Sea Cadets and the Challenge Contract

[FutureSEAL2005]

Hello, ive been out of touch with my recruiter and was wondering. I am 17 and a junoir in high school I also just signed up for Sea Cadets and i go to the 2 week boot camp in June. I want to get an e3 rank in Sea Cadets so i could join the Navy with an E3 rank also, but if i sign in the DEP next year (senoir year) before i get the rank i wont be able to have e3 in the Navy no matter what rank i get before i ship out. Should i just say forget the E3 rank and go in DEP my senior year and get the SEAL Challenge Contract? or wait untill/if i get the E3 and sign up for the Navy? Is DEP just for High School students? and can i get the SEAL Challenge Contract without being in DEP?

[muffinman]

you could get to e-2 by just filling out the book that the recruiter gives you(it has like military time, 11 general orders, and other basics) and then you take a test and become an e-2. if you sign up your senior year you will have plenty of time to complete the book. also then during boot camp i am told you can earn rank advancements and also the top 5% gets a rank increase. so there are ways to get to an e-3 before graduating boot camp. if you want to get to e-3 before boot camp i believe you have to have college credits, be an eagle scout, be a black belt or recruit 4 frinds to join by the time you leave.