Posted on Jun 5, 2015
How much of a difference does volunteering vs DA selection make regarding recruiting?
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I'm nearing the end of my deployment. I already knew HRC was going to send me somewhere, but I never thought it would be Recruiter. I actually preferred Drill Sergeant, as I was going to get a DA photo done and submit my packet as soon as I got home next month. As of right now, I report to FT Knox in seven months for schooling.
Is there a major difference between volunteering for Recruiter or being slotted by DA? Most of my NCOERs list "Recruiter" as one of the three positions in the future, while three says "Drill Sergeant."
Would the difference between submitting a Recruiter packet on my own versus being slotted by DA have a major impact in the direction of my career? What should I expect out of this? How can I prepare to be successful before I go to the school? What is the typical glide path from school to assignment?
Is there a major difference between volunteering for Recruiter or being slotted by DA? Most of my NCOERs list "Recruiter" as one of the three positions in the future, while three says "Drill Sergeant."
Would the difference between submitting a Recruiter packet on my own versus being slotted by DA have a major impact in the direction of my career? What should I expect out of this? How can I prepare to be successful before I go to the school? What is the typical glide path from school to assignment?
79R: Recruiter
Recruiter
HRC
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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The biggest difference is assignment preference. The way recruiting works is that if you volunteer you pick your top BNs (which can cover huge swaths of territory). If you get that BN then you can work with the BN CSM (much like in a conventional unit) to get a pinpoint assignment to a certain company or if you are lucky station. If you are DA selected then when you get to recruiting school after a couple of weeks they will have you (along with others in your class) look at what assignments are available and have you pick one. There might be a good assignment or two there and there might be none, but at that point in time you lose all options to be picky.
Going DS is a good way to go if that is what you truly want to do, but don't discount some of the benefits that come with recruiting. I did three years as a recruiter and while I hated the job with a passion, I can't deny that I gained a lot of valuable skills and perspectives from it. I definitely sets you up for success post Army as you deal with the private sector daily and get a feel for how they think and operate. It allows you to gather what they consider important and develop that for when you retire. Plus you learn to network, and techniques to sell the Army (selling the Army is tough) which can translate to yourself. You also gather the confidence to talk to anyone, listen, and actively respond to others. You also get another perspective on how the whole Army machine operates versus being someone who knows nothing about it blaming recruiters for the quality of Soldiers that now join.
I will without a doubt say that it is not for everyone (myself included), but it might be worth a look. The hours believe it or not are actually less than a DS, which I found surprising. Would I do it again? Nope, but at the same time I don't regret doing it either.
Going DS is a good way to go if that is what you truly want to do, but don't discount some of the benefits that come with recruiting. I did three years as a recruiter and while I hated the job with a passion, I can't deny that I gained a lot of valuable skills and perspectives from it. I definitely sets you up for success post Army as you deal with the private sector daily and get a feel for how they think and operate. It allows you to gather what they consider important and develop that for when you retire. Plus you learn to network, and techniques to sell the Army (selling the Army is tough) which can translate to yourself. You also gather the confidence to talk to anyone, listen, and actively respond to others. You also get another perspective on how the whole Army machine operates versus being someone who knows nothing about it blaming recruiters for the quality of Soldiers that now join.
I will without a doubt say that it is not for everyone (myself included), but it might be worth a look. The hours believe it or not are actually less than a DS, which I found surprising. Would I do it again? Nope, but at the same time I don't regret doing it either.
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SCPO Stephen Ibanez
I was a volunteer for Navy recruiting in 1980. And I hated every day of the 3 years I was out there. I was absolutely the wrong person for the job, but I didn't get washed out in training or in the field.
Am I proud of the folks I helped enlist? Absolutely! I even had the opportunity to serve with one of them several years later (and I didn't have to sleep with one eye open).
Did I learn valuable life skills? Absolutely! Like SFC Timothy Trewin, I can talk to just about anyone now, which has helped me tremendously in the civilian sector. The single most valuable skill I acquired though, is how to be persuasive. I can read the person I'm dealing with and generally get them to come around to my way of thinking simply because the Navy taught me that very important life skill.
I did see a number of non-vols come through, and most of them failed. Not in school, where it would have lead to a different shore assignment, but in the fieild where they were persecuted as failures and "losers." That was unfair to some very good Sailors who just didn't belong in recruiting duty.
Am I proud of the folks I helped enlist? Absolutely! I even had the opportunity to serve with one of them several years later (and I didn't have to sleep with one eye open).
Did I learn valuable life skills? Absolutely! Like SFC Timothy Trewin, I can talk to just about anyone now, which has helped me tremendously in the civilian sector. The single most valuable skill I acquired though, is how to be persuasive. I can read the person I'm dealing with and generally get them to come around to my way of thinking simply because the Navy taught me that very important life skill.
I did see a number of non-vols come through, and most of them failed. Not in school, where it would have lead to a different shore assignment, but in the fieild where they were persecuted as failures and "losers." That was unfair to some very good Sailors who just didn't belong in recruiting duty.
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Having served as a Recruiter long ago I can attest to the fact that getting selected vs volunteering does have one difference once you are out recruiting. At least if you didn't ask for it, you won't be kicking yourself if you don't like it. I understand that recruiting is much better than it was back in the late 90's when I did it. Good luck to you!!
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