Recruiters

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downhiller2010

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So I received my ASVAB scores and of course I scored extremely well. So when they gave me back my scores they had a bunch of recruiters there. I had one recruiter trying to convince me that I should just enlist and then apply for OCS at USMA. He told me this is what he did (so I looked at his uniform and he is a staff sergeant). Im not trying to say that all recruiters are this way, I just hate that this guy had to lie through his teeth to try and get me join. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
 
Come on now. He didn't necessarily lie. He said; enlist and then apply to OCS; that is what he did. MAYBE HE DID!!!! He didn't say anything about GETTING ACCEPTED!!!!

If being an officer is your objective, then that is what you need to go for. Don't go enlisted and then apply. It's like saying you're going to take a job temporarily at Safeway until you find a better job. Except you work 8am to 5pm every day and never have time to look for another job. If you want to be an officer; apply to the academies if you think you can do it and qualify. If that isn't for you; apply for an ROTC scholarship. If not that; go to college a traditional way and join ROTC. If all that fails; talk to the recruiter again AFTER YOU HAVE YOUR DEGREE.
 
he particularly said he WENT to USMA. This recruiter was definitely stretching the truth at least on a lot of things.
 
Haha I HAD to reply to this post. I LOVE recruiters. I actually asked my ALO what their deal is.

One day, this guy from the Army calls me. He had a THICK Hispanic accent (sounded Puerto Rican) so I immediately knew that he was trying to "connect with me" because I'm also Hispanic. He starts saying things like "hey homie, come on, you know you want to join" and stuff along those lines. (At the time, I was also in the process of applying to West Point) So I go- "sorry man, I'm already applying to USMA and USAFA, so you don't have to convince me." Then he starts telling me that by getting recruited, I could have all of the benefits that graduating from the Academies have, but without having to "waste" those four years. So I'm like, well I really want to fly, and I KNOW as an enlisted personnel you can't. So when he says that you CAN I'm just like ooookay what's going on here?? He kept telling me how I had a "very good" shot at getting to fly anything from helicopters to the big planes." So I'm like, no thanks, I was thinking of flying fighter jets, and he starts telling me that the Army has those and "other fixed wings". I'm just LOLing inside and thinking "how much are they paying these guys??"

Conclusively I just tell the guy "Okay, I will call you back, what's your number?" Haha He just wouldn't let me go! It was the most hilarious/annoying thing I have ever done on the phone. :yllol:
 
i think Christcorp has this right- if you are enlisting so that you can apply to West Point then you are taking a very circuitous route to get to your objective. While clearly there are prior service cadets who were enlisted, went to USMAPS then went to USMA, but it's a low probability bet. You won't go to OCS unless you have at least an AA so don't let them give you that as a line either. You can become an Aviation Warrant (high school to flight school is still theoretically possible) but as in all other situations- post high school is pretty much a necessity for selection to that as well. The truth is that if you want to be an officer- you need to go to college - either to USMA ;or take ROTC; or graduate and then enlist for OCS.
The recruiters job is about the highest stress job around just because it is a never ending grind and the question is always: "what have you done for me lately" and lately is usually defined as the last couple of minutes. It's a numbers game and that guy is rated on how many fully qualified recruits he brings in. A good recruiter is a good advertiser and communicator who leaves no stone unturned; but a good advertisement often has a lot of fine print or some highly subjective claims- (Was Shaeffer really the "one beer to have when you're having more than one"? It sounded good anyway, and it's beer so it's no lie- but the rest? Perhaps a little exaggeration based on my taste test.)
 
Recruiters called our house.. several times.. I explained that my daughter was an applicant to the Academies and wouldnt be enlisted.. they tried to explain to me the $$ they get for college... etc..

I then again said ACADEMY.. and he tried to tell me that it isnt any good.. ?!?! I was at a loss.. I asked him if he thought I was stupid and he again tried to tell me about the education plan that my DD can get if she enlists... blah blah blah.. I told him to have a fine day... and good luck..then I hung up...

LOL..
these guys will try anything......
 
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And we can all agree, if you're going to OCS, you aren't at West Point.

So, either he made a mistake in what he was saying, or was trying to get a quota....
 
They love high ASVAB scorers... They will do anything, and I mean ANYTHING to try and convince you that enlisting first is infinitely better than attending a service academy or ROTC... Just laugh it off :rofl:
 
The recruiters job is about the highest stress job around just because it is a never ending grind and the question is always: "what have you done for me lately" and lately is usually defined as the last couple of minutes. It's a numbers game and that guy is rated on how many fully qualified recruits he brings in.

So true. It is a tough life. And they will be bringing in YOUR troops in the near future. Learn to appreciate their difficulties.
 
