The Female thing sank my ship

[AlphaFemaleActionFigure]

Just got back from MEPS and my worst fear was confirmed: SOMEBODY up the chain in USN recruiting is NOT letting females into the HM rating (both reserve and active sides). I tried to play the "it's HM or nothing" card, but EVERY recruiter there was like "oh well can't do nothing for you then". In the end, I decided that this beingfemale BS was not going to keep me out of the Navy Reserves. I signed up for MA and hopefully will cross-rate later on when things open up again, when WHOEVER it is in chargethat decides this ridiculousness has gone on long enough, that when you have mature, dedicatedcollege graduates (3.81 GPA)who score 98 on the ASVAB, canmarch the miles and pump out the pushups with the rest of the boys,and want nothing more than to help heal our soldiers and sailors THEN they will look past our friggingtits and allows us to serve where we can serve best.

(Caveat: I know it is the "needs of the Navy" that rule, and that there must be somelogic or aim behind it, but it just feels shitty)

[wsaphrodite]

Hi, I don't want to make the situation worse for you but I thought you should know that I talked to a recruiter TODAY in Oklahoma who said they could get me in the HM but wasn't sure about the FMF. I am going reserve just like you. With your Asvab score (which rocks by the way) I think they just wanted to get you into something that THEY wanted you to be in. The word given to me is that you aren't liable for it until you get on the plane and go to Great Lakes. That was given to me by ex-recruiter. Ask the Chief!

[AlphaFemaleActionFigure]

Thanks for the intel.

[puckmedic]

Any lawyers here want to explain to me why a female (job applicant)is being denied a certain rate (job) based on gender? The way I read the law, no person shall be denied housing or work based on age, gender, or other variables.



Time for an answer from some one as to why this is happening. Is the US armed forces above the law? Is there a specific section of the US codes which allow the military to temporarily block access to rates based on gender?

[Poolzer]

Dont need a lawyer..it works like this: Its the military so what is said, goes. And yes, the military CAN block gender for certain rates, because females dont rate everything due to strengths and capabilities of units and ships. HM's are versitile yes, but if the EDVR for female billets is full, then there you go, its as simple as that.

Right now we dont need females, so the inprocessing is locked. It opens as the needs open and closes when it doesnt.

I dont suggest going MA though, they're a high priority rate, so crossing over will be hard. You need to find a rate that is pretty high populated, so when the time is right, you can cross rate w/o an issue of that rate losing critical manpower

[AlphaFemaleActionFigure]

Thanks for letting me know about the MA thing, I will look at other ratings.

[doc_rueda]

Ever think about putting in for an officer program? I'm sure you'll do real good going there.

[AlphaFemaleActionFigure]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I was told bya recruiter (not the same one Ihave been working with lately)that my chances weren't very good for getting into Officer school...it is highly competitive, and my BA is in a rather useless subject (Anthropology). He explained that successful candidates were either folks with Master's degrees, and/or in a useful profession already (dentists, docs, etc), and/or havesomekind of high-speedtraining. None of the above being me. :(

[Da-Chief]

WHOA.. Who did you talk to??

Was it a enlisted recruiter about Officer stuff?? If so Your getting fed "CRAP" so he can keep you enlisted..

Ask for the Officer Recruiter who btw is a OFFICER...

http://www.navy.com/careers/officer/

Just helping ya out.. let me know..

Da-Chief

[RedHeadedDOC]

Hey There....

Listen, when I came in I was pretty lucky, but I know that they sometimes do close this rate off. It sucks... I know that I was up for orders, they kept telling me that since I am a woman I couldn't get ANYTHING I freaking wanted. No FMSS, they had no space for women, no ships b/c WAS, Womean at Sea SUCKS... and they had NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FEMALE Rack space. Just the role of the dice, however, now I'm headed to Great Lakes to the Corps School House. If you need any advice let me know.... :) Sorry, there is nothing that WE can do... I'd check another recruiting station... :) Sometimes it varies by who you talk to.



HM3

[Da-Chief]

Your coming up to us Redhead?

When are you do to report?
Let me know if you need a welcome aboard package, I will fire one out to you.

Da-Chief

[RedHeadedDOC]

I am on my way. YAY. I'm really excited.

I don't know if my welcome aboard package is on the way or not? I'm gonna call great lakes today. :P