Dan1987
7 November 2011, 12:54
Hello, I am 24 years old. Almost 25 and have been pursuing a career in Special Operations since I was 17. I was ready to join the marines at 18, but they were not taking anyone with a GED at the time. Two months later the recruiter calls me and tells me they'll take me, but in that period I received 2 DUI's thus ruining my chances of enlistment. I attended Georgia Military College for a little over a year to get the required credits to enter any branch of service and finished up my probation by the time I was 22. I have since then been the manager of over 50 workers and a little over a year ago started training for the SEAL PST test.
I met a swim coach here in Savannah and he liked my story and instead of charging me $50 an hour for lessons he instructed me for free. Once I felt I was ready I went to the Navy recruiters and they told me even with my work record, job ethic, the DUI's would hinder me from entering into the SEAL program. I returned the next day and spoke with three more recruiters. None would give me the time of day but eventually they asked how I might do on the PST. I told them to give it to me right now so I can show that I would perform. They contacted a guy, possibly a SEAL motivator. He goes around and tests all the DEPers and set me up an appointment to meet with him at Hunter for an interview and possibly swim. I showed up early for the date and the recruiters said they couldn't take me to meet with him. I was devastated and contacted the Air Force.
The Air Force recruiter said he was giving out waivers all day for Spec Ops candidates and in fact that's the only waivers they can currently offer in the AF. I Took the PAST for Combat Control and here are my scores
UW swims- Passed
500 meter- 11:50
1.5 miler- 10:15
Pullups- 10
Pushups- 70
Situps-64
I'm not trying to brag, my numbers should have been higher but I did not break in my routine before the test and swam the day before so I know I could have scored higher. He was impressed and told me I was the only smoker that has ever passed the PAST under him. It made me feel good inside hearing that because he knew I gave it my all.
Everything was good to go, I scored 57 on the ASVAB and the waiver was about to be sent off for CCT. I asked if it was ok to marry my girlfriend or to wait till after BMT. He said it wouldn't be an issue either way, but there was a miscommunication somewhere. Once we married and I was sending off my last bit of court documents he said that the two children she has joint custody of from a previous marriage would be over the limit of the maximum amount of dependents the Air Force can take. So now I'm disqualified. I wrote a letter to a senator and received one back from the AF at the Pentagon basically telling me the rules are there for a reason.
I was crushed, contacted 2 other recruiters. They all said the same thing. I've been trying to maintain my fitness standards and work, while researching my other options. The army told me I did not have to count the children as my dependents if I did not want to, but why does the Air Force required that? Am I being jostled around because of the process? I know no one wants anything to do with me and my record, but it's 6 years ago. I am not a habitual violator or criminal. Is there a Navy recruiter out there who can tell me if there is a way for me to enter into the SEAL program or even with a waiver and the dependents is that impossible? I apologize for the long post, it's hard trying to pursue something constantly when answers from recruiters are vague and some things are shrouded in mystery. My poor wife all I do is talk about it with her and I have no friends who share the same passion as me. I don't want to give up, any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
I met a swim coach here in Savannah and he liked my story and instead of charging me $50 an hour for lessons he instructed me for free. Once I felt I was ready I went to the Navy recruiters and they told me even with my work record, job ethic, the DUI's would hinder me from entering into the SEAL program. I returned the next day and spoke with three more recruiters. None would give me the time of day but eventually they asked how I might do on the PST. I told them to give it to me right now so I can show that I would perform. They contacted a guy, possibly a SEAL motivator. He goes around and tests all the DEPers and set me up an appointment to meet with him at Hunter for an interview and possibly swim. I showed up early for the date and the recruiters said they couldn't take me to meet with him. I was devastated and contacted the Air Force.
The Air Force recruiter said he was giving out waivers all day for Spec Ops candidates and in fact that's the only waivers they can currently offer in the AF. I Took the PAST for Combat Control and here are my scores
UW swims- Passed
500 meter- 11:50
1.5 miler- 10:15
Pullups- 10
Pushups- 70
Situps-64
I'm not trying to brag, my numbers should have been higher but I did not break in my routine before the test and swam the day before so I know I could have scored higher. He was impressed and told me I was the only smoker that has ever passed the PAST under him. It made me feel good inside hearing that because he knew I gave it my all.
Everything was good to go, I scored 57 on the ASVAB and the waiver was about to be sent off for CCT. I asked if it was ok to marry my girlfriend or to wait till after BMT. He said it wouldn't be an issue either way, but there was a miscommunication somewhere. Once we married and I was sending off my last bit of court documents he said that the two children she has joint custody of from a previous marriage would be over the limit of the maximum amount of dependents the Air Force can take. So now I'm disqualified. I wrote a letter to a senator and received one back from the AF at the Pentagon basically telling me the rules are there for a reason.
I was crushed, contacted 2 other recruiters. They all said the same thing. I've been trying to maintain my fitness standards and work, while researching my other options. The army told me I did not have to count the children as my dependents if I did not want to, but why does the Air Force required that? Am I being jostled around because of the process? I know no one wants anything to do with me and my record, but it's 6 years ago. I am not a habitual violator or criminal. Is there a Navy recruiter out there who can tell me if there is a way for me to enter into the SEAL program or even with a waiver and the dependents is that impossible? I apologize for the long post, it's hard trying to pursue something constantly when answers from recruiters are vague and some things are shrouded in mystery. My poor wife all I do is talk about it with her and I have no friends who share the same passion as me. I don't want to give up, any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.