Consumption and Real Estate
Delayed Entry Program withdraw from U.S. Navy and the effect it will have on landing a law enforcement job?
Question : Delayed Entry Program withdraw from U.S. Navy and the effect it will have on landing a law enforcement job?
I was signed up to ship out for the navy in fall of 2008 I found out my job and rank had been changed by the recruiters without me knowing. I decided not to go since I didn’t the job and rank I wanted. I was in the delayed entry program and never took the final oath so I was never officially a member of the Navy. Well I applied to a city police officer job and got through the physical/weapons test, the polygraphy, the home inspection and now they are doing the background check and one of my references told them about my Navy thing even though there is nothing on my record because I was never a member. The police department is going to talk to the navy recruiters, do you think this will hurt my chances of becoming a police officer even though I’ve got this far? Also I have received a letter from the Navy saying that I have no further obligation to them.
home inspection program
Best answer:
Answer by Hoffa
YOU OWE THE NAVY NOTHING! I joined the Navy in 1998, then left the Navy in 2004 and joined the Army. The military only tells you that once you swear in you have an obligation to join is because they try to scare you into comitting to what you were planning on doing. Until you physically do the very last swear in right before you leave MEPS to boot camp they don’t own you. That’s why nothing ever turned up on the back ground check.
It depends on the police department. Unfortunately many law enforcement agencies look for any reason (no matter how trivial) to disqualify an applicant. I have seen well-qualified candidates pass every stage and test of the application and background process only to be rejected by the final hiring panel. If your department is fair, then your situation should not affect your chances of getting hired. However the hiring process is often unfair and the fact that they want to talk to your recruiters could be a bad sign. I am well acquainted with the DEP and you are right; anyone who does not ship out to basic was never officially in the military. Being in the DEP is not a job, you draw no pay and have no service record, hence it should never have even come up during the background investigation. Knowing the way backgrounds work in many departments, it sounds like they may be looking for an excuse to reject you. I hope I am wrong and you eventually are hired but I feel you should know how the hiring process often works. Good luck.