DEP Recruit Bell

[RightHereWaiting]

I made it through Monday!! I'm so excited! And I actually got the job I wanted right away-- Hospital Corpsman!! None of us can believe it. The job counsler was really nice though and did everything he could for me. I know both I and my recruiters appriciate everything that he did for me.

The day went absolutely perfect and my cheeks still hurt from all the smiling I was doing [and still am!]!! I got quite a few looks for my overly-cheery expression and I feel like I was the only potential-/recruit smiling all day. But it's just so great! I couldn't have asked for anything better or anything more! I know now, for sure, that this is all in God's plan and this is what I'm supposed to do. All of it was just too right to be any other way.

Again, thank you everyone for answering all the questions I had! I do appriciate it. I know I'll have more things that I wonder about as time rolls by. :] But now it's going to be getting busy for me as school just started up last night and work needs to schedule me more. But luckily I've got the days off for when we have DEP meetings. I'm thankful to have 2 managers who have personal experiance with the military and do everything that they can to accomidate.

I can't help but smile every time I talk to my Petty Officers and they address me as "DEP Recruit Bell." I'm so proud of myself and entirely happy with how everything has turned out so far! The entire recruiting station seems rather pleased too. Their smiles were nearly as big as mine when they heard that I got HM. I can't wait to start everything else. :biggrin:

[pilotofatx]

Congrats! My friend Megan was going to be a Corman, although they were not offering that job at the time she still some how got it. Needless to say many strings had to be pulled for her to get that job....


Whens your ship date?

[RightHereWaiting]

Normally you have to put in a request after you're already in DEP so there's no garuantee that you'll get it after that.

Right now my ship date is 2009 May 19! And at the moment I'll be going in as an E2 but hopefully I'll get to E3 before I leave. I'm just 6 college credits away from it right now! My boyfriend's a little ticked off about that. I'll be the same rank as him going in and he's been in for over a year. I told him I couldn't understand why he'd be upset and he told me that him and his buddies had "earned" their rank. Yes, by time and grade!!! But does my prior college not count as "earning" my rank as well? Sure I'll need to earn respect after I get out of boot, but still! I'm still flustered that he said such a thing, but he's not the first that I heard it from either. Everyone can have the opportunity to get, at the very least, E2. Marine's just have to get one person to enlist and Navy you can do the DEP PQS or get two refferals to enlist!

What do you folks think? Is college not "earning" my rank? It takes time and a whole lot of effort to do so! More than 18 months worth.
The other part of his argument is that he is giong to college now and doesn't get rank for it. But the Marine Corps pays for it!!! Isn't that a fair return? Dorky Marine and his bad moods. I swear after I hug and kiss him this weekend, I'm going to kick him!

[Retired Navy Chief]

Congratulations !! E-2 right off the bat ... right on !! Push hard for the E-3 ... that is how it is supposed to be done !!

Yes ... your college time is "earning it". It took dedication and perseverance to get those credits, just like it takes those same attributes to gain rank in the Navy. You pretty much need to have a pulse and keep your nose clean to work your way up to E-3 the regular way. It's when you are going for Petty Officer that the fun starts. Your college study habits and test taking ability will help you out then.

Don't sweat your BF's jealous side. Tell him "Suck it up butterball, some day you will be saluting me !!"
(That ought to make the hair on the back of his neck stand up). I love Marines ...

Cheers,
PISTOL

[RightHereWaiting]

Thank you very much Cheif! I really appriciate it!

Petty Officer is definitely a goal if I don't get my Bachelors before then! I really want to become the head recruit at our station and I've got more than enough time to accomplish that [at least I hope so!]! And though I hear that div. leaders get a lot of flack through boot camp, I think it'd look nice if I could snag that position and do well at it! I'm so anxious to get myself ready to go. I want to be tip-top and make boot as least stressful as possible.
I went on my run today with a couple competitive buddies and did much better than my last run. I think I ran at least a quarter mile before I took a 45 second break and started again. We ran/walked at least a mile, so that's definitely a start and an approvment. Then I did 28 push-ups on my knees today compared to my last time before the weekend-- 10. Now if I can keep this a steady-going thing, I'll be all set!

