What has been a great experience with military recruiters or career counselors?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 12:36:49 -0500

We have all heard somebody at some point say that they were screwed over by a Recruiter or a Career Counselor. People will usually only talk about when they felt someone did them wrong, lets hear some examples of a Recruiter, Career Counselor, or any of your Leaders that without a doubt took care of you.

*let's keep our moral compass here and only use ethical examples.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 28 at 2015 12:39 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 12:39:41 -0500

Well in 1984 I received a "good OER" from a BG which essentially terminated my active duty career as an officer in the US Army SSG Private RallyPoint Member. I was able to continue to serve until October 1992 because of some skills I had which supported some operational plans.
I had been tagged by then BG Wayne Downing to start a comprehensive inprocessing process for all the 7th corps and 1st AD divisional units at Warner Barracks, Bamberg, FRG. This was in the day when PCs were not available. I developed a process with my NCOIC that included everything from medical inprocess through range qualification and German language training in 3 weeks and allowed time off for US and German holidays - I had just spent 3 years in a mechanized infantry battalion and was focused on the troops. I learned teh BG was not interested in developing a flexible program and wanted a more lock-step program that did not allow for holidays to be implemented. Other significant factors wee that I had computer experience and was tagged to develop a computer base briefing in 24 hours from the paper briefing had developed from including paper spreadsheets. Needle to say I failed that mission and received an OER that was well below center of mass with good comments which could not be contested. I was a brand new captain and had never experienced anything like that. I resolved to treat all of the people who worked for me much better.

Response by MSG Gerry Poe made Dec 28 at 2015 1:14 PM

MSG Gerry Poe — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 13:14:59 -0500

I have a really great Career Counselor that works very hard at providing information and stays on those short time Soldiers to extend or reenlist! Always letting me know if someone is personally not happy or has problems. Let's me give feedback to the Commander, so we can provide climate surveys or hold a bitch session for our troops! We don't run a democracy but we do like to know what are Soldiers are thinking!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2015 1:28 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 13:28:11 -0500

When I first reenlisted for active duty from the reserves my recruiter had messed up my paperwork resulting in me not receiving pay raises for time in service at the correct times. At my second duty we had a prior service civilian for a career counselor and I brought my problem to him, 2 days it took him to fix what nobody else could in 3 1/2 years prior.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2015 3:53 PM

MCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 15:53:41 -0500

I had great recruiters. My first one had slightly outdated info (you can volunteer for Airborne in Basic! They send recruiters out if they need volunteers!).

After a break in service, I went back in, and my recruiter said, "Just make sure you understand that, as prior service, you may get your orders changed." Cue three weeks later when he calls back to tell me that my orders were changed and that instead of 8-months of DEP, I had three weeks to sell a house, pack, and get to Korea.
I was there for two months and ran into him in Itaewon - and we got drunk together. I left as an E-4P (I got there as an E-3), and he left as an E-3 (though he got there as a Staff Sergeant...)

When I finally decided to go Coast Guard, I had one last piece of paper to sign, and I sat back and asked my recruiter to talk me out of it. This crusty Boatswain's Mate Chief (E-7) sat back, put his boots up on his desk, and told me every horror story about dream sheets and crap duty and ratings (career fields) that he could think of. I thanked him and signed that last sheet.

Over the next 20 years, I lived through every one of his horror stories - but I knew what to expect, so I never got upset.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Dec 28 at 2015 5:10 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 17:10:21 -0500

SSG Private RallyPoint Member, I enlisted in Co. C(-), 20th SFG(A), 1st SF, on 9AUG69. Although an officer actually administered the oath of enlistment, then SGM Pete Morris did all the work to "enlist" me (and a few others) in the unit. He is a man of the highest ethical and moral standards. He retired as a CW4 and we are friends to this day.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2015 7:40 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 07:40:36 -0500

The truth and the free food!