First D they called and I said I had no idea where she lived. Second D opted out on the list that option came into existence that year.
I am a proud veteran, and son of a 26 year vet of 3 branches who served in 3 wars. So I am biased. My children got calls, and they dealt with them, even having a recruiter over to the house for a discussion even though there was no interest in joining. My son felt it was respectful to hear them out. The ability to politely decline military service, is a right you were given by those who chose to accept the invitation. I expect to get flamed for this…But that’s ok.
penzly, that’s admirable, nothing imflammable that I see. Of course, it’s esy to equate unsolicited recruiting calls with unsolicited sales calls and when a recruiter keeps coming back for more after no encouragement, I can understand anyone’s irritation. My son explored a specialized enlistment option and sought out a recruiter, but was told a health condition would block him. Hubby is proud veteran - and I’m proud to ge associated with him and thankful for all who serve.
My issues are with the recruiters who mislead, so that is why I think it’s risky even talking to a recruiter unless you are pretty sure you are interested. They can be awesome salesmen and women. They assure a kid that they will be in a certain career field, and before you know it, they are doing something completely different. The recruiter is trying to fill THEIR hard to fill spots, not put the individual where they would like to go. And people don’t understand that once you are in, the needs of the military surpass any need or desire that you have. No matter what was promised.
I say this as someone who was very glad to have served in the military, and is very proud of those who serve.
I haven’t got any calls, but I guess I’m off their radar since I’m home schooled. So do they call girls these days too? Seems like they should, it’s only equal. I don’t think a call or two would be obnoxious, I mean some kids might be interested. Repetitive calls after already expressed disinterest would be irritating though.
While on the topic of the enlisting in the military, does anyone know anyone who’s joined prior to graduating high school? One of my friends is thinking to try that, I guess he could join when he turns 17 next year then do basic training in summer and then get in once he finishes high school. Is that generally a good thing to do for someone who wants to enlist? I’d never heard of that until he mentioned it, and I’m not sure exactly what the point is except from a “wanna join up quick” standpoint. Does it help your placement or something? And would he have to ASVAB when he enlists or when he graduates?
Edit: Actually I don’t think he would go to basic before graduating high school, he’d just prepare for it.
Busdriver11, very good comment and reminder. I should have added to my post that, although Hubby considers his military experience life changing and ultimately extremely rewarding, he was recruited into a specialized branch that fulfilled a recruiter’s quota. This was not the area of his original interest, he was sales-talked into a different situation than he had wanted because he didn’t understand the recruiter’s motivation to hook him. I worked with a young woman similarly recruited into an area not of interest to her, she regretted the entire experience and was bitter that she’d been “lied to” anout the ability to change specialties after enrolling. Good warning!
So, if you are lied too, can you get out of the contract? I assume there is such thing.
Thats a good question, but I doubt it.
But recruiters ( like police) often lie.
One of Ds friends was assigned to be a recruiter for the Marines. He hated it so much he asked to go to Iraq.
They happily sent him.
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/recruiterlies.htm
Our neighbor was told he would be trained to be a police officer (which is what he wanted). He was recruited and made to be a prison guard for the military. He hated it but we counseled his folks not to have him even think of going AWOL and sticking it out. He did but was so upset about being lied to. He decided he didn’t want to be a police officer after being a prison guard. As far as I know, he had no recourse for having been lied to.
We had a horrible experience. I’m sure there are good ones, but in this area they are overzealous salesmen, preying on the weaker students and those trying to get out of here. Their tactics are questionable and very pressure packed. S2 was flat out lied to, and got all the way to completing the full day of MEPS (military entrance processing). I made him promise me he would read the contract slowly, twice, no matter how much they were rushing him. He did, and saw what they had done.
He had a very uncomfortable 2+ hour ride home with a very unhappy recruiter. I was very proud of him, because it took a lot of maturity for an 18 year old in that situation to walk. I think S1 would have caved.
I have known several area youth whose experience was nothing like the picture the recruiter painted. Pretty sure there’s no recourse. YMMV, go in with eyes open.
But isn’t the military being cut a lot? Why are they recruiting so hard if they can’t support what they have? Or maybe that was just a few years ago and they’re funded better now?
We spend a great deal on the military.
Enlistment is down however, as unemployment is down.
Enlistment goes up, when unemployment goes up.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_budget_of_the_United_States
The army is the only I know where you are guaranteed to get the MOS /job for which you signed up/is on your contract. So if the army cancelled the MOS, you could leave.
Verify what is in the contract.
Scary what happened at the recruiting center in Chattanooga today. Sounds like a domestic violence situation. 4 dead.
Just Googled it and found out it was done by someone named Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez. ISIS?
I remember we used to get the recruiter calls during finals week!
“Our neighbor was told he would be trained to be a police officer (which is what he wanted). He was recruited and made to be a prison guard for the military. He hated it but we counseled his folks not to have him even think of going AWOL and sticking it out. He did but was so upset about being lied to. He decided he didn’t want to be a police officer after being a prison guard. As far as I know, he had no recourse for having been lied to.”
If he could not pass aptitude tests or meet training expectations they had the right to assign him to a job he was capable of performing.
Did any of the kids getting solicitations take the ASVAB? Way back in the 70’s I took it as a senior because we could have a day off. I took the Betty Crocker Future Homemaker for the same reason…and won it. I’m female but I’m very mechanical and I got in the high 90’s. My dad was a retired Colonel at the time. I had Air Force and Army recruiters calling and mailing things. At the time they were just letting females train to fix airplanes and other stuff. My best friend’s dad graduated from West Point, was an active duty Colonel and she enlisted. They sent her to college and Officer’s Candidate School. She left the Army after only about five years with a free Master’s.
My son is a rising senior and has only taken the SAT and PSAT. He is received material from the Army and I must admit it gave me a little negative tug at the idea of my baby joining the military. I’m glad some people’s children are willing to make the sacrifice.
But Osprey, can’t they still assign you to whatever they choose, no matter how you test? If there are few openings for what you want, yet they have a serious need for something else, you can’t guarantee anything. I had a friend who wanted to do something medical, yet ended up being assigned to be an aircraft mechanic. She was very angry, but could do little. Perhaps one could manipulate their test results…do poorly at what you don’t want to be assigned, and well at what you do.
You probably know better than I . 
Obviously the military is going to place someone where they are needed. Noone should go into the military expecting a “guarantee.” It’s a shame that some recruiters are dishonest about the reality.
For sure. It seems dishonorable to lie to recruits. Tell them what they want to hear, and then fill your undesirable slots with these kids.They should have them test, tell them what they can get, and if there isn’t a fit between what they want, what is available, and what they qualify for—don’t trick them into enlisting anyways. It’s about integrity, and I expect more from our armed forces recruiters. There are plenty of people trying to get into the military, you don’t need to mislead people.