Military Recruiters and my Kids

Sir,

As a recruiter stationed in the DC metro area, I deal with people all of the time who are related to, or neighbors of, or friends with people in the military who have influence in their lives. When I initially meet someone it, is one of the first things I ask, not because it is going to change the truth, but because I want to know how I can best assist the applicant with their goals.

A lot of times kids are unsure of what their future will bring. All I want to do is give them the information so they can make an informed decision. Having an "influencer" there who is/was military a lot of times helps us out. The kids trust you, they just met me. When I am telling them about the Army, a lot of times it's the influencer that helps conduct most of the appointment, because they tell their military story. As a recruiter I am trained to tell "My Army Story," but because of what kids see on the internet or hear from tv, they are less likely to have full faith in me without your presence.

Having said the above though, when you find a good recruiter, the story will not change from interview to interview. Facts are facts and the ultimate goal of any great recruiter isn't always putting someone in boots. It's identifying with a person, informing them of their options, and if at the end of the appointment it's the road to their goals, then facilitate the process. If it's not for them then shake hands, thank them for coming and ask them if anyone they know can benefit from the information they were given.

Word of mouth is everything in recruiting. My reputation is at stake with every young person I sit with so upfront, I let them know anything I tell them can be found on goarmy.com or by going to Google. If one can come to work with that attitude everyday, this is a pretty easy job and fun too. I have the greatest job in the military. I get paid to talk about the Army.

SFC Adam J. Rosenlund