Am I legally allowed to cancel / edit my enlistment obligation?

Question

First of all I am in the Delayed Entry Program for the Navy (ship date in March)
After I signed my DD form and Enlistment guarantee form I have a few discrepancies (stupid me), which my recruiter said he would fix..
My enlistment guarantee sheet says I am in a Job Family (option 1) NOT a specific job. It says I am obligated for 8 years, 4 being active, 4 'reserve'.
1.) As of now can I change my job as 'verbally' promised?
2.) Does 4yrs reserve mean active reserve or inactive?
3.) Am I LEGALLY (no penalties) allowed to cancel this whole deal?
4.) I am trying to change my mos (option 1) to a different area, is that still possible (as I was told can be) ?

Answer 1

Okay! I did the whole Navy DEP program, and I can explain this to you. You are NOT obligated to serve until they day you ship out and you raise your hand infront of God and Country and get sworn in (The swear in you did was just to be sworn into the DEP program.)

The four years reserve is inactive reserves. It just means you're required to come back if they tell you to, which they probably won't. You won't drill, or do anything an active reservist would do.

You can drop the whole thing now, the recruiter will hound you about this, but it's still your life. They day you ship out to boot camp, it stops being your life though.

You should tell your recruiter that you want to pick a specific rating. That was a bad move on your part, always research and choose a specific rating, or you'll end up with the crappiest one available.. But, you'll get a second chance to choose your rating in Week 3 of boot camp, you're not completely locked into it yet.

You should think long and hard before you drop out of hte program though, because once you do your recruiter isn't going to waste his time on you again if you change your mind. And you'll probably come to regret the decision.

Answer 2

1.) As of now can I change my job as 'verbally' promised?
With that gouping you will be classified and given a specific school guarentee based on your asvab score, what's availible and your preferances in basic training.

2.) Does 4yrs reserve mean active reserve or inactive?
4 years I.R.R. Inactive Reday Reserve. No obligation for drilling, just keep a current adress. You could choose later on to affiate with and drill with a reseve unit if you wanted to,

3.) Am I LEGALLY (no penalties) allowed to cancel this whole deal?
NO! You can't back out of your obligation. It's airtight. The armmed forces is an ALL Volunter Force. We won't force you to go, but if you refuse to ship RTS, you will be penalised.

4.) I am trying to change my mos (option 1) to a different area, is that still possible (as I was told can be) ?

In the Navy you don't have an "MOS" You have a RATE (Your job specility). As I said before you will be classified in basic training to a specific Rate based on the needs of the Navy, your asvab score and your preferance.

Answer 3

Hey chicken little you are not obligated until the day you acutly ship and take the 2nd oath so yea you back out, Now about job look the navy has really changed since I ret in 2000 so I not real sure abot what program they have offered you. Ask your recruiter about changing your job but keep this in mind it may affect your ship date now about your 4yrs of reserve time that is all inactive so you will not get paid nor will will be required to attend monthly drill sessions, Look dude seriously you really need to asking your recuriter all of this be a pest. I know I was recruiter back in the early 90,s and I would people like yourself always asking questions about the jobs and if they could change so YES its possible to change.

Answer 4

yes and no.

You can request to change ratings. No guarantees, though.. one, you can only be in DEP 12 months. 2, you have to qualify in all aspects for the rating you want, and three, a slot has to open up for thatrating. If you are currently slated for an undermanned rating, you will NOT be allowed to change unless it is into another undermanned rating. is it AECF or the aviation Equivalent? that does guarantee you an A school, but your final Rating/C school will not be determined until you are mostly through A school. as AECF, for instance, you could end up an FC or an ET. No real way fo guaranteeing one over the other.

how long your AD time is is based on the rating. any time after that can be either IRR or Regular Reserves, typically it is your choice.

You can cancel any time up to the date you are supposed to ship to Great lakes with no penalties. HOWEVER: if you ever consider going back in, it will be much harder, and will require a waiver, which does not have to be granted.

Another thing to consider: going in Undesignated can be the best thing that ever happened to you( or the worse, depends on how you choose to deal with the opportuinities presented).

Answer 5

1.) As of now can I change my job as 'verbally' promised?

No, cause words mean nothing

2.) Does 4yrs reserve mean active reserve or inactive?

Active

3.) Am I LEGALLY (no penalties) allowed to cancel this whole deal?

Yes/No - yes, They might tell you that you can go to jail, but you won't. No, because if the navy really wanted you would go to jail.

4.) I am trying to change my mos (option 1) to a different area, is that still possible (as I was told can be) ?

Yes, make sure you get it on paper. Verbals mean NOTHING!

Answer 6

To the best of my knowledge:

1. I dont know, if you tell them you are backingout it may help.

2. Yes that is it exactly, 4 active, 4 inactive.

3. You can cancel it. The only drawback may be the Navy won't let you in.

4. Again, if you tell them you are quitting, you
may be able to change to another field.
Some of the better skills require more than a 4 year enlistment.

Answer 7

I can only answer the second question. For 4 years you will drill a weekend a month and two weeks during the summer. However, if the unit to which you're assigned isn't very active, it could be less. If they have a VIP visit, you could be required to show up at some other time than your scheduled drill dates to stand inspection.

As far as the other, I'd try to work it out with your recruiter. Any advice you get here, unless it's from a JAG lawyer or a recruiter, is probably not worth much. Otherwise, the information is probably dated. Even if it's from somebody who recently had the exact same experience, I'd almost bet that it's on a case by case basis.

If you're afraid to talk with your recruiter, you might contact recruiters in other offices and find out what they think... it might not work--I mean, they not be inclined to help, but you would at least be talking to those who know. But I wouldn't ask about canceling. Try to get the package you want... But figure out what it is you want... and what questions to ask... BEFORE you commit.

But there are lessons to be learned... Don't do anything on the spur of the moment--don't buy on impulse... Don't commit to anything until you're sure--most decisions dealing with the distant future can be made tomorrow after you've had time to think about it; if somebody's trying to get you to make a decision now, beware... and when you make a decision, stick with your decision.

Answer 8

Ok, first off those of us Navy do not have an MOS. We have JOBS!

Ok, what you need to have your recruiter do is fill out a DAR, DEP action request. Thats the form to get you into the Job (Rate) that you want. If you cant get that rate, then your going to ATTRITE. Yep, you can get out of the whole deal by simply writing a letter to the CO of whatever district you enlisted in. Give them your name, the date you DEP'd in, your ship date, the station that you were recruited out of, and the recruiters name. Let them know why you want a DEP discharge, and your done. The district then has 30 days I believe to discharge you. Or, you could always wait untill the day your supposed to ship out to basic, then call your recruiter and tell them your not going because the recruiter failed to get you the rate you wanted. It sucks to be the recruiter when this happenes, but its your future your looking out for, not theirs.

Answer 9

You havent shipped out on orders yet, just back out of the whole thing and go to a different recruiter. 4 years reserve is inactive

Answer 10

Not sure if you can change your MOS , but the 4 years of reserve duty is inactive unless you choose to do active or the military calls you back.