Yo, MY navy recruiter wants me to go undes seaman?

what;s your thoughts about this rate? he said, I basically be doing a little bit of everything in the navy.
How does the promotion works in the USN? how hard is the test get promoted?

CG-23 Sailor2012-08-31T19:58:34Z

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Undesignated seaman is a ripoff the recruiter will try to sucker you into when you cannot make up your mind as to what rating you want.

Basically, you are undecided and he does not want to lose out on his recruiting quota by losing you.

He'll tell you the undesignated program will get you into the fleet where you will be assigned to various areas and experience a little bit of everything. That you can then see the ratings themselves and decide whats for you then "strike" for that particular rating.

What he does NOT tell you is that unless you want to wind up a BM (Boatswain's Mate), stay the hell away from undesignated because that's what you will be. All undesignated go to deck division and a BM is all they will ever be. Not that a BM is a bad thing. they are very essential to the operation of the ship, But it's not for everyone. they are basically the grunts of the ship, doing all the chipping paint and repainting the ship, doing the line handling and all the operations involving lowing small baots and flight quarters, standing lookout watches and the helm (steering the boat).

Now it IS possible for you to strike to another rate, The recruiter isn't entirely lying to you. What he fails to tell you is that you ahve to do that on your own time. and often those in the rate you want to strike are too busy with their own jobs to assist you much. your days will be filled with BM's work and the very little spare time you have to call your own is all the time you got trying to strike.

Hold out for a rating you want. Give it time. Study the ratings that interest you and ask specific questions about the specific ratings (perhaps even on here). But do NOT "settle" for undesignated, it is a sucker's move.

?2012-09-01T03:05:55Z

I'm going undesignated myself, assuming my rating is not available when I go to MEPS. I can't wait it out if it's not open because the Navy frowns on that especially during these times of downsizing. However, if you have low ASVAB scores, then going undesignated won't be much fun because you won't be able to strike for much.

If your scores were low, then you should retake it. If you're joining because you don't know what else to do, then I don't think that's a good reason either. Undesignated is only good because it gives you a chance to test into a rating that you already know you want assuming you qualified for it on the ASVAB.

dan h2012-09-01T01:55:55Z

As undesignated you end up doing the jobs no one else wants. Hold out for an A-school.

candy g2012-09-01T01:56:06Z

YO, who the frig do you think you are talking to, your homies.................if so then please address this question to them...............

Can see your naval career being real short if you think that is ok to speak to others like that.

Moral Orel2012-09-02T19:06:17Z

So? What do you want to do?