Navy SEALS

[ajoiner]

Apologies if this has been asked before, but after a search of the forum yielded nothing, I decided to post.

A friend of mine decided to join the Navy. He met every single requirement to become a Navy SEAL except for one, red/green colorblindness. After he talked to several people, he was told that if he joined the Navy with a different job, he could get a waiver and become a SEAL.

Well, he signed on the dotted line and took the oath. After all of this, he was informed that he would not be able to obtain a waiver, ever. His dreams of being a SEAL has been crushed and he is heart-broken.

Is there anything he can do to get out of his contract?

[CAPSmith]

Apologies if this has been asked before, but after a search of the forum yielded nothing, I decided to post.

A friend of mine decided to join the Navy. He met every single requirement to become a Navy SEAL except for one, red/green colorblindness. After he talked to several people, he was told that if he joined the Navy with a different job, he could get a waiver and become a SEAL.

Well, he signed on the dotted line and took the oath. After all of this, he was informed that he would not be able to obtain a waiver, ever. His dreams of being a SEAL has been crushed and he is heart-broken.

Is there anything he can do to get out of his contract?

Be an absolute dud at basic, wash-out and get an administrative discharge, I suppose. Doesn't look very favorable though. I would question his desire to serve if something that small changed his mind of serving though.

[ajoiner]

I asked him what he wanted to do and he replied that he doesn't want to be "behind a desk" for his term. He really is an athletic person and loves being 'out and about'. He is considering trying to get into the U.S.M.C. to become an Infantryman.

[FeelinFroggy]

After he talked to several people, he was told that if he joined the Navy with a different job, he could get a waiver and become a SEAL. Exactly who told him this?

[ajoiner]

Hm, I'm not sure. I will ask him this afternoon when I see him and I will be sure to let you know.

Until then, if it was a recruiter or someone at MEPS?

[wukong]

He met every single requirement to become a Navy SEAL except for one, red/green colorblindness. After he talked to several people, he was told that if he joined the Navy with a different job, he could get a waiver and become a SEAL.

Wrong! In order to become a SEAL or any other specialty one has to complete training for that specialty. Medical, physical, educational requirements to enter training for a job specialty does not constitute "every single requirement." If your friend is not motivated to be a sailor, I doubt he has the motivation to survive SEAL training.

The Navy as well as the other services offer many not so obvious opportunities for skills acquisitions such as weapons maintenance or parachute rigging (will get you to jump school in several services) that are marketable in the other services when an opening for a transfer is available. EOD is not a "behind the desk" type of job and entails both high risk and equally high respect among professional of all services. With a little looking around you and your friend might be surprised to find that there are a great many job specialties that will get your nose down deep in the dirt. Those of us who have made a career know that every job is essential to the mission.

[FeelinFroggy]

Wukong is right, and offers some good advice. That oath he took means everything, more than becoming a SEAL. And if he's willing to take CAPSmith's advice and "be and absolute dud" at basic, then he's not worthy of the title.

If that's not the case, and he does well at basic, tell him the world is not over and his athletic abilities can be tested in many ways, with many different jobs.

[JohnP]

Those of us who have made a career know that every job is essential to the mission.

Well put my brother.

This is from the Navy.com web site:
As a SEAL, SWCC, EOD Technician or Navy Diver, you may be called upon to dispose of ocean-borne mines or conduct combat operations in any environment throughout the world. To qualify for special warfare/special operations, you must complete an intense physical and mental conditioning program. The competition to become a member is fierce, but if you're motivated, self-disciplined, in excellent physical condition and have the passion to perform under pressure in extreme environments, the Special Warfare/Special Operations field might be the perfect place for you. Typical missions include gathering enemy intelligence, performing covert reconnaissance or conducting counterterrorist operations and performing long-range maritime transit in support of a variety of Special Operations.

I agree with Wukong, if he’s not motivated to press on with his original decision, no matter what a recruiter says, he’s not the type needed in our service.

Follow this url for more information on what careers are in the US Navy:

http://www.navy.com/careers/

I originally enlisted in the US Air Force for an opportunity to qualify for Pararescue. I was not selected. It didn’t deter me from finding other opportunities. I went from being a regular Security Policeman to Air Base Defense SP to Emergency Services Security Police to Tactical Air Control Parties. Each and every job I had was important for the overall mission of the US Air Force and our Great Nation. Quit whining about not getting a chance to be an operator. Grab what you have, make the best of the situation and drive on.

The brother of one of my employees attempted SEAL school 4 times before succeeding. I’ve said it once before and I’ll say it until my voice can no longer be heard, “It is the internal qualities not the external that make a man.”

[DaveIn3D]

The Navy as well as the other services offer many not so obvious opportunities for skills acquisitions such as weapons maintenance or parachute rigging (will get you to jump school in several services) that are marketable in the other services when an opening for a transfer is available. EOD is not a "behind the desk" type of job and entails both high risk and equally high respect among professional of all services. With a little looking around you and your friend might be surprised to find that there are a great many job specialties that will get your nose down deep in the dirt. Those of us who have made a career know that every job is essential to the mission.


