I have an unusual DEP situation and am extremely grateful for any advice.

I enlisted (active) at MEPS in March, 2008. I came to MEPS to enlist as an MA (and only MA). At MEPS there were no MA jobs open, so the advisor pressured me into looking at other jobs. I told him I was here to join as MA (only) as it was the reason I was joining the Navy.
A Nuke recruiter wanted to meet me at MEPS, we did, we spoke, and I decided that Nuke was not for me.
So after my 14hrs at MEPS I was ready to walk out (disappointed). They weren't ready to see me leave so we kept talking, discussing options. Long story short, before I signed the papers for a NUKE enlistment shipping to boot 5 November 2008, I made them convince me of two things.
1. We put in a DAR (job transfer) request to secure me an MA spot when one opened up, and they all(job advisor, my recruiter, and nuke recruiter) convinced me that it was all BUT garunteed that the DAR would get me an MA job.
2. That in case things dont work out, if I can't get an MA job, or if something comes up (like another job, I was to get my Bachelors in 2 months, and did) we can terminate the enlistment.
They sold me on the fact that if I signed these papers, I was still safe, and could cancel the enlistment if I wanted. I would not have signed without this understanding.

I trust these men and women but I am jittery about my situation. I've yet to get the call about an MA job (been 3 1/2 months) and I am now getting settled into a good job in my civilian life.

I have not decided to opt out of enlistment but I am rightfully spooked about the possibility of the Navy not holding to it's "Gentlemen's agreement" (Nothing was in writing)

I have read a great thread on this site already about leaving DEP, and it seems that yes, you can be removed from DEP, as I was told, but I also understand that many recruits are lied to/deceived into thinking they have no say in the matter. I also understand that certain people will attack my integrity (I signed a contract and took an oath) and that may/will be used against me.

I am seeking advice in two areas.
1. If it comes down to it, and I need to terminate the enlistment, how should I approach the situation if the Navy doesn't hold true to it's end ("if things don't work out, just let us know and we'll take care of it." (terminate the enlistment))

2. I've been thinking alot and the Naval Reserve seems optimal for me right now, allowing me to serve my country, and better persue my favorable civilian career. I was wondering how it would be to switch my enlistment to reserve before boot camp date (at which point I understand and fully accept that once you're in, you're in).


I'm seeking advice myself but I also believe this could be a valuable thread for others browsing these boards and considering joining the Navy. Any advice given is met with sincere gratitude.

What "gentelemen's agreement?" From what I've read on these forums, "pick your rate, pick your fate." Pretty much every recruiter, including my own, tells their recruits they can "put in a package after 18 months for a job transfer if you don't like your job" which rarely, if ever happens (correct me if I'm wrong). If it's not in writing, then they have no obligation to you.

MA over nuke? Did they give you a nice signing bonus for signing nuke?

All I have learned says "Don't sign that paper until it says what you want it to say". I'm not sure about the haggleability of classifiers, but I know I only want one rating, and if I can't get it, I'll go back to MEPS another day and try again.

Getting moved from a CREO 1 rating like nuke to a CREO 3 rating like MA seems unlikely. Also from everything I have heard cross rating out of a CREO 1 slot is very very hard. Needs of the navy and all (CREO is essentially the manning at a given rate, CREO 1 is undermanned, CREO 2 is properly manned, CREO 3 is overmanned)

MikeAD247: By Gentleman's Agreement I am referring to an agreement that was made not in writing. It basically means that the two parties will keep to their word even though they aren't contractually obligated.

Katsomoto: Yeah $18,000. Nuke just isn't appealing to me. I agree, perhaps I should have just walked out. I didn't because I was fully convinced to trust the Navy officials that I could get out if things didn't turn out right.

Mwcoleburn: I understand cross-rating hardly happens because the military invests money into you for your training. I get that, and agree with it. However, I don't even ship to boot for 4 months. I was told (repeatedly) that I could get a DAR to go through almost no problem in the 7 months I'd be in DEP. I don't know if I was fed a convincing load of BS at MEPS or what, this is why I'm seeking advice.

Thanks for your responses so far!

Regarding practical advice for your situation.

You can go in as a nuke, and hope for the best. I suspect, however, you would be miserable.

