Determination can achieve amazing results.
Good Luck.
Introduction
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- Ranger
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- Joined: April 20th, 2007, 6:33 am
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- Tadpole
- Posts: 385
- Joined: July 8th, 2007, 1:55 pm
SITREP
Rangers and Veterans,
I signed an 11x Option 40 contract this afternoon. My shipdate is midsummer of next year. When I reported to MEPS this morning, the Army liaison told me I could not get Airborne with a medical waiver. He tried to convince me to sign a regular 11x contract. After politely telling him I would sign nothing but an Option 40, he told me to leave or go sit down while he looked into my situation.
I prodded him all afternoon, and he finally called me into his office with my contract worked up and ready to sign. I was able to swear in with the last group of the day.
The scariest part of the process was when I was signing the enlistment papers. The Army liaison said I would report to a Ranger Battalion directly after Airborne and about a year later go to Ranger School/RIP (he said there was NO difference between the two...). He said Ranger School/RIP was 4 months and had 4 phases (Benning, Desert, Swamp, Artic). On top of all this, he said there are Ranger Battalions in Kentucky, California, and Massachusetts... Oh, plus he told me I might be assigned the old 11m MOS after OSUT... This guidance counselor's information was very expired (and fictional...)
I couldn't believe this guy was writing me an Option 40 contract. Needlessly to say I reviewed it MANY times to verify it's contents.
To potential DEPpers- Do not let anything get in the way of signing the contract you want. Several doctors and MEPS personnel told me I would never be able to join the military due to my medical situation (let alone potentially serving in a Ranger Battalion). However, I sorted it out and signed an Option 40. You can too.
Thank you Rangers and Veterans,
Caleb
I signed an 11x Option 40 contract this afternoon. My shipdate is midsummer of next year. When I reported to MEPS this morning, the Army liaison told me I could not get Airborne with a medical waiver. He tried to convince me to sign a regular 11x contract. After politely telling him I would sign nothing but an Option 40, he told me to leave or go sit down while he looked into my situation.
I prodded him all afternoon, and he finally called me into his office with my contract worked up and ready to sign. I was able to swear in with the last group of the day.
The scariest part of the process was when I was signing the enlistment papers. The Army liaison said I would report to a Ranger Battalion directly after Airborne and about a year later go to Ranger School/RIP (he said there was NO difference between the two...). He said Ranger School/RIP was 4 months and had 4 phases (Benning, Desert, Swamp, Artic). On top of all this, he said there are Ranger Battalions in Kentucky, California, and Massachusetts... Oh, plus he told me I might be assigned the old 11m MOS after OSUT... This guidance counselor's information was very expired (and fictional...)
I couldn't believe this guy was writing me an Option 40 contract. Needlessly to say I reviewed it MANY times to verify it's contents.
To potential DEPpers- Do not let anything get in the way of signing the contract you want. Several doctors and MEPS personnel told me I would never be able to join the military due to my medical situation (let alone potentially serving in a Ranger Battalion). However, I sorted it out and signed an Option 40. You can too.
Thank you Rangers and Veterans,
Caleb
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Glenn, MSG Ret.
- US Army Veteran - Ranger Parent
- Posts: 441
- Joined: October 29th, 2004, 2:46 am
Caleb,
The highest priority for the counselors is to fill slots in MOSs that the Army is in short supply of regardless of the wants/desires of the recruit. my son had signed an original contract for Cav Scout as there were no Infantry slots available. Having just retired I still knew some people & called the recruiter's 1SG. He sent the recruiter to our house with withdrawal papers. A bit better than a month later Infantry slots opened up & he also got a $10,000 bonus! His recruiter never went to bat for him as he was Cav himself & didn't think anything was wrong as "Cav Scouts were just like Infantry". The damn recruiter didn't give him credit for the DEP classes & PT test he took so he had to go in as an E 1 instead of the E 2 he qualified for. My son got lucky & was able to volunteer for AB School & RIP in OSUT. By the way he would have still been a DEP after he went to Inf. OSUT instead of going Cavalry. The original Cav. DEP wait was 2 months later.
Good luck.
Glenn.
The highest priority for the counselors is to fill slots in MOSs that the Army is in short supply of regardless of the wants/desires of the recruit. my son had signed an original contract for Cav Scout as there were no Infantry slots available. Having just retired I still knew some people & called the recruiter's 1SG. He sent the recruiter to our house with withdrawal papers. A bit better than a month later Infantry slots opened up & he also got a $10,000 bonus! His recruiter never went to bat for him as he was Cav himself & didn't think anything was wrong as "Cav Scouts were just like Infantry". The damn recruiter didn't give him credit for the DEP classes & PT test he took so he had to go in as an E 1 instead of the E 2 he qualified for. My son got lucky & was able to volunteer for AB School & RIP in OSUT. By the way he would have still been a DEP after he went to Inf. OSUT instead of going Cavalry. The original Cav. DEP wait was 2 months later.
Good luck.
Glenn.
Former 2nd squad 3rd platoon A Co. 3/75 Dad
USNavy 1960-1966
USArmy 1980-2001
Retired MSG
USNavy 1960-1966
USArmy 1980-2001
Retired MSG