In 2019, is recruiting duty as bad as they say? What are some current experiences?

2019-09-23T20:22:42-04:00

Is it as bad as they say? I’m thinking of volunteering and looking for some current experiences.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2019 8:35 PM

2019-09-23T20:35:15-04:00

Everyone’s experience is different. Some love it and decide to convert to stay a Recruiter and some don’t like it and can’t wait to get back to the line. Ultimately it’s all in how you look at it and how you make it. I would recommend volunteering for it because as a leader it is over all a growing experience, but it’s not for everyone.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Sep 23 at 2019 9:48 PM

2019-09-23T21:48:58-04:00

It is what you make it. A friend of mine was forced into being a recruiter. Ventura California in the 80's. Plus I worked as the Log Chief for USAREC as a CW3 in 1982. Dennis Monzingo is his name. He would do anything to get out of it. Tried to get deployed. We worked together in Luxembourg

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2019 2:30 AM

2019-09-24T02:30:39-04:00

Back when I was looking at dropping a packet I called numerous stations around the states; Tampa office, Minneapolis office, Dallas office, went to the KC office, and then called Charolette NC office. They all had great advice, telling me how it is in their specific BNs and they all differ greatly. Example; Dallas is high optempo, they expect alot out of their recruiters. Tampa falls under the NC BN and they said they are super high optempo due to them being number one in USAREC several years running. They told me about other BNs and how they are as well, saying places up north are less high optempo due to the low number required for recruits (i.e. TX would require say maybe 2-3 recruits a month, whereas somewhere like Vermont would require 1 every two months). It honestly, at the end of the day depends on what BN you end up in, some work you to the bone (mon - fri 0800-1800, sat 0800-1500, sund 0800-1200, and so on).

I ultimately never did it because I have a shaving profile and it's a disqualification so I just stayed on the line.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Sep 24 at 2019 11:03 AM

2019-09-24T11:03:32-04:00

My recruiter friends used to say "Hero to Zero in 60 seconds"
I never was a DS or a Recruiter, but was my unit's Retention NCO (used to be a separate position from Recruiter) and when I was given the extra job I found the same climate existed about my performance.
I never failed to 'make quota' (which is the BIG THING) but my refusal to re-enlist bad soldiers by removing bars to re-enlistment without correct commander's documentation or 'disappearing' long lists of counselings made me an unpopular among some (roughly half) of the NCOs, 1SGs, Commanders and especially the lower element's ReUp NCOs.
My Regimental Commander backed me though, so it was okay.
It is what you make of it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2019 3:53 PM

2019-09-25T15:53:34-04:00

Okay, I have a lot to say about this organization, but I'll limit myself. I have been a company commander in USAREC for the past year. My experience is limited to my particular environment. SFC Kelley covered it well: the climate, OPTEMPO, and requirements vary drastically from battalion to battalion. Having said that, there are some things that apply universally:

1. The culture has shifted since I enlisted, and the Army is still struggling to adapt. We have to appeal to a wide range of demographics in order to achieve our mission and that can be a challenge even in areas supportive of the military. We were united as a nation after September 11th, but that was 18 years ago. What we hear now is, " I support the military, but MY child will never join."

2. There are a ton of misconceptions about the army: that we only want to send their son or daughter off to die, that we are all infantry and live in tents, that we are thugs and killers, that we are a last resort for those who can't get in to college, that we don't have any technical jobs, etc. If you are assigned to an area without a military base nearby expect to deal with that a lot.

3. Some markets are better than others-even in the same company or battalion. You will be successful if you have a good work ethic, a willingness to learn, and a positive attitude; but if you have those things in a good market you will be a rock star. If you are in a challenging market, you will have to get creative, and you will have to grind.

4. USAREC is by design extremely image focused and data driven. If you do anything that publicly brings discredit to or embarrasses the army your career is over. The CG and CSM do not play around. I'm in a BN that has attracted a lot of negative attention recently, so believe me when I tell you leadership at every echelon is looking at everything you do. Social media and media outlets are always looking for stories of corruption and misconduct, and if its publicized (and it will be) we are all painted with the same brush.

5. There is a stigma with recruiting that has lingered that all recruiters are corrupt and that we continually lower the standards to meet our requirements. If that were true, we would have no issue exceeding our mission every year. The fact is, 70% of all age-qualified citizens do not qualify for military service. They are either medically disqualified, have non-waiverable legal issues, or cannot pass the ASVAB. You have to work with the 30% that are left and find those willing to serve. Every packet is QC'd by at least 5-6 people before that applicant is authorized to enlist.