How Long is Acceptable?

[CaptainRon]

Hey guys. I just got pro rec'd on Monday the 25th for SNA through BDCP. I haven't had a chance to get down to the NRD yet because I've been busy with school and I don't have a car.

Anyway, I told my recruiter I want to take my paperwork home and go over it with my parents before I sign it. To that she responded that she's never had an applicant want to do this before with his parents...which I find hard to believe.

I'm going to sign the documents regardless because there's no way I'll pass up this job. My question is then...what is an acceptable time to wait before getting this finished? I do want to sign it and swear in as soon as possible, but it may take a while to get home and go over it with my parents.

 

[gaetabob]

I can't give you an definite answer, but what I do know is this -
slots fill up fast and opportunities come and go. I don't know your exact situation, but in general, nothing in the Navy is guarenteed until contracts are signed. If you know you're definitely signing, then I'd say to do it while you're in the window. But that's just my personal take...the decision is of course your's...

 

[VetteMuscle427]

I believe you have 90 days after your pro-rec to sign before you have to resubmit. But also remember, the sooner you sign, the sooner you get sworn in, the sooner you get paid!

 

[IRfly]

I believe you have 90 days after your pro-rec to sign before you have to resubmit. But also remember, the sooner you sign, the sooner you get sworn in, the sooner you get paid!

Good point on the pay...But here's the core issue: why?

Really, are you going to try to negotiate with the Navy if you come across a clause that you don't like or didn't expect? I promise you two things: 1) It's either the Navy's way or the highway--there's no lack of interest in flight programs and I find it hard to imagine so special a candidate that they'd amend a BDCP aviation contract for him/her; and 2) There's a 99.99% chance that at some point in your Navy career, something will come up that isn't "what you signed up for." Talk to the fellows who go to flight school, get wings, and then IA to Iraq. It happens.
You're either in or out. You've already indicated that you're going to accept regardless, so you might as well get the paperwork done, start getting paid, and in BDCP you'll have plenty of time to review the paperwork later (and find possible mistakes--in my contract it stipulates six years of active duty following commissioning, rather than winging).
I guess there's also the possibility that you want to show your responsibility and due diligence by "thoroughly reviewing" the documents--hey, it doesn't matter now. There's nothing left to prove to your recruiter. You're in (as soon as you sign the documents and swear the oath, anyway).
One final note--you said you find it hard to believe what the recruiter said about no one else having taken the paperwork to go over it with their parents. If it were an enlisted recruiter signing up 18-year-olds out of high school, I'd be inclined to agree. But not at all with an officer recruiter. When I signed up for BDCP, I ran some things by my dad (a retired chief), but only myself and my wife made the decision. And believe me, when we walked out of the recruiting station into the snow and sleet to the bus stop for the two-hour bus trip home (we didn't have a car either--until BDCP pay kicked in ), I sure had some misgivings about having signed away the next ten years of my life. But remind yourself of what you want to do.

Good luck, man.

 

[Godspeed]

Although I agree with all of the above posts, I feel that I should add this:

It is absolutely critical that you read through your contract. Ask questions, and make sure you understand the whole thing, from beginning to end.

I didn't take my contract home to my parents; I'm a 'big boy' now, and I'd hope you are too at the age of 18+, but I sat in my NRD for about an hour thoroughly reading and making certain I could commit to every line. It is a great opportunity, but make sure you understand and are familiar with all of the expectations and requirements that come along with it.

Misunderstanding a contract this important could lead to a few years of hell; trust me, i've seen it.

With all this being said, I think that taking it home to your parents is a bit extreme, considering you are an adult. However, the day you are supposed to swear in, I strongly encourage you to take a seat at the NRD and make sure you fully understand every line before you put the pen to the paper.

 

[IRfly]

Although I agree with all of the above posts, I feel that I should add this:

It is absolutely critical that you read through your contract. Ask questions, and make sure you understand the whole thing, from beginning to end.

I didn't take my contract home to my parents; I'm a 'big boy' now, and I'd hope you are too at the age of 18+, but I sat in my NRD for about an hour thoroughly reading and making certain I could commit to every line. It is a great opportunity, but make sure you understand and are familiar with all of the expectations and requirements that come along with it.

Misunderstanding a contract this important could lead to a few years of hell; trust me, i've seen it.

With all this being said, I think that taking it home to your parents is a bit extreme, considering you are an adult. However, the day you are supposed to swear in, I strongly encourage you to take a seat at the NRD and make sure you fully understand every line before you put the pen to the paper.

