MEPS questions

[RightHereWaiting]

Mother's friend [she's a Lt. and has been in the Navy for 19.5 years now] is a bit worried about when I get classified for my job. I guess when she was a recruiter the classifiers or whoever would try to detour you from the job you want and try to convince you to take another. According to her they make it sound like it's this or nothing at all.

My question is, for those that have recently gone to MEPS what was your experiance with this?

And any other things that I should be aware of, any warnings so that I'm not taken off guard?

In advance-- Thank you much for you help!


.Tasha.

[Retired Navy Chief]

I just want to put my 2 cents in before I go home for the evening ....

By the time you get to the Classifier, you will have gone through the entire process and will be deemed medically and mentally qualified to join the Navy. Basically, you have done your part ... now it's time for them to do their part and offer you the career that the recruiter told you about !!

When you are sitting down with them and looking at jobs, you need to remember that it is YOUR life and YOUR career that you are deciding on. Therefore ... it is YOU that needs to be happy with the job you pick.

If what you want to do is not being offered ... look at the things that are and see if it is something that you might like but just hadn't thought about.

If nothing interests you ... DON'T ACCEPT. Period. They will have a few other people come to talk to you about this and see if there is an actual problem or if you are just skeer'd :protest:.
Worst thing that will happen is that you will have to go back to MEPS again when the job that you want comes available.

Be up front with them and let them know that you are very excited about joining the Navy and that you fully intend on taking the oath when they can find the job that you want with a guaranteed A-school, but that you aren't going to settle for something that you know you won't like. That should take all the pressure off of you and put it back on them, where it belongs.

Ok ... it's time for a cold one :biggrin:.

Cheers,
PISTOL

[RightHereWaiting]

Haha, you're too awesome Pistol. Thank you.

I definitely don't want something I won't enjoy because, just in case my request for Hospital Corpsman isn't accepted I want to swear in with something that I will enjoy. I'm just so darn picky! But so far I've looked at Chaplains assitant, MA [I'd really like to work with the K-9 unit, I almsot bought a Czech-stock Shepherd to train in personal protection before I decided to join], aaand if nothing else... yeoman. Ick. But I figure it's something I could do with college and possibly do a cross-rating when allowed.

But thank you again, Pistol, for your advice! I will definitely be upfront with them.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

[cousinIT]

also, make sure you ask what the sign on bonus is for the rates you are interested in. so many people dont ask, and miss out on the free money! i got $10,000. i needed it to pay off my college loans. dont settle for anything you do not want. the worst thing you could do is just settle for something and then end up not being happy with what you've got.

[KYmom]

I !!

When you are sitting down with them and looking at jobs, you need to remember that it is YOUR life and YOUR career that you are deciding on. Therefore ... it is YOU that needs to be happy with the job you pick.

If what you want to do is not being offered ... look at the things that are and see if it is something that you might like but just hadn't thought about.

If nothing interests you ... DON'T ACCEPT. Period. They will have a few other people come to talk to you about this and see if there is an actual problem or if you are just skeer'd :protest:.
Worst thing that will happen is that you will have to go back to MEPS again when the job that you want comes available.

Be up front with them and let them know that you are very excited about joining the Navy and that you fully intend on taking the oath when they can find the job that you want with a guaranteed A-school, but that you aren't going to settle for something that you know you won't like. That should take all the pressure off of you and put it back on them, where it belongs.

Ok ... it's time for a cold one :biggrin:.

Cheers,
PISTOL


I strongly second that....

[RightHereWaiting]

Oh I know Jennifer!! I'm asking about any signing and shipping bonus. I'm hoping that because I won't be able to leave till after this semester is over that they'll offer me something to ship anywhere between December and March. They'll probably have something for close to Christmas which makes me kinda sad, but it's not like I have family here in Arizona anyway [other than mother and my half-brother, of course]

I'm so stinkin' excited, I just can't stand it. I got a book to help improve my ASVAP score, though Petty Officer keeps telling me that I have no reason to stress over it... I just want the best score possible-- open up as many options as I'm able.

Monday, Monday Monday everyone!!

Monday madness! I know after being at MEPS all day Monday that I'm going to have a hard time paying attention in class that night. Luckily it's the first night so I know most of it will be going over what we're doing in that class this semester and filling out forms and such. Yay. :] Mom will be out of town too, and will be returning Tues. I believe and I'll be working that evening, I'm sure, with classes that morning so I won't be able to talk to here till either Wednesday, or Tuesday evening [depending what time I'd get home]!!

I started doing push-ups today which was... interesting, to say the least. I can't do even ONE real one. And i can only do about ten "girl" ones [on my knees]. I'm going to work at those for a while till I can do them right. I imagine it'll take a while, but hopefully I can do at least the required amount by the time boot camp comes around. Lots of work and determination!!

[KYmom]

Don't forgot us when you get done at MEPs. We are excited to know how it goes.

