Question about what a recruiter told me.

[mantis2k4]

I just wanted to verify what the recruiter told me recently. He said I would sign a regular contract when I enlist, and after I pass my PST it would transfer to a SEAL contract. He told me that I would not be obligated to the navy until my actual ship date when I sign my final contract and final oath. Now is there a provision in the first contract that guarantees I will take the PST before my ship date? And also is what he said valid in that I can walk away at any time before my ship date? The whole thing just sounds fishy.

[oldswabbie]

That does NOT sound right. However, we can get some people to verify. It sounds alot like he wants your John Henry on the line and "screw you" later on. I could be very wrong but we will find out.

OldSwabbie

[king henry viii]

I just wanted to verify what the recruiter told me recently. He said I would sign a regular contract when I enlist, and after I pass my PST it would transfer to a SEAL contract. He told me that I would not be obligated to the navy until my actual ship date when I sign my final contract and final oath. Now is there a provision in the first contract that guarantees I will take the PST before my ship date? And also is what he said valid in that I can walk away at any time before my ship date? The whole thing just sounds fishy.

All of that is correct. If your recruiter knows that you want to be a SEAL he will get you in contact with a SEAL motivator. He's the one who will administer the PST, etc.

Yes, you can walk away from the contract at anytime before you leave for boot camp.

[montstar]

Also, as I understand it, if you walk away from any contract while in DEP you will not again be allowed to enlist into the program.

[oldswabbie]

All of that is correct. If your recruiter knows that you want to be a SEAL he will get you in contact with a SEAL motivator. He's the one who will administer the PST, etc.

Yes, you can walk away from the contract at anytime before you leave for boot camp.

But doesnt walking away from that cause issues in the future if he tries to go back in later?

OldSwabbie

[montstar]

Uh didn't I post that already?;)

[oldswabbie]

DUH... yea.. MY BAD :D Didnt see ... Where the heck are my glasses... I know I put them somewhere... <crunch>.. Honey!... I Found my glasses...Sweetheart? Were the cats playing with my glasses under the chair?

:)

OldSwabbie

[sickle]

If he walks away and comes back he just has to write the District Recruiting Commander a letter..the recruiter will probably help with that.

But I think that sounds kind of fishy, I had my SO contract from day 1 without taking a PST. You get your SO contract and you have to pass your PST 60 days after you are in the DEP pool. If you can't pass it within 60 days you are reclassed to something else until you can pass it.

[montstar]

Thats the way it used to be. Now you have to earn the contract.

[sickle]

I guess it makes more sense to do it that way but it still sounds weird. Don't believe recruiters 100% of the time, they are going to say things and bend the truth to get you to sign a contract. I'm not saying all recruiters are like this, most aren't.

Just be careful when signing ANYTHING in your life. Make sure you READ your contract or at least skim it (they don't use bullsh*t lawyer phrases, just look to make sure it's the job you want with the right benefits and such).

Tell them what you want, how, when, and where you want it. Don't act like some joke kid trying to ditch his parents quickly. You're in charge, not them.

[pterry]

So once you have gotten in touch with a SEAL motivator and taken the PST and passed it, at that point will you be given a new SEAL contract automatically? Or, once you pass the PST, does your score get reviewed and someone decides if they want to give you the SEAL contract? Just trying to understand how the new system works.

[sealmama]

My son signed a SEAL contract the day he was sworn in for DEP. I can get more details if you want them next time I talk to him, like when did he do the PST.

[slowrx]

This is a question that I am also curious to see answered.
Thanks guys!
Rick

[mike0318sti]

Heres how it works...you sign in a regular rating, your recruiter will get ahold of the Spec War Mentor to arrange a PST (they are done weekly in different locations, at least in Los Angeles area). You take the PST and before you take it you'll fill out a muster sheet (attendance), and then put down what your job is your signed in now, and then what program your shooting for, SEAL/EOD/Diver/SWCC. Once you pass the PST for your program, they will re-class you to the job you were going for. Yes you can walk away from the contract anytime before you swear in the 2nd time. We try to make sure people are sure its what they want to do, so that doesn't happen, but its good to at least be informed of there intention not to go, a month before they ship.

[keganb88]

My son signed a SEAL contract the day he was sworn in for DEP. I can get more details if you want them next time I talk to him, like when did he do the PST.

This isnt possible.... Motivators wont give the PST until your in DEP.

[mom272]

Okay, this was a little over a year ago so I will email my son and double check.

[dive doc]

This isnt possible.... Motivators wont give the PST until your in DEP.

99.9% of the time. In rare exceptional circumstances the PST can and is administered before a candidate may be in DEP. Dealt with on a case by case basis.

[mom272]

Hi,
My son emailed me back, and yes, he took the PST before enlisting for DEP, that is why he got his SEAL contract that day. He was able to take it beforehand because he was a Sea Cadet and took it through his unit. I didn't realize other people had to wait until enlisting. Here is his email:

>>Hello, I got the SEAL contract the day I enlisted. Usually you have to enlist and pick a job, then take the PST. Once you pass the PST you get reclassified with the SEAL contract. But I had passed the PST in Sea Cadets so i skipped that whole process.<<

BTW, I highly recommend joining Sea Cadets to ALL the under 18 wannabe's. My son had already been to Sea Cadet boot camp and a 3 week EOD advanced training program before joining the Navy. There is a SEAL advanced training, too, but he wasn't able to get into that one before he shipped. He entered the Navy as an E-3 (more $$$).

SEALMama who is now Mom272

[keganb88]

Ah im sorry, Im sure there is certain ways to as you said being a sea cadet. I was just told by both my motivator and recruiter that you can't till your in dep.

[mom272]

No problem. Your motivator and recruiter were right!

[oldswabbie]

Sea Cadets, Navy JROTC are all good things to belong to. They teach you about the Navy, its Heritage, its Culture and its Traditions. I was steeped in Marines Corps ROTC but it was the same thing basically.. just a little more intense ...ok .. ALOT more Intense..:D

In the end ~ I left boot Camp an E-3 with backpay to day 1 for that rate and entered my A School heads and shoulders above the rest of my peers. There was alot less standing watches... There was alot of BS that I DIDNT have to put up with as an E-3 at that point in my Naval Career... instead of being an E-1!

Of course some of you remember I posted what the pay rates were when I went in a few weeks ago in one of my post here on the forum.. I think it was in the "Funniest Moments in Navy Career"... SEALPUP would have a laugh with some of those stories.. and those pay rates too. He was in at that time!

here's that thread... including Mr. Parkers poop stories LOL.. sorry couldnt resist..
http://www.navyseals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159841


OldSwabbie