Sitrep - JPhawk

[JPHawk]

I had my first visit with my recruiter yesterday. After convincing him that I wasn't my brother (who he helped with putting together an OCS packet last year), but rather his twin, we got down to business.

I explained my choice of 11x Option 40 and right off the bat he tried to sell me on both, signing 11x and getting a slot at Benning, and also taking an 18x. -"It has all the high speed stuff you'll ever want." I was glad when he didn't push me on those two after I declined.

I stated that I want 11x Option 40 and would not sign a contract other than that. The one hurtle he saw was my desired ship date. I am the best man at my brother's wedding in Nov. and will not be absent for it. So he said a January 2012 ship date is more likely. That being said, it will be a waiting game until a slot opens up for fiscal year 2012 with a Jan. ship date. I am planning on taking the ASVAB and the Airborne physical in a couple weeks. (I would rather get them out of the way sooner than later.) After that, we'll see if the counselor at MEPS can find a needle in a haystack. Who knows?Maybe I can set a record for longest DEP period.

I will hopefully add more when I have something more substantial. Thank you Rangers for your time.

[Steadfast]

You won't be a DEP until you have a signed opt 40 contract in your hand with a date after your brother's wedding.

But all this time allows you to max out the P.T. necessary for you to get your dream. It will require much imput from you day in & day out. And you need to stay out of trouble & don't drink & drive.

[JPHawk]

Rangers,

I finally nailed down a date to go to MEPS. I take the ASVAB Wednesday and the physical Thursday. We had to postpone my first visit because my surgical records for a pilonidal cyst removal freshman year in college needed to be sent for review.

Now that has been done and on to the next step. I asked my recruiter about the recent email regarding a hold on contracts for certain MOS's. Supposedly this will not be an issue because my potential ship is after the FY end (we'll see what MEPS has to say) I will update with results from my visit. Thank you again Rangers for all the helpful advice available here.

[goon175]

Tread carefully.....

[JPHawk]

Roger that Ranger goon175. I will stick to my guns. I refuse to be put through the MEPS wringer! If they can't give me what I want at this time I will tell them to call me when they can. Time leaves me nothing to do but PT.

[JPHawk]

Rangers,

Today I finished with the two day journey to MEPS. Yesterday I took the asvab. I scored well with a AFQT of 96 and a GT score of 131. I was pleased with my results.

We started bright and early this morning and I was out of the Boston MEPS at 3pm. I was a go at every station with 1's across the board.

I had two concerns going into today, one being my allergy to penicillin/amoxicillin and the other being an operation I had in 2004 to have a pilonidal cyst removed. Neither concern turned out to be an issue. I'm glad I didn't take my recruiters advice and elect not to disclose it unless asked about the scar. I had the med docs in hand and it was not disqualifying.


Two things I did observe:

1) The majority of kids (and I say kids because I was definitely the oldest at 25 while most being teenagers), had no idea what they wanted to do in their branch of service. (I saw one guy who went from selecting IT specialist MOS to selecting infantry mortar for ARNG) I guess I just assumed most were like me and knew what they wanted.

2.) Many were just looking to get out of the town/city they're in. Don't get me wrong I have respect for any person joining the military in a time of war. But to me that reason just seems a little off.

I consider myself lucky to be one of the ones with so much knowledge and advice at my disposal. Thank you for your time and all the words of wisdom.

-jeff

[goon175]

so.... don't really care about any of that.... did you sign a contract? if so, what for?

[JPHawk]

Ranger goon175,

I did not sign today. I didn't even meet with the councilors. The reason being when I checked in at the liason office this morning my name was not listed to even take a physical today. This may have been related to the problem I ran into last night when I wasn't listed for an overnight in the hotel (recruiter error?) So they just signed me up for a full physical today and no meeting with the councilor. I will now have to schedule another visit to see if there are any 11x option 40's popping up and with the ship date I want.

[goon175]

My advice: If an 11x opt. 40 pops up (good luck), take it. They don't just type in ship dates, the contract comes with a ship date attached.

[JPHawk]

Rangers,

Just a quick update. I had to visit MEPS again today to redraw blood. Apparently a whole batch of samples was damaged in shipping.

I had my recruiter call the ROC yesterday to see if they had any 11x opt 40 contracts out there with post-November ship dates. No luck. They said that was too far in advance and to check back June/July. So I will continue to PT, monitor this forum for ship dates and keep my recruiter on top of it.

[JPHawk]

Another update:

After noticing a couple guys here receiving option 40's with ship dates in Nov. I took the liberty to have my recruiter call the ROC this morning. All they could offer me was 18x which I declined.

My recruiter did tell me I have to be there whenever he calls them. So I'll be meeting him at his office as much as I'm able until I have a contract in hand.

[JPHawk]

After reserving an 11x opt. 40 last Friday with my recruiter, I am happy to say I signed my contract this morning. I ship to Fort Benning on 20120103.

I want to thank all the Rangers here for the advice and guidance I've received. I fully plan on utilizing the mentor program as I prepare mentally and physically in the coming months.

[goon175]

Congrats!

[CharlieRanger1FFV]

Congrats.


RLTW!!!

[JPHawk]

Thank you Rangers goon175 and CharlieRanger1FFV