Maybe the people who are depending on them to bring in those troops are hoping they continue to bring in qualified ones. Well before I received a commission, one of my very good friends was approached by a recruiter. When my friend informed him that he had no hearing in one ear, the recruiter told him not to worry about it, they would pass him through, no problem.

Learn to appreciate the need for qualified newcomers USNA69. Some people still have to work with them. Yes, they have a tough job, no doubt, and constantly playing a numbers game doesn't help them, but neither do some of the tactics that create stories like those above.
 
The Army recruiter who said one can fly as enlisted was not lying - many Army chopper pilots are warrant officers who began their careers as enlisted.

As far as USMA goes - any enlisted soldier who is academically and medically qualified and a good soldier is all but guaranteed admission to USMA. One can apply as soon as one enlists. Not the best route for everyone but it is a route. It is a circuitous route and not for everyone but it's there.

When my daughter was in high school she got calls.
She explained to a very nice Army recruiter that she was a candidate to USMA. He asked if she had a 4.0 - nope; if she was class president, nope. He told her she should enlist. (she had other fine qualities)
He called back after Christmas and she told him that she won a Congressional Nomination. He asked her what she wanted to do and she said helicopter pilot. He asked her for her email address and she gave it to him. :eek:
Within an hour he emailed her a good luck email with a fabulous photo of a chinook hanging off a cliff.

BTW - There are a good number of enlisted soldiers who have college degrees and enlist. Plenty of folks have the opportunity to become an officer and choose not to for a variety of reasons. Not because they are too dumb to do anythng else.
 
There are a good number of enlisted soldiers who have college degrees and enlist. Plenty of folks have the opportunity to become an officer and choose not to for a variety of reasons. Not because they are too dumb to do anythng else.



Who said they were dumb? Look at the Air Force Bachelor degrees numbers...it's pretty impressive.
 
The Army recruiter who said one can fly as enlisted was not lying - many Army chopper pilots are warrant officers who began their careers as enlisted.

As far as USMA goes - any enlisted soldier who is academically and medically qualified and a good soldier is all but guaranteed admission to USMA. One can apply as soon as one enlists. Not the best route for everyone but it is a route. It is a circuitous route and not for everyone but it's there.


BTW - There are a good number of enlisted soldiers who have college degrees and enlist. Plenty of folks have the opportunity to become an officer and choose not to for a variety of reasons. Not because they are too dumb to do anythng else.

Very true. This is in fact the most educated force in the world. I kind of have a problem actually with parents laughing about hanging up on recruiters. These are 18 year olds who are supposed to be looking at a career in the military - and yet their mother is hanging up on the recruiter ? I gave my son every piece of literature and every phone call that came in from the recruiters and talked to him long and hard afterwards about the pro's and cons of enlisting after he graduated from HS. I am pleased at the choice he made last year- but it was his choice to make- not mine. As far as recruiters exaggerating; well that is an occupational hazard, but they are trying to do their job - which is to bring in quality recruits to fill the ranks of the Army (Navy, Marines, AF, CG) in the time of war. Put yourself in those shoes and appreciate that as Oldgrad points out - they are bringing in your soldiers and you owe them respect even if you decide you are not going to enlist.
 
Recruiters unfortunately have a job to do that has a lot of pressure put on them to "produce". Unfortunately, many will say a lot of things. When I first got into the air force; back in the stone age; I had the opportunity for about 3-4 months to assist a local recruiter. It was fun, and even exciting, but I heard the recruiter bend the truth quite a bit. Of course, 1978 was not the most popular time to join the military. Vietnam had only be done a couple of years, and people weren't standing in line to join. But the pressure put on a recruiter probably hasn't changed much.

My son had a call from an Army recruiter fall 2007. My son was at football practice so I said I'd give him a message. The recruiter wanted to see if my son wanted to either join the Army or Army reserves. I told him my son had been accepted to the air force academy. He said that if my son chose to join the army, they would help him pay for college??? I was sure that he didn't understand what I said. I repeated; "you did understand I said that my son has received an appointment to the air force academy; right?" He said he understood; but if my son would prefer to go to an "ACCREDITED SCHOOL" and have the Army pay for most of it, to make sure I have my son call him. Of course, all I could do was giggle and say; "That sounds great, I'll make sure he calls you."

Sorry for you Army supporters, but that goes beyond B.S.; this Army recruiter was a stupid moron. Anyway; take what they say with a grain of salt.
 
Get used to the calls......you will continue to get calls for your son/daughter while they are at the Academy. My parents got calls throughout most of my years at Kings Point. They would tell the guys that I was at a service academy and they would still continue to call. It becomes amusing...

I must say those guys do some of the hardest day to day work this side of combat though, so I'll give them some credit.
 
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