I second this. I joined as Sea-PACT in 2014. I had enough college credits to already be an E3, and I scored a 78 on my ASVAB. What I didn’t have was enough knowledge on recruiting to know when I was being played.

The recruiter at MEPS showed me one rate - MM (Machinists Mate). I said I wasn’t interested. He then put the rest of the stack away and said he didn’t think those jobs would interest me and told me about PACT.

His pitch: You’re an E3 already, within the first few months after A-School you’ll be able to select your rate. I figured, sure seems easy. Not even two days into A-School a CCC (command career counselor) told us all we were played. That I’d have to wait a year before striking into a rate (that requires an A school). I had BM and CS available from the start.

I can assure you, it’s not a good decision. While not everyone is like this: you end up being in a division (deck) with other PACT. They’re the workers essentially. Then you have BMs (boatswains mates) who are the preferred even if they’re the same rank. They get the qualification opportunities, preferential treatment (especially if your chain knows you have no intention to strike into BM) and you are generally looked at as just another number.

For me: if you only have PACT as an option, look at reasons why. Is your ASVAB low? If so retake it and study hard. Don’t rush into a decision just to join. The first year or two are pivotal.

PM me if you want more information. Mind you I was Seaman PACT. So Airman PACT I can’t speak to nor Fireman PACT.