Recruiter Questions

[Deep C]

In each parents life certain things pop in that set off alarms. My world is no different. No we're not talking drugs or sex or drinking. We're talking about the armed forces comming into a class and trying to recruit kids.
Mini Deep as many may know is a pretty gifted kid. National Honor Society, numerous acedemic awards, basically a very bright future. Today she came home excited about a Navy recruiters presentation.
"Oh shit..." crossed my mind. I'm not against her serving her country if thats what SHE chooses. I however was taken back at some of the promises that were made by this recruiter. One of those "If it seems too good to be true... it probably is" things. It set off alarms but before going off and dismissing it as bullshit I thought I would throw some of my questions out there incase somebody knows the answers.
I guess the beginning is a good place to start. Stated by the recruiter: "We will pay your freshman year tuition, lodging, books, meals and provide $250 per month spending cash..." I have heard similar but now the "catch" that I can't be sure of.... He claimed that at the end of that year of basically free ride the student can simply opt out and walk away????
Next he said that students that chose to continue would enter into an eight year contract with the Navy. Three of which would be spent completing school and five years active duty. Ok, thats sounds practical. He went on to say that because the students in this program would be college educated they would automatically be placed in Officer training and begin as officers. Ok, I kind of see that as possible. He then stated that starting officer pay is $70,000 a year plus housing and other military benefits?... That's where I balk a bit... Seems awfully high as starting or even up the line?
Maybe he's right but I can't be sure. Maybe somebody can fill in some of the blanks here?

[clt_capt]

Tell her to hold out for a full ride to Annapolis...

[CaptRandy]

Start salary for a USN Ensign is nowhere near 70K, look it up. As for walk away I want that signed by Secy Gates.

[Deep C]

Those that "opt" to stay after freshman year... Get full free ride anywhere they go.

We already prepaid her college to any state school. FSU and Florida are both top shelf and her target schools any way. Some states even have reciprocal if she wanted to go elsewhere. Her pitch to me was that we could get our money back and she'd have spending cash. Hell, she's getting spending cash from other scholarships and what they would pay us back from the prepaid program wouldn't be worth it...

[Deep C]

Start salary for a USN Ensign is nowhere near 70K, look it up. As for walk away I want that signed by Secy Gates.

See... Those were my sticking points and are what threw the flags...

[Big Jay]

Very simple:

A recruiter is a recruiter for a reason.

You don't go into the military for pay.

You go into the military because you'd be proud to.

Tell her that.

[Deep C]

Thats the angle I took so far... I wanted her to have a chance to think out before unloading some reality checks on her.

I think of "Priavte Benjamin" when the recruiter was showing her the "mediteranean villas" she would be living in...

[marine4003]

All in all, its a good deal if she wants to pursue careers that otherwise are dam expensive,Nuclear energy for one, but its a long commitment ,with no chance of saying "i'm done" if you have the right recruiter you can go far..BUT, make sure all the "promises are in writing, The Armed Forces are hurting for smart ,driven ,motivated people and have finally figured out the only way to attract the ones who are partially patriotic is with money.

[Big Jay]

Thats the angle I took so far... I wanted her to have a chance to think out before unloading some reality checks on her.

I think of "Priavte Benjamin" when the recruiter was showing her the "mediteranean villas" she would be living in...

Knowing what I know now...I would have gone into the military at her age. It teaches you a ton about life. I have a buddy who's over there now and when he comes back will basically be ready for anything. It completely changes your perspective. There's people that would do well in the military...and those who would not do well.

If my current endeavors fall through I may end up a 27 yr old PFC.

My recruiter tried to sell me like no other on going OCS.

"You have a degree though. O-1 pay grade is much higher than E-1" etc.

I am not interested in sitting at another desk for 4 years. If i do it..it's for the right reasons.

[bobdu11]

I think kids coming out of high school should do at least a 2 year hitch in the military. It teaches them discipline, responsibility, morals, not to mention life education as well as scholarly education.
I'm not a recruiter, did 22 years in the Navy and dam glad I made that choice, retired to another job at 38 with a life time pension, Full familiy medical and dental for 425 a year as well as SGLI for 250K.
and I was edumacated enough to make enough money in the civilian world to buy me a nice 28' Center console southport.

Deep, there are programs that are available that are similar to what the recruiter told your daughter, although there are some very stringent requirements to qualify for those programs, not sure what they are but they are not just "given" to any new recruit.

and there is no starting pay in any branch of the military that pays 70K base pay plus housing and perdium, that's just plain BS there.

It definately not a career opportunity that I would just throw out the window though. Lots of very smart kids, college educated with Great GPA's that are working for slightly more than minimum wage right now as entry level positions in the fast food industry...if you know what I mean....

Good luck and have her do some research and give you some answers....don't just shuck it !...my thoughts...Bob