HAHA Oh I'd really start something then with that hot-head! He'd have his whole unit on my case!! Wouldn't it be funny if I get stationed with the Marines? Chances are I'd already know someone on that base. I swear, though, next time I talk to him over the phone [rather than in text like today] he's gonna hear it. The fact that he was bothered enough to say something to me over text yesterday, and then go on about it when I called him afterwards asking what the heck really irritates me and he's gonna darn-well know about it! He's the one who wanted to date me, and he can be an absolute doll at times-- but he's still a Marine! If he wishes to act so childish and cause me to question what I've earned then he can go find someone else. I've got other canidates who keep trying to win my attention and he knows that too! He's always grumbling about them. Goofy, goofy boys. No offense, but I think they're more of a headache than anything else. ;p Though my dear Gary is usually so very supportive. Apparently just not about this. Humph. :biggrin:

[pilotofatx]

If he wishes to act so childish and cause me to question what I've earned then he can go find someone else. I've got other canidates who keep trying to win my attention and he knows that too! He's always grumbling about them. Goofy, goofy boys. No offense, but I think they're more of a headache than anything else. ;p Though my dear Gary is usually so very supportive. Apparently just not about this. Humph. :biggrin:

HAHA! :bigemo52:

that made my day.

[RightHereWaiting]

It's true! I'm the most faithful thing, and wouldn't dream of doing anything else with another guy, and it frustrates these boys to no end, but they're still trying hard. If Gary wishes to throw away what we've started, then that's fine. I won't let my feelings be hurt. Same with the rest of them. Especially now that I'm going into the Navy, I don't think I'll expect any relationship to last long. Oh well. All in good time and I'm young with plenty of time left to me still.

[pilotofatx]

At least you have a good attitude about it.


Then again, Attitude is Everything..

[RightHereWaiting]

True true! Attitude and what you make of a situation! I always try to find the positive in everything. Or at least the darn-near close to positive. Life is much more pleasant if you can just keep a smile... except for maybe at boot camp. Is smiling allowed there?

[Again with the tired, late-night humor. I'm off to bed. My butt is gettin up early tomorrow... well, today.]

[pilotofatx]

You my friend are just like me. I have the power of optimism, and try to find the best in every situation.

What is your sign? Leo or a Capricorn is my guess.

[Retired Navy Chief]

It's true! I'm the most faithful thing, and wouldn't dream of doing anything else with another guy, and it frustrates these boys to no end, but they're still trying hard. If Gary wishes to throw away what we've started, then that's fine. I won't let my feelings be hurt. Same with the rest of them. Especially now that I'm going into the Navy, I don't think I'll expect any relationship to last long. Oh well. All in good time and I'm young with plenty of time left to me still.

Which is why Uncle Sam doesn't issue a boyfriend / girlfriend / spouse in your seabag !!!
Focus on the important things ... don't let lifes drama keep you from obtaining your goals.

Cheers,
PISTOL

[RightHereWaiting]

Very true, Chief! I like that saying, I nearly forgot about it. :D No darn boy is going to keep me from doing or obtaining anything that I want in life. I've learned that lesson! They're either on board or not, doesn't matter much.

[SeminoleRob]

What do you folks think? Is college not "earning" my rank? It takes time and a whole lot of effort to do so! More than 18 months worth.
The other part of his argument is that he is giong to college now and doesn't get rank for it. But the Marine Corps pays for it!!! Isn't that a fair return?

If I was him, I would use that as motivation. He better start being nicer to you, as you might get stationed at a base full of marines...;)

[RightHereWaiting]

Haha at MEPS the guy finishing up my paperwork asked if I had a boyfriend, and I told him that I did, but he was a Marine out in Cali. He laughed a bit and said that I had no need for him or any other guy, I'd be considered a Queen within the Navy and wouldn't have a moments peace. :rolleyes: Gary's already told me "but remember MARINES don't play nice with Nay especially if some Navy guy hits on my girl." Except there was a word or two that was better left censored out. ;p He acts all big and tough, though I wouldn't put it past him to pick a fight-- he just wouldn't do so in front of me. He was so cute when we went swimming at the hotel, wouldn't leave my side cause there were these creeps there that kept watching me. xD Oh he was ticked!