[Kristie]

If nothing interests you ... DON'T ACCEPT. Period. They will have a few other people come to talk to you about this and see if there is an actual problem or if you are just skeer'd :protest:.
Worst thing that will happen is that you will have to go back to MEPS again when the job that you want comes available.



I totally 3rd that.....we told both of our....(Jennifer-CousinIT is my daughter) that if they did not get what they wanted to say no thank you...you do not have to settle...so do not....

Let us know how it goes....

[RightHereWaiting]

Oh I most certainly will! I love this site too much now. Ya'll are too helpful and kind to just leave after MEPS! Plus, I'm going to try and coax mother here before I go to boot camp. I'm sure ya'll will help her with anything she has questions about or with any support that she might need.

She's leaving up to Missouri soon to see some of our family up there. It's such PERFECT timing because my cousin just left for boot [he's with the Navy as well] and my aunt was the only support I had about a week ago. She's ESTATIC that I'm joining and I know that she'll console my mother-dearest.
So far, both of the grandchildren have followed in Grandfather's footsteps! Can't wait to see what my little cousin does when she's of age. :] And there's a FOURTH on the way too! I nearly forgot!

Well I'm off to help mother "Flamingo" her friend's yard. Last time we "bowed" it. [Instead of T.P.ing, we do cute, stupid things for b-days and holidays.]

[pilotofatx]

Well I'm off to help mother "Flamingo" her friend's yard. Last time we "bowed" it. [Instead of T.P.ing, we do cute, stupid things for b-days and holidays.]

Haha, that is too funny. We have this nursery here in Austin out by the lake that is known for putting hundreds of flamingos out in the lawn every year. It has become a traditional Austin landmark. If the flamingos wern't there, then I am pretty sure no one would notice the nursery tucked up on the side of the hill.

http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/9311/flamingos63006dpn5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/9311/flamingos63006dpn5.8f3910a912.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=388&i=flamingos63006dpn5.jpg)

I have a couple of questions regarding MEPs also. I have been through the first part obviously, although I was just wondering- What can I expect the second time when I return to ship out?

[RightHereWaiting]

Yay! We have the same question. -high five-

Oh my gosh... no we put out like... 20 or 15. Haha, too awesome.

[RightHereWaiting]

Woo! I got all the pre-MEPS paperwork filled out today! Now I just have to go back in tomorrow so my recruiter can give me a breifing about Monday. :] [He had to rush off because something happened with one of the DEPers... I hope he's okay. Petty Officer just said that he was in a tough situation or something like that.]

I went for my run this evening... which was less than beautiful. I couldn't even run a full quarter mile before I had to slow down to a walk and start up again a few paces later. And it was like that for the entire run. The good news is-- I ran more than I walked. The sad news-- it was only a mile total. SO! I've got a lot to work on before school's over. I'm about to go out to dinner now and depending on the time when I get back I'll either go for a swim or to bed. Not sure.

[pilotofatx]

Congrats on taking the first few steps of joining the worlds greatest Navy.

As far as your running goes. Don't worry about it. I have been there, i couldn't even run one lap without nearly flopping over and dying. Just like Chief said, keep on working at it and DONT GIVE UP. Desine Numquam.. Never Give Up, that is my motto which is forever inscribed into my flesh.

Keep a good attitude mainly, a good attitude will do you wonders.

[RightHereWaiting]

I've got a way chipper attitude so no problem right now. Perhaps when boot camp comes around I'll be a little down, but we'll see! ;D
I really wish I had a buddy, though, for most of my things like the running and swimming because I'm way more motivated with someone else. Like when i went on the hike with the DEPers. I REFUSED to stop for a break untill I absolutely had to and even then my recruiter kept saying "well there's a good place to rest just a few more steps." And twenty feet later we'd be at that spot and I was all the more pleased with myself. But I worked on that tonight as well--goal setting. I'd look at the light poles and told myself that I could not stop until I made it to that specific one then I'd walk to the next light pole, and do it over agian. Run walk, run walk run. Uhg. And I'm so sore, it's awesome.

My cousin called me today!! He's shipping Tuesday for boot [Navy also]. Haha, but he's using me as a refferal so he can make it to E-2 before he leaves! :D My recruiter said that he'd hook him up. So he's all excited about that. He's supposed to be doing something with Aviation, he said that he hasn't really decided yet and that it'll get figured out once he's at A-school [weird]. We're both so excited and proud of eachother I told him that he'd better write me as soon as possible and that I want his RTC address ASAP! He assured me this so long as I promise to write back. "You'll be getting at least a letter a week from me! At Least!" I told him.
Good thing I saved a book of stamps and envelopes from when my ex went through boot! Save me some money for now.

Anyway, I finally got the call that Mother arrived saftely in St. Louis and she'll be with my aunt and cousin shortly, so I'm off! Work in the morning, then the recruiters, woo!