Do you think your recruiter gave you the right or wrong impression of Military life?

SrA Zachary Bolling — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 08:33:55 -0500

<p>I personally do not have an issue with how my recruiter described military life but I have met many people who always said "if I ever see my recruiter again....something bad" </p><p><br></p><p>Is there anything you wish your recruiter would have went into more detail about?</p><p>Would you say that your recruiter led you to believe it would be completely different?</p>

Response by MAJ Samuel Weber made Feb 24 at 2014 8:44 AM

MAJ Samuel Weber — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 08:44:48 -0500

I don't know about USAF recruiters, but when I was an Army recruiter I used to always warn my applicants that my experiences will be different than theirs and that attitude effects how your day goes. Bottom line I told them was that the Army was still a job, some days would be great and others could be pretty bad. But in the end it will be the most satisfying experience of your life.

Now this is not to say that some recruiters didn't lie, because they sure as heck do. It depends on the NCO and thier Center Commander.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2014 8:48 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 08:48:32 -0500

My recruiter told me "listen, i'm not going to lie to you, Basic, its going to suck, but its 9 weeks." also. "well i can't say i've met anyone of that mos (back when they were realigning alot of them)at least he didnt lie right?

Response by SSG Zachery Mitchell made Feb 24 at 2014 9:03 AM

SSG Zachery Mitchell — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 09:03:06 -0500

My recruiter was a no bullshit no fluff kind of guy. If I ran in to him again I'd thank him for being brutally honest like he was. But, I told him from day one, that it didn't matter what he told me, how good or bad it was, I was signing my name to a contract so no reason to bullshit me, just do your job and get me to basic.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Feb 24 at 2014 9:31 AM

Maj Chris Nelson — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 09:31:52 -0500

When I joined the Army in 1986 (delayed entry) and active in 1987, I quickly discovered my recruiter was a rug.....lying any chance he got.  After the fact, nice guy, but military wise, POS.  They had pictures of many of the installations around the office....Ft. Jackson SC showed somebody waterskiing.....he was telling me how much fun I would have there..... Never saw water unless it was in the shower.  forget about a beach.  Since that time, While I have never been a recruiter, anyone that asks me about the military gets the "no sugar coating" version....it is a good life, hard work, it is for some...not so much for others.  Good and bad....

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2014 12:42 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 12:42:04 -0500

Recruiting is just like any other sales job. In fact, we had a two week exercise in Recruiting School where we had to practice selling a computer. Nothing to do with the military. Just sales.<div><br></div><div>The only thing I feel like my Recruiter could've done better with would've been to inform me of just how many jobs I actually qualified for, rather than sending me off to The Cannon Crewman's course. I guess there must've been a big push for combat arms in 1997?</div>

Response by SSG Ralph Watkins made Feb 24 at 2014 1:28 PM

SSG Ralph Watkins — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:28:07 -0500

I enlisted in 1978 at 17 years old. My recruiter & my former Marine father became drinking buddies. My father told him he would beat the crap out of him if I got screwed in any way. My first enlistment was awesome. I got all the schools I signed up for & a great assignment. At the time, we had other recruiters lying like cray to meet their quotas, mine did me good however.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2014 2:02 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:02:54 -0500

I wish my recruiter had tried to convince me to join RA and not the Reserves, but I told him what I wanted and he delivered no smoke and mirrors. I would've joined RA knowing what I know now if I could do it all over again.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2014 2:05 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:05:43 -0500

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</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">Mine gave me the right impression of the Military life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I used alternate references to confirm what he was telling me though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Trust but verify. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></font></font></font></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">

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Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2014 2:19 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:19:26 -0500

He didn't mention how warm, humid, fragrant, and muddy this was in country.<div><br></div><div>He also didn't mention women would be outnumbered by men 5,000+ to one.</div><div><br></div><div>He didn't really get into the number, extent, and seriousness of wounds treated.</div><div><br></div><div>He didn't really mention how many hours straight we would triage and operate.</div><div><br></div><div>He didn't mention we would be invited to dance for many hours after our work.</div><div><br></div><div>He didn't mention the number/size of rats or the water on the floor in bunkers.</div><div><br></div><div>To the best of my recall, he didn't mention the absence of any nice warm bath.</div><div><br></div><div>I can deal with rest of his omission, but the last point was unforgivable of him.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

Response by PFC Joshua Hagen made Feb 24 at 2014 3:32 PM

PFC Joshua Hagen — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 15:32:42 -0500

My recruiter was fairly straight forward. But, like a tard, I fell for the "awesome" video showing stuff blowing up and telling me what I'd be doing in the Army......yeah, that was a lie lol. He told me a lot of good information, but nothing truly prepared me for the REAL Army. If I had known of things like Raider Focus, NTC (HANDS ACROSS THE DESERT!!), weeks without a shower, getting stuck in the 3 shop as an RTO, and basically learning how to be a glorified janitor in garrison...yeah, wish I could've seen THAT video lol. It was definitely an experience I would do all over again though if I had to go back in time, made me a far better person than I would've ever been had I not. Army/deployment hardships make the civilian "hardships" seem like mosquito bites.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2014 4:35 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:35:34 -0500

My recruiter put in a video of the M1A1 Abrams jumping a berm, and blowing stuff up. I was sold! Originally I used to think I would've liked to know the different MOS enlistment options. Especially since I have not been on a tank since AIT and lets face it, how many tanks are in the civilian world... I later became a recruiter. Spent 6 years and my perception changed slightly. I never "sold" the job only the service to country and the benefits thereafter. However, I would go over potential MOS's avaible and have the soon-to-be soldiers pick at least three. Since enlisting I have been able to go to 4 MOS conversion courses. So I guess it all works out in the end. Other than that I have no issues with how my recruiter handled my enlistment. He spent a lot of time showing me the in and outs of how the G.I. Bill, Hazzlewood and T.A. worked.

Response by SFC Bill Mace made Feb 25 at 2014 4:03 PM

SFC Bill Mace — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 16:03:25 -0500

My recruiter told me I could attend flight school while on my off-time during AIT at Fort Lee, Virginia. No airfield there. I was prior service and let him lie to me for weeks before I told him we was full of shit. But when my son-in-law joined the recruiter didn't lie to him, but he "magically" got promoted to E3 before Basic despite the fact he didn't meet any of the requirements.

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made Jul 6 at 2014 8:36 PM

SSG Mike Angelo — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 20:36:56 -0400

My recruiter did his best toward my enlistment process.

Going in the military the first time was an uncommon journey for most my age and demographic area; Oakland, California.