Hi!

Wondering if anyone on here has done it. If so, do you regret going as open contract? Because it is the end of the year, there are NO jobs open from what my recruiter just showed me tonight. There was one - Truck Driver and for others I was not qualified (not a US Citizen yet even though my scores are high and I would've otherwise).

Recruiter says I should go Open Contract and once in Boot Camp, I can stand up with my hand up in the air with all those that would be standing up when they ask you various question like have you had any issues, if you are a musician, if you had this in the past and your recruiter told you not to tell it, etc, etc (during those 1-3 days after arrival). Anyway, he says that then I can tell a recruiter there that I am an Open Contract and would like them to get me a job. They will ask me to tell them 3 I would be most interested in. They will wait until October 1 to see what opens up and I will technically have until the end of my BCT for them to find me an MOS. By that time, who know, I may even get my citizenship (while still in boot camp) and thus he says it is a smart move. He also stated that those people who have told me and others who suggest against Open Contract deal have never been recruiters and don't know **** as to how it works. He says that based on my score, they will try to get me into the job I am most qualified for and since it will be the beginning on a new fiscal year, there will be basically anything I can pick from.

Please advise! Recruiters and those who have done it - your opionions would be extremely helpful and appreciated!!! Thanks!

If you want to soley become a Marine, than go Open Contract. If you know what kind of MOS you want, than don't go Open Contract.

quote:

Originally posted by HollywoodMarine:
If you want to soley become a Marine, than go Open Contract. If you know what kind of MOS you want, than don't go Open Contract.

Hollywood Marine,

Thanks for your input. THe thing is I do know what I would want to get, however, there are NO jobs open. I am going in as a female and I am 28, going to be 29th in Sept. So it's not like I can wait till Oct. 1 when the new fiscal year starts, you know. So I am screwed due to the end of the year and not having any jobs open. That being said, I do want to be a Marine, that's why I haven't even considered any other branches even though I can easily get in and they don't have age restrictions. But how BAD is the Open Contract Deal? Please advise!

Thanks again!

Going Open Contract is like playing roulette. You might land on an MOS you may not like, or you may land on an MOS that is bad a$$.

I see that you live in SM (I use to live off of Bundy and Santa Monica). If you want some guidance, I recommend you contact a friend of mine who is a recruiter out in RSS Pasadena. She is of great assistance, and should you need a second opinion on acquiring a particular MOS, she would be the one to ask. Good luck!

HM

Having worked as a recruiter and a MEPS counselor/liaison, there are waivers for your age. If you wanted to go into Boot Camp with a a guaranteed field/option I would not ship off to Boot Camp on a Open Contract. Now if you DEP (Enlist) with a Open Contract, that is okay. You can get your job while you are in DEP, but before you leave for Boot Camp make sure you have a SOU (Statement of Understanding) for the field/option you want before you ship out. October is a new Fiscal year and there will be TONS of jobs available.

quote:

Originally posted by HollywoodMarine:
Going Open Contract is like playing roulette. You might land on an MOS you may not like, or you may land on an MOS that is bad a$$.

I see that you live in SM (I use to live off of Bundy and Santa Monica). If you want some guidance, I recommend you contact a friend of mine who is a recruiter out in RSS Pasadena. She is of great assistance, and should you need a second opinion on acquiring a particular MOS, she would be the one to ask. Good luck!

HM

HM,

I would love to talk to your friend if you could give me her name and number to contact. I am currently talking to one recruiter but somehow I am getting this feeling that they are pressuring me into joining b/c they know my situation - I am about to turn 29 and they keep saying "join now, coz you will not get a waiver". So do you think you could give me her info? I would love to talk to her and possibly see her tonight. Thanks for all your help again!

PS Small world!!! Yes I love this area, close to everything!Where do you reside now?

quote:

Originally posted by coxmd:
Having worked as a recruiter and a MEPS counselor/liaison, there are waivers for your age. If you wanted to go into Boot Camp with a a guaranteed field/option I would not ship off to Boot Camp on a Open Contract. Now if you DEP (Enlist) with a Open Contract, that is okay. You can get your job while you are in DEP, but before you leave for Boot Camp make sure you have a SOU (Statement of Understanding) for the field/option you want before you ship out. October is a new Fiscal year and there will be TONS of jobs available.

Coxmd,

I thought that DEP is only for those who are still in the age range, say kids who are still in HS and are considering going in. So they do the DEP and then elist once they make up their mind or whatever other issues they had have been worked out. My recruiter hasn't even mentioned a work about doing DEP, so I assume that is NOT an option in my case. Are you saying I should tell him I want to do DEP? If so, how would it work considering I am turing 29 in Sept? How would I be able to get into a specific MOS? Right now they don't have anything open since it is the end of the year...Please advise!

Thanks again!!!

There are waivers for your age, if they are not willing to work with you then seek out another Marine recruiting station in that area. Make sure you tell them that you have talk to a former recruiter and MEPS liaison for the Marine Corps.

quote:

Originally posted by coxmd:
There are waivers for your age, if they are not willing to work with you then seek out another Marine recruiting station in that area. Make sure you tell them that you have talk to a former recruiter and MEPS liaison for the Marine Corps.

