Active First Program shut down and my son is at MEPS?

Question

I talked to my son this evening (he is in OKC for MEPS) and he told me that his recruiter (that my husband and myself just met with last week on Thursday) when he picked him up today (Tuesday) just found out last Friday that the Active First Program was shut down. This is the program he was interested in and wanted to do. Also the Sgt. could not give him a reason why. Well my son is only 17 and when we met with the recruiter everything was fine he picked a job that he liked and was happy with it all...plus the bonuses weren't bad either. Now basically he would be signing up with the National Guard as a weekend warrior, why didn't this Sgt. call me and tell me this, I also spoke with him before picking up my son and he had every oppturnity to tell me when I was on the phone with him but he didn't. After talking to the Sgt. myself tonight and giving him a piece of my mind, He told me that he would try to push for my son to get into the program. I called my son back and told him not to sign anything. What I am asking is can he just walk away if this wasn't what we talked about in the first place. I am so angry and pissed that I wasn't contacted earlier. Who can I call to turn this Sgt. in for doing this. Like I said my son is on 17yrs old and I feel he pretty much told my son what he wanted to hear. So what now?

Answer 1

If he is at the MEPS station and hasn't signed his final contract for enlistment he can walk away.  Nothing is ever what is promised with the military unless it is in writing on the enlistment contract.  You also have the option to go over the Sgt's head by talking to his chain of command at his recruiting office, there is always someone higher ranking than a SGT their.  Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Madame, the unfortunate thing is that he was doing his job, like any other salesman the world over. The recruiter has a quota to meet, and his goal is to get the contract signed, not worry about your feelings. His job was to get the parental release so that your son could speak to himself. As soon as you signed that, you and your husband were out of the picture. Basically, he used the bait and switch routine, he told your son what he wanted to hear, refer to top for his reasons. Until/Unless your son signed anything, there is nothing to report him for. Unless you had something, in writing, signed by the recruiter, and then he delivered something else, there is nothing to report him for.

Answer 3

Depends, did your son take the oath of enlistment ?

The national guard is different than the active military,

In the active military, you are not actually enlisted, until you take the oath a second time, right before leaving for basic.

But in the National Guard, you are actually enlisted in the Guard, after the first oath.

Why would the recruiter call you ?

You were not enlisting, your son was.

After you signed the papers giving your permission,

You basicly said, my son is a man

And the recruiter has no obligation to keep mommy informed.

As long as he told your son, thats all he was supposed to do.

Answer 4

your boy shouldn't be joining the military if his mommy is still fighting his battles.

Answer 5

The National Guard does not have DEP. When you sign on the dotted line in the National Guard, you immediately become a member of your National Guard Unit. Some units even allow you to drill and receive pay before you've even attended basic training, so no, unlike the loophole in the AD DEP, he is "in" after that 1st Oath... as for not calling you, well, once you signed the papers authorizing him to enlist, he is viewed as the decision maker... you gave him that Right, by agreeing. He has to make his own mind at this point. Sorry, but, even if he had waited a few months, at 18 it would all be moot.

Enlisting is about Service, not just benefits, those that recognize that usually have fewer disappointments in their initial entry.

Please pass on to your Son, "Thank you, for your Decision to Serve your Country"

Answer 6

He can walk away. The reason for the short notice has to do with the calendar. It's now August. By the time he got out of basic it would be October.  Fiscal Year 2009 starts on October 1st. So, it's possible that funding for the program ends on September 30th and it's not the recruiter's fault.

A review of the activation and mobilization figures for the National Guard and Army Reserves show a slight drop in the numbers over the past few weeks. So, the manpower requirements to be met by the National Guard for Operations Iraqi Freedom (Iraq), Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Noble Eagle (defense of the homeland) are going down. As more Iraqi and Afghan units form up, go through training and take over the security functions in their own countries, there will be less need for Guard units to be the trainers.  

Answer 7

once you signed the permission slip, it was out of your hands.  this is your SON'S enlistment not yours and the recruiter is not only not obligated to tell you squat he is not ALLOWED to.  

you have no right to have any information about the enlistment.  this is your son's decision..he can forget it altogether, he can go straight to the Guard or he can try and go active duty for a full contract.  you have ZERO say in the matter legally and the militrary has no obligation to you whatsoever.  

Answer 8

Yes "tell" above me is correct, your son did not sign a legally binding contract because he did not take his second oath at meps nore ship out to basic training, hence he will not be subject to any form of discharge if he wills to get out now.