Posted on Sep 23, 2014
SGT Richard H.
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Most of us can probably remember something inspiring or just plain ridiculous that our recruiter said to us. What was yours?

Mine was when I had been talking to both the Army and the Marine Corps. The Army was offering enlistment bonuses, so I asked the Marine Corps Recruiter whether the Marine Corps offered a bonus.

His reply: "Yes. You get to be a Marine."

I signed that day.
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Responses: 35
MSG Wade Huffman
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OK.. here is one of my favorite stories to tell....especially when asked WHY I joined the Army.
It was 1983, the economy was pretty bad, and I was a college student quickly running out of money. I had been talking to an Air Force recruiter in great detail for several days, and on my last visit I was almost certain that I would join the Air Force. On the way out, I decided to stop in the Army recruiters office - just to see what they had to say. During the conversation I told him I was currently in college and he asked how many hours I had, I told him and he said I could come in as an E-3. I asked what that meant and he showed me the pay chart. WELL.. that makes a difference!
I began wondering if the Air Force had overlooked this bit of information and went back to the Air Force Recruiter I had been working with and told him that the Army would let me join as an E-3 because of my college credit. His answer... he looked me straight in the eyes and said, quote, "Then go join the F-ing Army!" And I did.
So, in short, the reason I joined the Army was because the Air Force Recruiter told me to!
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SGT Richard H.
SGT Richard H.
10 y
You and I joined the same year...
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MSG Wade Huffman
MSG Wade Huffman
10 y
1SG (Join to see) , very true! Everything happens for a reason. That Air Force recruiter did me a huge favor. Wouldn't have changed it for the world!
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MSG Wade Huffman
MSG Wade Huffman
10 y
SGT Richard H. , that makes us both old enough to know better... but..... and we'll leave it at that!
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
10 y
I'll buy that for a dollar. That is too funny!!
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1SG Eoc Ops Coordinator / Ga Certified Emergency Manager
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Edited 10 y ago
I didn' give mine the opportunity to feed me any tales or lies. After the 2AM discussion I had with our one-man Police Force, Cheif of Police (Mr. Sonny) and he read me the riot act of what was about to happen to me if I didn't do something quick....for once he wasn't kidding and for once I was listening. The Army Recruiter was the only one in his office that morning at 10AM. At 2PM that afternoon I was on the bus to Raleigh, NC MEPS. Tested, physical, raised my hand, and was stepped of the train in Columbia SC, met by four Ft. Jackson Drill Sergeants, kicked our asses onto the bus and I was in Basic Training in less than 24 hrs. 20 December 1973. 11th ACR and Fulda Germany here I come...loved it from day 1 and stayed almost 23 years.

Side Story about Mr.Sonny. 12 yrs later, I was stationed at Ft. Bragg, a SFC Platoon Sergeant and drove down home visiting one weekend. Home was 75 miles from Bragg. I stopped in the "ole Country Store that Saturday morning, and there sat the now retired One Man Police Force- Chief Mr. Sonny, by then in his 70s. I was in BDUS (a fun jump that morning), and he said, "Boy, I see that talk we had did you some good didn't it?" I said, "Mr. Sonny I'm a Sergeant First Class in the US Army, will ever be a man to you?" He laughed, "Boy as much hell as you used to raise, I'm surprised you lived this long, but you'll aways be the boy I remember!" I said, Yes Sir as I shook his hand to leave....after I paid for his pepsi and pack of crackers.
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Cpl Ehr Specialist
Cpl (Join to see)
10 y
Awesome story!
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SFC William Swartz Jr
SFC William Swartz Jr
10 y
Allons!!
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1SG Eoc Ops Coordinator / Ga Certified Emergency Manager
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
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"One weekend a month and two weeks a year"
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SGT Richard H.
SGT Richard H.
10 y
LOL....yeah....and no deploying.
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