very difficult to get into (and carry terrific signing and reenlistment bonuses because they’re so hard to fill. None of this has changed Nick’s plans – he still wants to be a Hospital Corpsman – but we were pretty proud of him. Certainly his school grades have never indicated that he might be smarter than he looks! And, for almost 18 years I’ve had him convinced I’m wa-a-ay smarter than he is, but I only got 78 on my ASVAB in 1980. Tonight the recruiters are coming over to discuss the nexr step with us… so, it looks like this is really going to happen. ::misty, but proud smile::
ASVAB stands for Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery if I remember correctly. I took it around 1984 and got a 99 in each area. Yea for me.
Then the Hounds of Hell came a ringin’.
It was three or four of the worst months of my life. Recruiters from Army, AF, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and some other armed forces I didn’t even know existed called me every morning (almost) for months. AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
There must have been quite a price on my head.
I had a brother in the Navy (a nuke) and a cousin in the Air Force at the time. They both advised me not to trust the recruiters-- that they would offer me all kinds of signing bonuses and job choices that would be recinded somehow down the line. I took heed and never joined.
So, that is my warning. BUT-- your son WANTS to join the Navy so the great ASVAB scores are really good news for him! And he doesn’t have to worry about all the recruiters calling because he has already chosen.
I would just suggest getting lots of advice from current or former service members on what service is REALLY like, and advice on how many fibs or exaggerations may be included in the sales pitch.
Many veterans and currents on this board, I think. But check with any family members too.
I am ambivilant about the military, but it can make a fine career for some.
Good luck to the future Squid!
PS-- if I’m not mistaken (tho I probably am) Navy Corpsman are the guys running from foxhole to foxhole on the front lines attending to injured and dying Marines–not all Navy dudes are on ships. Yikes! it could be one of the most dangerous jobs in the Navy-- look out!
I know about those hellhounds myself, I love me. Scored a 97. I originally had begun the application to West Point as well, but decided the military wasn’t for me. That didn’t stop the recruiters.
3 or 4 months? Lucky. They gave up on you pretty quick. I got letters and phone calls for about a year.
Jess, tell your son I said congrats and good luck.
Hey Jess, what were you doing, having a kid at 14?! 
He seems to have turned out pretty good anyway. Congrats!
Congratulations, Jess, and congratulations to your son, too. That’s very immpressive, both that he wants to serve and that he did so well on the ASVAB.
Oh, and I Love Me, Jess is former Navy, her husband is recently retired Navy, and their son has grown up in a Navy family. They don’t really need any advice on what the service is REALLY like.
First of all, congratulations to your son!
Second of all, I’m still bitter that every single student in my high school HAD to take the ASVAB (I think maybe sophomore or junior year?) regardless of what our plans post-high school were. I wish I knew why. It was a tiny high school. Maybe they got some kind of a deal from the military to have all of the students take it. Anyhow, I was a 4.0, universtity-bound student and I resented having to take Yet Another Test that in the long run was completely meaningless. I don’t remember my score (I think it was in the high 90s somewhere) and I got hounded by recruiters for a year afterward.
I took it in High School because it meant getting out of class for a few hours. Easily the worst decision of that semester. I never found out my score, but I did hear from someone in the JROTC that mine was the second-highest in the school.
It haunted me for years. Even after I started college they kept calling. I still get a postcard from time to time, but at least I don’t have to talk to them.
I took the ASVAB after a particularly dreary 3 years after college. Got me a 99 or some such and the recruiter’s attitude toward me did a 270 (he was side stepping me, then running away, then chasing me). It helped the ego, but then I became terrified during my inprocessing (ARMY) when I overheard some of the other new folks comparing their scores: “68”, “54”, “Bobby didn’t make it, he got less than 50” these kids were gonna get GUNS!
Congrats to your boy…y’know, MI is always looking for linguists. The DLAB is a real brain crusher. 'Course, ya gotta spend over a year of your enlistment in Monterey, CA. 
I got a 91 on the ASVAB the first time I really tried to do good on it. What’s frightening is that the 75 I got when I took it in high school gave all the recruiters bright red hardons.
I took it the second time at St. Louis MEPS (Military Entry Processing Station? I can’t remember) and they put me up at a really nice Drury Inn. We did the ASVAB the night and the physical the following morning. My roommate was trying to get into the Marine Corps, but somehow managed not to get a high enough score. So I got the room to myself.
I did spend about 10 months in the DEP (Delayed Enlistment Program), trying to get a surgery I had in kindergarten past the medical board.
Good luck to your son.
–Airman Monster, signing off
Not to brag or anything, but I took the test three times. They made me do it because they thought there must have been some mistake in the scoring when I maxed each section.
OK, I’m bragging, but then again, it’s just the ASVAB.
Good luck to your son. He’ll need all the luck he can get going into the Navy.
Congrats to the boy – good show.
If his interest is Corpsman rating (HM) I suppose he could aim for the post of Independent Duty Corpsman – mucho bonuses + extra pay there, specially if he goes Submariner, and those guys have an astounding set of skills. However you don’t go straight into that, you first pay some dues. Have him make damn sure what he signs and let him take his time reading and reviewing it so he goes into what he wants – the Navy will still be there if he takes another week to sign(and yes, HMs are the medics in Marine fighting units – unless he wants to be among the flying bullets, he must look out for anything that says “Fleet Marine Force”(FMF). )