Your transfer is not going happen passively. The recruiters will simply wait for you to ship and then let you sort it out at boot camp. And trust me, you won't get much sorting done by that point, and you'll locked into your contract.

Technically, you can simply refuse to go under the current contract, with no real long-term legal ramifications. However, it's a crappy way to do business, and it may burn bridges with Uncle Sugar.

Recommend you have a firm face-to-face conversation with your recruiter and get the deal done. I've been in business for many years, and understand the value of a gentleman's agreement. However, some deals call for firm ratified contracts.

In your case, your only guarantee is a nuke contract, and if you want to change it, you better jock up right away and get it done, in writing.

Chief Stec might have some advice, as he's a recruiter with significant experience.

Sit down with your recruiter and let him know your concerns and desire to switch to reserves. Also ask for a copy of the DAR that was submitted to change you to MA.

William gave the best advice, talk to your recruiter and lay it all out on the line for him.

I will just say that it seems a little suspect to me that you mentioned twice in your original post that you are now in a favorable civilian job. It makes me wonder if it is being a Nuke that is giving you fits, or the new job?

I had to do this same thing, except that I was signed up as AECF and was switching to Nuke.

Just meet with your recruiter and keep on them about it and it should get switched. (Note that recruiters like recruiting Nukes so it may take some encouraging them).

I will get in touch with my recruiter this week.

Stec74: I am psyched if I get the transfer to MA, and I would also be pleased if this all fell through and I was let go. It is two different life directions, either one seems great, for completely different reasons.

However, I do feel now that the Reserve would be a much better fit for my life.

I talked to my recruiter today. I was pleasantly surprised with the response. He was very honest and told me the realities of being in DEP.

Without saying too much, you can forgo DEP status at any time without any legal ramifications (this info is already out on the internet). Once you sign the contract (the real, active duty contract) at MEPS the night before you ship and take that oath, thats when everything becomes legal and they assume control over you (rightfully).

I now have a DAR out for MA in the reserve.

Thanks to all those recruiters who are so honest and helpful like mine. You create a counter-point to the otherwise unpopular image of a recruiter.

Glad to hear that you are getting everything figured out.

As far as the reserves go, be careful what you wish for. Most of the people I have put into the reserves over the last few years have come back to us asking to go active duty. The problem is they can't until they have drilled for at least two years.

So if you go reserves, make sure it is what you really want to do. Jobs can come and go, especially in today's economy. If for someone reason you lose your job, will you still be happy with being in the reserves?

I agree the Reserves is not for everyone, and this is coming from a prior active duty. I enjoy the reserves, but it took awhile to get used to the pace and the "boredom" and trivial things done on drill weekends.

The reserves is what you make it, if you are happy sitting in a class room for 2 days and telling sea stories and doing courses then be prepared for that, but if you are a hard charger and ask and volunteer for opportunities doing "collatoral duties" that most likely will be out of your rate but keeps you busy and the weekend flys by then again thats up to the individual.

Like Stec said, most people coming back from A School realize that after 6 months of drilling that they want to go back to active duty.

So its up to the individual to take charge of their own reserve career and make it what they want it to be.

Miles and Stec:
I appreciate your advice, I can tell it is logical and sound.

I did have a question about deployments. Now I understand that deploying is not a matter of IF but WHEN you will be deployed in your 6 years. Now I was wondering if it was common to be deployed multiple times.
The reserve is a better fit for me because I need to start a civilian career. I understand anything is possible but it's unlikely to be deployed over and over again is this correct? (Like, be deployed for three of the 6 years?) I would be MA.

Also, is it correct that the (main) function of the reserves deployed right now is to fill vacancies left by those who are deployed to Middle East. I understand this would not be the case 100% but generally, are reserves deployed stateside or overseas, non-conflict areas?

I just wouldn't want to go reserves (in pursuit of a civilian career), and then be deployed so much I'm basically active duty.

Hello everyone,

I am prior service navy. Went National Guard got a 368 and now waiting on the whole millington thing to come back and just heard about F.T.S. wondered if I could get more info on that ? or if I can get a website for the volunteer list for T.A.R. so if the active duty gets turned down i'll go reserves but want to pick a rating that has the best opportunity to get picked up for it thanks