Wrong!!

Being a red/green color-blind person myself, I can tell you that EOD wont even look at you. TACP,CCT,PJ wont look at you.The Air Force wont even let you go to airborne school if you have red/green color issues. I tried to be gung-ho in the Air Force and they said no. So I joined the Marines where every one is given their fair chance to kill someone.

Now your friend could try the brown water navy and go to a river boat unit. You get to play with big guns and support raiding parties. Dont know about the color-vision requirments though. But it doesnt really matter what branch you are in, red/green color blindness will dis-qualify you from nearly all spec-ops fields.

-3D

[ajoiner]

@Wukong: With respect, we both know that EOD isn't a "behind the desk" job. However, red/green colorblindness dis-qualifies him [as per 3D and my friends father, a retired CPO.]

@3D: To transfer from one service to another, you have to wait for a slot to become available?

@JohnP: He is going to press on with his decision to join, he is just trying to figure out his options from this point. As it stands, he's in DEP and the job he has selected is a CTI.

[wukong]

I am not attuned to the specific qualifications for any particular military job specialty. My intention was to point out other jobs that are not normally known as "chair polishing." In any case one must join a service before pursuing a job specialty in that service. When I joined the AF, I intended to become a pilot. In doing so I had to be prepared for other jobs should I not succeed in completing USAF flight training. Your friend, even if not red/green limited, should have been prepared to serve in another role. The emphasis is on SERVE, we serve or have served.

[ajoiner]

And I agree with you completely. He just wanted to look at his other options. I posted the dilemma out of curosity as to what could be legally done about the contract, since he signed it under false pretenses.

[CAPSmith]

...since he signed it under false pretenses.

Wouldn't that be "signing it out of ignorance?"

The "rules" of his enlistment are spelled out, up front. What his options are afterwards don't matter, they're only obligated to follow through with what he signed up for.

If I told you I'd sell you my car for $500.00 and you signed a contract saying you would pay me $1000.00 for it, do you think the judge would tell you that you only owe me $500.00?

[DaveIn3D]

@3D: To transfer from one service to another, you have to wait for a slot to become available?



It depends on the situation. At the time of my switch, the Air Force was overmanned and looking to get rid of around 30,000 personel. They were all to happy to release me to the Marines. If I had tried that 2 years prior I would of been fighting a uphill battle in the snow barefoot.

There are programs out there that make the switch easier. The Air Force had Blue to Green which was a switch to the Army. You could do that one at any time with out much stress. I am not sure what the Navy has going for it but I am sure there must be something. Or your friend could just join the Marines to begin with. Just because he signed papers at his MEPS or recruiting station doesnt mean jack. The Navy doesnt own him till he gets off the bus at Great Lakes.

-3D

[ajoiner]

@CAPSmith: I see your point and it is well taken.

[Bozz]

...what could be legally done about the contract, since he signed it under false pretenses.

Not too much can be done. As stated previously...that could be considered signing out of ignoranace. When I went in to join the Army...my recruiter told me right off the bat "you might not get to be a medic if there are no available slots. Be prepared to chose another job." I was prepared to go into the Infantry or Armor Corps if I was unfortunate enough not to get my desired job. I got lucky, I DID get a slot to be a "flyin' doc" (airborne qual.). As again stated...it's all about wanting to serve, the job is second. That's the same no matter what service you join. Best of luck to your friend.

[txb&b]

Being aware that not all recruiters are above board with information, I feel sorry for your friend; but I have to agree that he willingly signed out of ignorance. There's a great deal of information readily available on the internet that clearly outlines what the minimum standards are for getting into BUD/S and that color blindness is a definate no-go. His failure to research before signing is sad, but it's not a legitimate excuse to get out of a contract.

[OleDoc]

Be an absolute dud at basic, wash-out and get an administrative discharge, I suppose.


Not sure that is the right kind of advice to be handing out.

[CAPSmith]

Not sure that is the right kind of advice to be handing out.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't really advocating it, just answering the question. It is a way to do it. Based on what we've heard so far it might end up being better for the rest of the corps anyway.

I think that the honorable thing to do would be to fulfill the commitment, put in the time, do his very best and see what comes of it.

[ajoiner]

I've talked with him and he has decided to go ahead and join the Navy. He did say, however, after a few years in, he may look to transfer to the Marines.

Thanks to everyone for their input.

[Bozz]

Good luck with that. I don't know about the Navy but in the Army...a policy activated in January makes it almost impossible to transfer from Reserves to Active Duty, much less to another service. The only exception are Reservists that got Active Duty in their respective contracts (as several of my buddies and melf do).

Any Sailors that know if the Navy has a similar change in SOP?

[mtnsldr]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned this yet...

Ever think about a retest? Go to a civilian doc that has the Farnsworth D-15 test and see if he's really color-blind. Has he ever been identified as colorblind before?

Some of those MEPS have really bad cards. I've seen a few guys get false failures before.

[ajoiner]

Good point. I will tell him about this. Thanks.