If it's not written down, you don't have it, period. There is no such thing as a verbal contract with a recruiter. Also, they may try a bait and switch at MEPS, giving you some BS reason that you can't have what you want, and trying to railroad you into whatever MOS they need to fill a quota. Don't settle for anything less than what you want.

Or you can do what I did and sign every piece of paper the AG Sergeant throws at you because you want to be in the military so badly you don't care what branch.
Luckily for me the Sergeant I deal with is a very good and responsible soldier, and didn't take advantage of my naivety and waited until I had calmed down and gotten serious before we started making any definite plans. But from the stories I hear from my friends who have enlisted, this is the exception rather than the rule, so like the others have said, hold out for what you want, and make sure it really is what you want.


I know it's a lot different now, but in Vietnam, my Dad (who was USAF) was in a room full of draftees and recruits and this man in civvies walks in and asks, "Who here wants to be in the Navy?"
Since the Navy was supposed to be the safest duty, half the room stands up and this man takes down their names and then says, "Welcome to the Naval Infantry, boys!" and walks out, having gotten twenty something new Marine volunteers.

Originally Posted by Jamoni

If it's not written down, you don't have it, period. There is no such thing as a verbal contract with a recruiter. Also, they may try a bait and switch at MEPS, giving you some BS reason that you can't have what you want, and trying to railroad you into whatever MOS they need to fill a quota. Don't settle for anything less than what you want.

That happened to my bro, he wanted to be a Blackhawk mechanic and he thought he had everything made and fine, but he got to MEPS and ended up as a tracked vehicle repairman.

Haha...really?thats pretty funny...yeah i dont plan on settling for anything less than i want which is exactly why i want to do this like a year in advance so i have a greater possibility to get a training seat...

I'm not trying to dampen your motivation; just remember, the 18X program is very competitive.

18X isn't that difficult to get, if you have common sense and are of average intelligence. It's making it in the pipeline that is the killer. Most wash out during SOPC and SFAS .. the rest are dropped from the Q. And that one that may accasionally slip by, usually gets it at BMLC or SERE.

Heed Jamoni's advice about the contract. If your scores are well enough that you qualify for what you are after, do not settle for anything else. Walk out if they give you the run around. See another recruiter, but most of the time .. they will call you back in and miraculously find you a slot.

they tried to do that to me. i went to meps early in the morning and didn't get out of there until after 1700 and swore in by myself because they were telling me they couldn't get me what i wanted and i said no and they tried to get me other jobs throwing in jobs with bonuses. the thing is you just might get put on delayed entry for a while. but do know that once you are in the army they can make you do whatever. they call it cross-training and some mos's will work very closely with others and you will take on each others roles when needed.