Help! My recruiter is an idiot...

[Land_Locked_Diver]

First off, let me introduce myself: I am 18, and am planning to leave for bootcamp around the end of May of '07. I would like to be an FMF Corpsman (I was getting a SEAL Challenge Contract, but my recruiter is a moron and told me midway through that NSW doesn't offer it anymore), but my recruiter just gives me general answers to my questions regarding the normal process of becoming a corspman. I was hoping that someone here could help me out.

Just to be clear, I have signed nothing.

Questions:

1)What should I push for in constructing my contract? Is there anything special I need to ask for or do at MEPS?

2)I would like to put together a BUD/S packet after about two years of service; is it that hard to do as a corpsman?

3)I have a two year college degree. Does that have any bearing in regards to my initial pay grade or anything of that nature?

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[puckmedic]

Well first let me thank you for wanting to be an HM. I'm going to try and answer these questions for you. Keep in mind that I am not a recruiter nor was I ever. Also, I was never a career counselor so with that being said, these are only my beliefs.



First let's talk money. An associate degree? it should push you to E3 upon completion of recruit training. Note to others: If this changed, let us know.

As an HM, you will always be in demand for the teams and also Force recon (Marine side). Both are what they used to call shooter and looter billets, but you'll hear them called "Operators" now. Both are high intensity, similar missions and similar training.

So no need to worry about that, far as I can see.Boot camp I think they come along and ask for volunteers still. They did when I went through in 1985.

Now your contract issues, if you want it and the recruiter says he'll do it, make sure it's in writing. I would make sure there is a gauranteed "A" school assigned for Hospital Corpsman.

I would also certainly check on the NSW proceedures with other sources. Recruiters sometimes get tons of emails and memos etc and that info may be wrong now.

Like I said, this is based on what I believe to be the way things work.

[Da-Chief]

Hey potato man.. (Land Locked Diver..) (from Idaho)

anyways.. clarify something for me.. are you talking the NCS program or NPSB, FTS, TAR what??
As far as I know there is no program called NSW... Don't sign a thing until you get ahold of me.. If they are trying to get you to sign a "NCS" contract and you want to dive etc.. Don't sign it, you aren't eligible for squat as NCS and can only do 15 months of active duty after school, then they boot you to the reserves. If you are planning to be active longer.. this is not the program for you.



Da-Chief.

[puckmedic]

I think he's talking about the spec war guys (NSW) not a particulr program.

IDAHO- da-chief here is at the HM school. He's closer to the programs and more knowledgable in this area. I hope I helped some, but Chieg Crone, from my short time being here on this board, has shown to be pretty knowledgable.

I'm beginning to think I would ahve loved to have a chief like him around bback in the day. Pick his brain for everything you can get!

[Land_Locked_Diver]

Sorry for being unclear, I referred to NSW not as a program, just as a section of the Navy. Currently, I'm trying to speak with the Navy recruiter in the next town (Coeur 'D Alene), just because I'm fed up with the lack of information my current recruiter seems to have.

da-Chief, would you mind if I message you and ask you some more in depth questions?