Yep, he might-- no, he's going to be saluting me some day!
HA! Funny thing is, he was trying to convince me to go Officer rather than enlisting. It's the same darn thing as he's complaining about though! I'd still be ahead in rank going in and I still "wouldn't have earned my rank." Stupid boy. I swear. He's gonna get it. ;]
Oh well, doesn't matter what he thinks. I really want to make E-3 going in for many reasons! One of them being, from what I hear anyway, HMs have a hard time picking up rank. I'm darn well determined though. Hopefully it won't take me too long to get my Bachelors, though, and after that I can do the enlist to officer program. :cool::biggrin:

[RightHereWaiting]

I'm nervous. Petty Officer is coming over soon to give the "72 hour DEP briefing" or something of that nature. He's talking with mother too. UHG. She's in a bad mood today and sick and mean and... just not appropriate for company today. I didn't realize early that he was coming to talk to her as well. . . I wonder what all this will consist of. Any ideas? I imagine things about what's expected of me, of him, and how they're going to do their best to get me ready for boot, but I need to do my part as well, am I close??

[Retired Navy Chief]

You are "spot on" correct !!!

Some people just get so wrapped up in the process that they forget to get the important questions answered while they are at MEPS and this often leads to what we call "Buyers Remorse".

Think of it like buying that new dress that you've had your eye on for months. You thought it looked great while you were trying it on in the store .... but now that you purchased it and brought it home, your boyfriend says that it makes your butt look too big and you decide he might be right and now want to do something totally different.



Ok, that was a little abstract even by MY standards, but you get the picture :biggrin:. Your recruiter is going to take care of those forgotten questions and possible new concerns during this 72 hour brief. We do the same thing with new sailors within 72 hours of checking onboard their new duty station.

Mom will be ok ... knowing that the recruiter truly has your welfare as a valuable new sailor in his best interest.

Your mom should have his phone number handy in case she ever has any future questions or concerns as well.

You should dazzle your recruiter by greeting him at the door with a sharp salute and by firing off your 1st General Order in a firm, commanding voice !! "Petty Officer, my first General Order is ..... "

Get things kicked off right.

Cheers,
PISTOL

[RightHereWaiting]

Haha, If I could remember my first General Order, it'd be awesome. But I think that I just heard his car outside... either that or that was my cat. One of the two. But I'll look over that real quick. :] I've been calling them Petty Officer "so-and-So" from the beginning, so I'll be good there.

[Kristie]

I made it through Monday!! I'm so excited! And I actually got the job I wanted right away-- Hospital Corpsman!! None of us can believe it. The job counsler was really nice though and did everything he could for me. I know both I and my recruiters appriciate everything that he did for me.

The day went absolutely perfect and my cheeks still hurt from all the smiling I was doing [and still am!]!! I got quite a few looks for my overly-cheery expression and I feel like I was the only potential-/recruit smiling all day. But it's just so great! I couldn't have asked for anything better or anything more! I know now, for sure, that this is all in God's plan and this is what I'm supposed to do. All of it was just too right to be any other way.

Again, thank you everyone for answering all the questions I had! I do appriciate it. I know I'll have more things that I wonder about as time rolls by. :] But now it's going to be getting busy for me as school just started up last night and work needs to schedule me more. But luckily I've got the days off for when we have DEP meetings. I'm thankful to have 2 managers who have personal experiance with the military and do everything that they can to accomidate.

I can't help but smile every time I talk to my Petty Officers and they address me as "DEP Recruit Bell." I'm so proud of myself and entirely happy with how everything has turned out so far! The entire recruiting station seems rather pleased too. Their smiles were nearly as big as mine when they heard that I got HM. I can't wait to start everything else. :biggrin:

Congratulations on getting what you wanted......you have a wonderful attitude dear...you will go far!

[RightHereWaiting]

Thank you ma'am! I appriciate the compliment and encouragement! I will certainly try to go far. I feel so motivated toward all this and it's such a wonderful feeling!

Petty Officer came by and told me all my, and his, responsibilities towards eachother. He gave me a sheet with everything I need to know right away and taught me how to salute and such. I'm so excited! I already have a louder voice than most of the DEP Recruits there!! I am going to [i]rock this station!!!