Anxiety Problem

[Elwood2020]

Hello all, I have been having a problem for the last month or so, and I finally want to come out and talk about it. Ive been in the Navy DEP program since October, and so far I love the Navy. Iam very excited Iam going in, and so are mostly everyone else I talk too. Iam going in for HM but with no SEAL challenge contract, and this is the thing that has got me under so much stress. Ive been reading and hearing so many stories about people who wait almost years just to get a shot at BUD/s because they entered without the contract. I have become so attached to becoming a SEAL, I just dont think I could handle waiting so long for a spot at BUD/s to open up. I went to my recruiter with this problem, and he said basically not to worry about it, and I'll get my shot at BUD/s right out of "A" school, and all this other stuff, but I just dont believe its as easy as he says. I asked if I could go back to MEPS to try and get the contract, but he keeps telling me that I cant and they arent even offering it. Never in my 17 years of existence have I ever been under such stress. Does anyone out there have any advise for me? Please Iam not looking for sympathy or to get rediculed, I would just like some honest advise on how to deal with this. Thanks a lot.

[Moose335]

Hi, to tell you the truth i am in the same boat... i have been in DEP since july o17 of last year and i went to the MEPS and i was going intoget the contract as well btu i messed up on one of my tests and i didnt qualify for it, and because of that i was really upset for about two and a half months till i started reading up on what the testing requirements are for BUD/s and what a good preperation work out would be, oncce i did that i stated to use that info and get into some sort of shape. I also talked to my recruiter and he told me that i will still get the chance to get into BUD/s if i do well at camp and volentieer when they ask if there is anyone who wants to try and be a seal. After i relized that i still have a decent shot i started to feel better even thought it is no garenteed contract i still feel better and i think my chances are good

[Elwood2020]

Thanks for the response Moose. The thing is I just feel that with my luck, even if I do pass the SEAL PFT test and do great while in the Navy, they are just gonna screw me out of it somehow. The thing that is holding me down is my ASVAB score. I got a 43 on that and I know you need a 50. I will say when I first went to my recruiter and took the pre-ASVAB i failed it. I pinpointed my weaknesses, studied, and made a signifcant increase. I feel that if I keep studying, even get a tutor if necessary, I can definitely get way above a 50. I just know that I cant feel relieved unless I go back and get that contract. My parents think Iam being selfish, and playing games with my recruiter. I dont think there is anything wrong with trying to get what you want in writing before entering the service. Does anyone else agree?

[sjr78]

My advice would be to worry about yourself. Don't worry about playing games with your recruiter, it doesn't seem like your doing that anyway. Recruiters play enough of their own games. It's your life, make sure that you are happy. Don't do anything that you don't want to do, and be your own person. Try to find out as much info as possible and then make a decision based on knowledge and your own dreams. Just keep on doing what you've been doing, try and get that ASVAB score up. There are numerous books out there with sample problems and tips. You can do anything that you put your mind to. We're with you. Good Luck!

-steve

[Elwood2020]

Steve-
Again I truely appreciate your support. It really goes along way for me, seeing other people do want to help me out, instead of just telling me what Iam doing wrong. This is 6 years of my life here, and I just dont want to wake up every morning in the Navy wondering if I will get into BUD/s, and then being told I wont go. That would absolute destroy me inside, as Iam sure it would any other guy out here that wants to become a SEAL. I think Ive decided that if I cannot get the SEAL contract at all, the I cannot go into the Navy. I love the Navy, but I just couldnt live with myself, I would be miserable. I am just worried that if I do end up leaving the DEP program, I dont want me recruiters getting upset with me. I have become friends with them, and I dont want them thinking Iam backstabbing them or anything of that sort. I definitely dont want anyone here thinking Iam ditching the Navy either, I dont want to be known as a quitter. Seriously, I really do want to thank everyone who responds to this post and helps me out with positive support.

-Bryan

[troyman]

This is 6 years of my life here, and I just dont want to wake up every morning in the Navy wondering if I will get into BUD/s, and then being told I wont go. That would absolute destroy me inside, as Iam sure it would any other guy out here that wants to become a SEAL.

Elwood keep the faith and don't be discouraged, (easier said than done) but anxiety is also caused when there is no back up plan. Did you consider EOD or SBS as back up if this is possible? You sound very intelligent and I think your persistence will get you where you want to be. "All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the duty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was all vanity. But the dreamers of the Day are dangerous men, for they act out their dream with open eyes to make it possible".

[Elwood2020]

To tell you the truth, I dont have a back-up plan. SEALs is the whole reason why I wanted to join the Navy and nothing else. EOD and SBS are great programs, but I just dont feel I would be commited to them like I am with SEALs. Thats what Iam worried about, I really have any other interest in any other program in the Navy, and I dont want to be stuck for 6 years knowing I cant become a SEAL.