This is, of course, true and critical. But keep in mind--you either sign the contract that they put in front of you or you don't. If there's any middle ground, I'm not aware of it. Maybe one of AW's more knowledgeable recruiters can chime in.

 

[HighDimension]

This is, of course, true and critical. But keep in mind--you either sign the contract that they put in front of you or you don't. If there's any middle ground, I'm not aware of it. Maybe one of AW's more knowledgeable recruiters can chime in.

You still want to read it over before you sign it. I make sure to read any document, even if it doesn't seem important, before I sign it. I don't see why there is a big deal about wanting to read the contract to make sure everything is ship-shape. Cut the guy a break.

 

[ben]

I believe you have 90 days after your pro-rec to sign before you have to resubmit. But also remember, the sooner you sign, the sooner you get sworn in, the sooner you get paid!

This is correct. Also, just be aware that there is a (large) difference between the day you start technically getting paid and the day you have cash money in your hands to spend. It took me roughly three months.

 

[IRfly]

You still want to read it over before you sign it. I make sure to read any document, even if it doesn't seem important, before I sign it. I don't see why there is a big deal about wanting to read the contract to make sure everything is ship-shape. Cut the guy a break.

I didn't mean to sound like I was getting on his case. I just wanted him to understand the options that he's looking at when he gets to that point. My recruiters, for instance, failed to mention to me that the NFO contract incurs an obligation of six years beyond winging, meaning a total of around eight years on active duty--twice as much as I had expected--until my package had already been sent in. I think it was an honest mistake (I was in a hurry to get the package in and that small detail could have been easily overlooked), but it was still a shock to me when I found out through an ROTC website. But even after I had confirmed the length of the commitment with my recruiter, I still was in a take-it-or-leave-it position.

I've heard of enlisted contracts (mostly regarding the Army) where potential recruits can negotiate certain things (such as the size of a signing bonus or the opportunity to be in a particular specialty) with their recruiter. In that case I would certainly go through the contract with a fine-toothed comb to make sure that everything that I had promised was in there. CaptainRon, I just wanted to make sure that you're not under the impression that this is a similar type deal.

 

[Gatordev]

I didn't mean to sound like I was getting on his case. I just wanted him to understand the options that he's looking at when he gets to that point. My recruiters, for instance, failed to mention to me that the NFO contract incurs an obligation of six years beyond winging, meaning a total of around eight years on active duty--twice as much as I had expected--until my package had already been sent in. I think it was an honest mistake (I was in a hurry to get the package in and that small detail could have been easily overlooked), but it was still a shock to me when I found out through an ROTC website. But even after I had confirmed the length of the commitment with my recruiter, I still was in a take-it-or-leave-it position.

Both posts, the take it and leave and the "fine-toothed comb" ones, are good gouge. Making sure you knowing what to sign isn't just for contracts too. Even if it's a pain in the ass QA routing form, always check to see what else might be w/ it. You never know if there's a special request or leave chit slipped underneath.

 

[CaptainRon]

I had a misunderstanding with my recruiter. I thought she wanted me to come and sign the contract. I assumed the contract was valid unless I got canned on the final select.

It turns out she only wanted me to sign some stuff like my anthropomorphic measurements and the release of my social security number and the EPSQ. Whoops! That's why she was confused that I wanted to show my parents the paperwork.

So it sounds like I won't get a look at a contract until I get final select (hopefully).

 

[wink]

I had a misunderstanding with my recruiter. I thought she wanted me to come and sign the contract. I assumed the contract was valid unless I got canned on the final select.

It turns out she only wanted me to sign some stuff like my anthropomorphic measurements and the release of my social security number and the EPSQ. Whoops! That's why she was confused that I wanted to show my parents the paperwork.

So it sounds like I won't get a look at a contract until I get final select (hopefully).

So if you want to spend time going over the contract with your parents, lawyer and bar tender, get a blank copy of it now. Your recruiter should give you the contract and you can look at it while you are waiting for the final select. Good luck.

 

[Fly Navy]

7 inches. Wait, what were we talking about?

 

[HAL Pilot]

7 inches. Wait, what were we talking about?

Folded in half....

 

[zippy]

I do want to sign it and swear in as soon as possible, but it may take a while to get home and go over it with my parents.

When you do get the contract... scan+email or fax it to them so they can review it with you over the phone...