Well how can I push if they say "the General who is a female does not do the waivers. I have only seen her approve ONE since I've been working here for 3 years." So what do I do??? Do I take a chance, wait till I turn 29 in Sept and then ask them to submit it anyway? I would hate myself for the rest of my life if I don't get it and so miss this shot of getting in the US Marine Corps now! Are you saying that there should not be a reason why she would not approve my request? My scores were: MM 096, GT 103, EL 111 and CL 105. I am also going to do MEPS this Saturday. I know I am healthy and I am sure I will pass the PFT b/c I've always been physically active and did some fitness stuff in the past. So do you think all of that should be to my advantage? What are they looking at when considering someone for a waiver???

Thanks!!!

quote:

Originally posted by HollywoodMarine:
Going Open Contract is like playing roulette. You might land on an MOS you may not like, or you may land on an MOS that is bad a$$.

I see that you live in SM (I use to live off of Bundy and Santa Monica). If you want some guidance, I recommend you contact a friend of mine who is a recruiter out in RSS Pasadena. She is of great assistance, and should you need a second opinion on acquiring a particular MOS, she would be the one to ask. Good luck!

HM

HM,

I know you also responded to my post in the other discussion thread on this. You said you PMed me, however, I have no permission to access PM Maybe I just don't know where to go...But I can't get to you message. Would you email me to my private email? Not sure if they allow that sort of exchange on here...Anyway, here it is: L_E_I2007@yahoo.com

Thanks a million!!!

15220817
Posted Thu 09 August 2007 11:06 AM
quote:
Originally posted by coxmd:
Having worked as a recruiter and a MEPS counselor/liaison, there are waivers for your age. If you wanted to go into Boot Camp with a a guaranteed field/option I would not ship off to Boot Camp on a Open Contract. Now if you DEP (Enlist) with a Open Contract, that is okay. You can get your job while you are in DEP, but before you leave for Boot Camp make sure you have a SOU (Statement of Understanding) for the field/option you want before you ship out. October is a new Fiscal year and there will be TONS of jobs available.


Coxmd,

I thought that DEP is only for those who are still in the age range, say kids who are still in HS and are considering going in. So they do the DEP and then elist once they make up their mind or whatever other issues they had have been worked out. My recruiter hasn't even mentioned a work about doing DEP, so I assume that is NOT an option in my case. Are you saying I should tell him I want to do DEP? If so, how would it work considering I am turing 29 in Sept? How would I be able to get into a specific MOS? Right now they don't have anything open since it is the end of the year...Please advise!

Thanks again!!!


REPLY

Basically everyone that enlist is in DEP (Delayed Entry Program) because you are waiting to ship off to Boot Camp. We do have what we call DEP and Ship, those are for people who are already taken a MEPS physical and is cleared and ASVAB qualified. In your case. When you decided that you want to become a Marine, the recruiter will a schedule a time for you to go to MEPS and take the ASVAB and the physcial. If you make a qualifying score on the ASVAB and are medically qualified, you enlist that day and you go into the DEP. When you are in DEP, you have already enlisted and take the oath, you are just waiting for your SHIP date to come around to leave. But before you are in the DEP, you have to enlist first. Does that clear everything up?

quote:

Originally posted by 15220817:

quote:

Originally posted by coxmd:
There are waivers for your age, if they are not willing to work with you then seek out another Marine recruiting station in that area. Make sure you tell them that you have talk to a former recruiter and MEPS liaison for the Marine Corps.

Well how can I push if they say "the General who is a female does not do the waivers. I have only seen her approve ONE since I've been working here for 3 years." So what do I do??? Do I take a chance, wait till I turn 29 in Sept and then ask them to submit it anyway? I would hate myself for the rest of my life if I don't get it and so miss this shot of getting in the US Marine Corps now! Are you saying that there should not be a reason why she would not approve my request? My scores were: MM 096, GT 103, EL 111 and CL 105. I am also going to do MEPS this Saturday. I know I am healthy and I am sure I will pass the PFT b/c I've always been physically active and did some fitness stuff in the past. So do you think all of that should be to my advantage? What are they looking at when considering someone for a waiver???

Thanks!!!

Don't worry about what your recruiter says. Enlisting is like shopping in a way. If you don't like what one is offering then you find one that has what you want, like Coxmd said. I would say about 95% of recruiters are honest about what they do. There are always going to be sh/tbirds that fall through the cracks. He might still have to make mission this month and that's why he/she is pushing you. Get on the phone and shop around to other Marine recruiters in the area. Some might be a bit of a drive, but you have to ask yourself how bad do you want to enlist.

quote:

Originally posted by 15220817:
HM,

I know you also responded to my post in the other discussion thread on this. You said you PMed me, however, I have no permission to access PM Maybe I just don't know where to go...But I can't get to you message. Would you email me to my private email?

Shot Out!