I've already got:

1} Is my desired rating (Culinary Specialist) currently available? If not, is it possible that it will be before I go to MEPS?
2} If I qualify for the rating and it is available, what kind of additional training will I receive after Basic?
3} If my desired rating is not available and won't become available in the foreseeable future, are these other ones available? (Logistics Specialist etc.)

3762895
Perhaps base your questions around what you don't know. So..., what don't you know, and would like to; beyond those three, I mean.

3762907
4} Will I have to find my own way to get to MEPS once I decide to enlist?
5} Same will finding my way to basic.

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My main concern is that I legally cannot drive yet - that and I don't know how.

3762952
4. No. On the day you ship out your recruiter will come get you and take you to meps. Sometimes you ship out a while after meps, sometimes it will happen all at the same time. It depends on what you want and what's available. You can leave for boot camp up to a year after you sign up.
5. After meps, they will take you to an airport, which will fly you to Chicago. A bus will be there to take you to boot camp.
2. CS' s go to an A-school to learn about food safety and how to prepare menus. I believe it's in Chicago also, and it lasts a few months. After that you'll report to a ship, unless you choose to be on submarines, in which case you'll go to a 3 month school for that first.

The first and third questions are good ones to ask. Make sure that you have your desired rate written in to your contact, or you may not get it. If it's not available, then you can always wait until our is.

I would ask your recruiter for an in depth discussion of all the rates. Don't let them push you into one, because that's what they're trained to do. Also, I won't tell you not to be a CS if that's what you really want to do, but know they don't advance really quick and there's not much demand for them outside the navy.

3763026 I actually live in Ballard Co. KY. I border Illinois, will I still have to fly? I don't have a problem with flying, just curious.

3763058
It depends on what the navy wants to do. They'll pay for it, in either case. You won't have to plan anything.

One other thing, make site you talk to one of your friends/family who's been in the military or one of us before you sign anything. As soon as you sign that contact, you're stuck with it for the next four years. Recruiters are notorious for lying and being generally conniving, so it's best to make sure you're absolutely not being screwed over. I know several people who have been.

3762895
5} Why should I enlist Navy rather than Air Force?

Heh. I was thinking of joining the Navy once... then somebody online convinced me to switch to Air Force. I didn't regret it.
Instead of being onboard a ship six months a year, where if you're lucky, you get your own 3x6 bunk... and if you're unlucky, you share that bunk with 2 or 3 people... you get your own full room. That was the selling point for me. ^.^

3762895 I once heard a saying, "Choose your rate, choose your fate." Think about what you want to do, what you like to do, and what you want to do after the military.

Keep in mind that once you're in and rated, you could go literally anywhere. A ship, a squadron, some galley somewhere.

Perhaps ask the recruiter what job would get you a security clearance. Those look good on a resume. CS or LS probably won't do that.

3763217
Denim, if you really want to make the recruiter sweat, ask why you should join the Navy and not some other service. Each has its own advantages. The Navy will probably give you more travel around the world than any other service.

Let us know how it goes with the recruiter.

Read your contract before signing it.

I say again; Read your contract before signing it.

Good luck!

That is all, carry on.

3762895 So, how did it go?

3789098 They contacted me Thursday night saying they were going to be in Illinois for emergency training, and that the meeting will be rescheduled for tomorrow.