Teens claim they were duped into Navy

[unhappycamper]

Teens claim they were duped into Navy
The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jun 17, 2008 6:33:25 EDT

HONOLULU — Two Hawaii 18-year-olds claim a Navy recruiting officer promised them they would be able to get a free, four-year college education before going off to sea. But Cory Miyasato and Joseph Mauga Jr. soon found out they would be going off to boot camp and then full-time active duty, scrubbing and painting ships.

“The full-ride scholarship really interested me,” said Miyasato, an honor student. “I am a very trusting person. I thought the U.S. government would be truthful to me.”

They didn’t find out the truth until they had already enlisted in the Navy’s Delayed Entry Program on May 29.

The military is under pressure to keep producing fresh troops, and Hawaii recruiters are expected to produce 30 new enlistees for the Navy this month, said Petty Officer 1st Class David McKee, a spokesman for the Navy Recruiting Station Los Angeles, which includes Hawaii.

The recruiter, Petty Officer 1st Class Jimmy Pecadeso, will be investigated, McKee said.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/06/ap_recruitscam_061608/



uhc comment: If these guys are still in the DEP, they can just walk away --> http://www.objector.org/girights/delayed-enlistment-program.html

[Catch22Dem]

1. My recruiter was nothing but honest with me. A good guy.

There are a lot of lying recruiters out there though. This guy needs to be prosecuted.

However, you'd think for a decision this big, and joining the military is a huge decision, these boys would have done a LITTLE research. I'm not saying it's their responsibility to do so, but you'd think they would.

[SemperParatus]

4. 1

[Submariner]

2. My recruiter promised me Navy nuclear power school

for a 4 year enlistment, and I signed the enlistment papers that had that wording. When I got to boot camp and went to the evaluation phase to select a school, I saw that the contract I signed had the nuclear school wording/typing had been lifted and typed over with the letters "FA".

That meant I was a lowly 'fireman apprentice' and ended up with no nuke school, unless I wanted to extend, right there and then, for another 2 years. I took the screwing and got out in 4 yrs.

[noamnety]

3. I'm a little slow responding

but the article, to its credit, did mention that they can walk away. "Both Miyasato and Mauga can opt out of enlistment with no penalty before going to basic training, McKee said. "

[SemperParatus]

5. I disagree a bit!

I believe that it is fully their responsibility to do the necessary research before making a decision that big. Although, it is also the responsibility of the recruiter to be upfront with them, but they should have been smart enough to go through and verify everything that they were told, even if it was just to ensure that the recruiter didn't make an honest mistake.

And Submariner, what's so wrong with being a nonrate? I'm currently an E-3/SN in the USCG, it's not such a bad gig. Granted i'm a cutterman on a relatively small ship with a pretty tight crew and all kinds of qualification opportunities. :)

[noamnety]

6. Welcome to DU.

I see from your other posts you are quite the patriot. :)