[JonnyR]

Hey, you should be working with a SEAL Motivator/Recruiter - period - NOT a Naval Recruiter!!! The SEAL Motivators/Recruiters know their stuff and will not steer you in the wrong direction. You are experiencing anxiety because you do not have your bases covered - if you cannot get the contract - I would imagine it would also be difficult to be given the opportunity and priviledge to even try out for BUD/S . Do your homework, use the resources that are available.

[Elwood2020]

I just talked to my recruiter on the phone for about a 1/2 hour, and this is what he said. He understands that I do want the SEAL challenge contract, but he said they arent even offering it. He said to many guys would go into MEPS and wouldnt even think about SEALs beforehand, and see that they qualify for it, and take they contract because they think its cool, and would end up wasting then Navys time because they dont know what they are getting themselves into. He also said once in bootcamp, of course I'll take the test and everything and if I do pass, they will put me onto a SEAL contract. I asked him about the wait to go to BUD/s out of "A" school, and he said there isnt a long wait, maybe 3-4 months at the most. I believe my recruiter to be an honest guy, he is the second best recruiter in the area I live in, so I feel I can believe him on this. But something just tells me that isnt correct, I feel Iam going to end up waiting like a year or two to get in. Does anyone know if what he said is correct? I am going to get in touch with a SEAL recruiter to see what he says also.

[sjr78]

Elwood2020,

That information is incorrect. If SEALs is what you want, get it in writing before you leave for boot. Most recruiters either have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to the SEAL program or don't want you to know. Over the past couple of months I have spoken with people and seen, with my own eyes, recruiters right out lying to recruits. It's appalling to me. Do as you say and get in touch with a SEAL Motivator/Recruiter, they will steer you straight. They are offering the SEAL Challenge Contract, believe me. I just signed up with it last friday, they most certaintly have it. Good luck!

-steve

[haydon21]

Steve is right, I Recently just scored a victory with my recruiter. I enlisted in DEP on Oct 22 2002. I had two friends who recently signed up and both recieved the SEAL Contract with the same job rating as me and they are leaving in Nov 2003. I told my recruiter I wanted to leave with them and asked for them to push my date to leave to match theirs, since I knew there was still seats in the job I wanted for when I wanted to leave. My recruiter told me that since the date I wanted to leave was past my 365 days that I was allowed in DEP that I couldnt switch without dropping out and re-elnisting, but my recruiter also said that it could be done very easily. The next day I spoke with my recruiters boss and he told me that the CO wouldnt do it for me and that I couldnt switch to my friends date. This same recruiter had also told me in the past that my roomates had a good chance of getting in,(Which he doesn't) but that is another story. That night I spent countless hours on the internet looking up Navy Regualtions for recruiting and DEP guidelines. I found out that, 1. I could get out of DEP and get back in, unlike my recruiter's boss had told me I couldnt, and I also found out there was a waiver I could get to extend my time in DEP up to 30 days past 365 days. When I presented this info to my recruiter, her jaw dropped, and 30 minutes later her boss called me wanting to know how he could help me solve my problem, claiming he wasnt aware of this waiver, although I pulled it right out of the Navy Enlisted Recruiting Manual. The point of this story is this. Some recruiter's lie, some are unaware, and some are too lazy to look, but keep asking and do some research for yourself and you will be amazed and what you can find out. And as far as SEAL Challenge goes. I spoke with my SEAL motivator last week and he informed me that you can get a SEAL Challenge. Sounds to me like you just need to get your ASVAB's up. Good luck with it all. I know how much of a pain in the *** some recruiters can be.

Tim

[Elwood2020]

Thanks a lot for the positive feedback guys, it does help. I sat down tonight and really thought and thought about what is causing me so much stress, and Ive come down to the problem. I think my problem is my SEAL source rating. HM is the one I have, and its a great rating, but I really dont think it is for me. If for whatever reason I dont make it through BUD/s, I dont think I would want to serve my time as an HM. Assuming I do make it through the teams, I would like to get into law enforcement afterwards. I could be mistaken, but isnt Master at Arms now a SEAL source rating? If it is, is it possible to switch over to it? I would feel a lot better knowing that if I didnt make it through BUD/s, I could fall back on a job I like.

[outdoorguy]

Elwood, Im not a SEAL but just thought I would tell you what I would do If I were in your situation. If they arent willing to work with you, give you the contract, and let your change your source rating to something you may be interested in then I would definitly drop out of the DEP program and start over if that is possible. I mean why not if you can just start over, talk to a SEAL Motivator, and get the contract up front. But anyways, I dont know much about the DEP program but from the way haydon spoke it looks like you can drop out of it and re-enlist. Whatever your decision is good luck to you and god bless. Dan :)

[Elwood2020]

Thanks a lot for the support, Dan, I'll definitely check into that one.