Was it possible to skip bootcamp after being a sea-cadet for 3 years as a teenager in 1967?

PO3 Betty N. — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 15:16:41 -0400

My husband went from being a sea-cadet until he was 17 (1967) didn't go to bootcamp, went directly to Navy reserves without going to bootcamp. He claims that he immediately became an E3 after serving as a sea cadet. He also claims that he was a Navy Reservist who went to sub school in New London, CT and served time on the USS Blenny out of New York harbor chasing Russian subs. But I couldn't find his name on any sub roster. And he never got a DD214 after his Navy Reserve discharge. When he went put in a VA claim for service connection, he was denied due to only serving 70 days active duty. They said needed 90 days active duty to qualify for VA service connection. I always thought that a Vietnam era veteran only had to serve one day active duty to make a VA claim. I don't know what to believe. My Navy career was simple. I served from 81-87 and all active duty. I certainly went to bootcamp and was honorably medically discharged with knee injuries. And I soon after had my VA service connection with no problems. I've been with my husband 19 years. But I don't know what to believe about his "military" background. I always thought that the sea-cadets were closer to military teenage boy scouts. Should I believe my husband's military stories?

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Jun 7 at 2020 3:33 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 15:33:57 -0400

What reasons do you have to question him? Back in the 60s, some people did do some branches without boot and time in these cadet programs do buy you rank and less training. If I had enlisted in the Air Force in 1993, I would have gone in as an E-3 and have been told it would have only been two weeks in basic. I went Army, did the entire 8 wks but did start as an E-2.

Response by SP5 Dennis Loberger made Jun 7 at 2020 4:17 PM

SP5 Dennis Loberger — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 16:17:46 -0400

For those cadets who decide to enlist in the military, their prior training as a Sea Cadet may allow them to join at an advanced pay grade. This means that a cadet who enlists may be eligible for a higher rank and pay than his or her non-cadet counterparts

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2020 7:37 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 19:37:38 -0400

Reservists do not get a DD 214 for separation.
However, they get a DD 214 for any period of active duty for training over 90 days, and any period of regular active duty.
What also doesn't make sense is joining the Navy in 1967 and getting on the the crew of the Blenny.
The Blenny came back from a long cruise in APR 67 and went back out MAY-SEP of 67.
He would have needed to complete an A school AND sub school prior to MAY 67 to get on that crew.
And that length of training and certainly the length of that cruise would have resulted in DD 214s.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2020 8:16 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 20:16:11 -0400

Petty Officer Nichols, there were a couple of guys in my Basic flight in 1992 that had a truncated boot camp because they did ROTC in high school. Sounds like the same thing.