AF recruiter meeting today at 11!

[03trubluGT]

You do realize that after you sign the contract, the odds of changing your MOS are slim to none, right? The recruiter can promise you the world, but the guy you need to be worried about is the guy that hands you the contract at MEPS. If it's not in there, it doesn't mean shit. The recruiters can tell you that you'll get a 45k signing bonus, but if it's not in the contract, you aren't getting it.

I went through a similar situation. Went and signed up with the Marines in the DEP, was shipping out for boot, getting ready to sign my contract and I looked it over with a fine tooth comb, scored a 92 on the ASVAB, was going into the 2600 fields (they don't get more specific than that before you head to boot, as to which particular 2600 you'll get) Recruiter told me I was all set up and ready to go. Get to MEPS to ship for boot, the guy at MEPS hands me an open contract. I said I wasn't going to sign an open contract, and I never ended up shipping.

Moral of the story: What your recruiter says doesn't mean dick. If it's not on paper, it ain't happening.

I was promised flight status, I didn't care what, I just wanted to fly. When I got to boot camp, I retested on the ASVAB and scored very high. I was told that my contract had me in the aviation field, weather observer to be specific. My test scores allowed me a couple of options, one of them was 2621 Manual Morse Intercept Operator. I was sent to NTTC Corry Station in Pensacola, FL to learn how to copy morse code, and then apply it to my job collecting intelligence.

[helosailor]

You do realize that after you sign the contract, the odds of changing your MOS are slim to none, right? The recruiter can promise you the world, but the guy you need to be worried about is the guy that hands you the contract at MEPS. If it's not in there, it doesn't mean shit. The recruiters can tell you that you'll get a 45k signing bonus, but if it's not in the contract, you aren't getting it.

I went through a similar situation. Went and signed up with the Marines in the DEP, was shipping out for boot, getting ready to sign my contract and I looked it over with a fine tooth comb, scored a 92 on the ASVAB, was going into the 2600 fields (they don't get more specific than that before you head to boot, as to which particular 2600 you'll get) Recruiter told me I was all set up and ready to go. Get to MEPS to ship for boot, the guy at MEPS hands me an open contract. I said I wasn't going to sign an open contract, and I never ended up shipping.

Moral of the story: What your recruiter says doesn't mean dick. If it's not on paper, it ain't happening.

Very similar thing happened to me. I was supposed to be in the 2100 field, but "somehow" it got changed 3500. I said there was no way I was going to be a truck driver with that high of an ASVAB. They told me it was Motor T or nothing, so I said, "then nothing it is!" and walked out.
Joined the Navy 6 years later on an non-designated airman contract.

[ZYouL8R]

Dude, if you want to be a SERE Specialist, you better want it bad. SERE was the f'n worst 3 weeks of my life and those dudes live it every day.

My element leader at SERE was saying the last SERE Specialist class started with 300 and graduated 33. Maybe I'm just a pussy, but he was telling us all the fucked up shit they had to do during their school and I don't see how anyone would want any part of that. I'm not going to go into specifics here, but I see why only 10% make it through.

You will go through SERE Specialist school, then IF you graduate, you will spend a minimum of 3 years in Spokane, WA being a field instructor at SERE. Then you can either go to a random AF base and be the only SERE dude on base that trains those getting ready to deploy, or you can do cool shit like go to Pensacola and be a Water Survival instructor (those guys have the life).

Good luck, we're all counting on you.

[ceyko]

Moral of the story: What your recruiter says doesn't mean dick. If it's not on paper, it ain't happening.

OP, please heed this advice.

I don't care what your buddy did, or your momma or daddy - it's generally up to command and different people in the same command structure can approve, override and otherwise fuck with you. There is no easy, short term way to quit either if you don't like "what they did to you." (however, you signed the papers)

[racrguy]

OP, please heed this advice.

I don't care what your buddy did, or your momma or daddy - it's generally up to command and different people in the same command structure can approve, override and otherwise fuck with you. There is no easy, short term way to quit either if you don't like "what they did to you." (however, you signed the papers)

Yup. And unlike a regular contract that usually comes with an early termination fee. As far as I know there is no early termination in Uncle Sam's contracts. The three ways out are 1) death 2) court martial (sometimes these include jailtime) or 3) Med discharge. Other than that, you're pretty much in for the duration.

[Couver]

I was right across the way at RTC San Diego in 90.....

Seems so long ago....

Same here Jan of 90 as well... I just remember watching those jets take off wishing I could be on it no matter where it was going.

[YALE]

Good luck, OP! Thanks for the service!

[motoman]

Moral of the story: What your recruiter says doesn't mean dick. If it's not on paper, it ain't happening.

x2. I spent 8 months in the DEP before dropping out for the very same reason. SSGT Motley & SSGT Graves promised me the world because of multiple things, A) I scored high on my ASVAB, B) I scored well on my IST, and C) I brought in 2 referrals. I couldn't have had it any easier on my recruiters. I get down to MEPS to ship, look over my contract and there's no Crash Fire & Rescue on it... SGM told me they didn't have any openings available for 7051 so they listed me as Motor T. I told him I didn't want motor transport and he told me I'd have to wait then. So we pushed my ship date back 3 months. Get down there a second time, look at the contract, and still not 7051, this time they had me down as a grunt. Same thing, told them NO, and my date gets pushed back another 5 months. Get down there a 3rd time and they have me down for motor transport again. Told them No and he pushes my ship date back again. I get to my recruiters office that next day and told him that if I can't have 7051 then I'm out. He pretty much said I'll get your paperwork ready.

[Gargamel]

Same here Jan of 90 as well... I just remember watching those jets take off wishing I could be on it no matter where it was going.

Actually.... Once I got past the first 2 weeks (which sucked greatly) and the obligatory stint at the galley, I actually kind of enjoyed it....

I think they had it worse down the street at the MCRD.

But Smurfette always says that I'm a glutton for punishment... LOL

[Couver]

Actually.... Once I got past the first 2 weeks (which sucked greatly) and the obligatory stint at the galley, I actually kind of enjoyed it....

I think they had it worse down the street at the MCRD.

But Smurfette always says that I'm a glutton for punishment... LOL

MCRD had it way worse I'm sure. You are right though about week 3 after the "P" days it wasn't to bad at all. Then on to wonderfull Milington for "A" school. Now that was FUN!

[Gargamel]

MCRD had it way worse I'm sure. You are right though about week 3 after the "P" days it wasn't to bad at all. Then on to wonderfull Milington for "A" school. Now that was FUN!

Millington?

Holy Shit.... Sent you a PM....

Millington... Home of "The Anchor\The Skanker" and the worst E Club in the Navy....

[KBScobravert]

Same here Jan of 90 as well... I just remember watching those jets take off wishing I could be on it no matter where it was going.

MCRD July 1994 and watching those planes take off was the worst.

OP you might want to listen to some of the advice in here. Everyone wants to be James Bond. Fact is the world is short on ditch diggers and oil changers.

[Couver]

Millington?

Holy Shit.... Sent you a PM....

Millington... Home of "The Anchor\The Skanker" and the worst E Club in the Navy....

No Brass Rail??

[Gargamel]

No Brass Rail??

How could I forget.... LOL

[Danny46]

Im pretty sure AF can get contract SERE. If you want to be a SERE instructor youve got to go through SERE as already has been said. The entire time wont be you getting worked over though. You'll be a survival instructor and it would be a sweet gig. Good luck!