Posted on 09/29/2004 7:41:48 AM PDT by Old Sarge
Dear FRiends:
Many of you who inhabit this virtual home of ours, know me by reputation, and a few personally. I am so proud to be counted among your ranks, and numbered among your company. We laugh, we cheer, we argue, we fight, we weep, we support, and we live, all in this place we call home. And all who do know me, know that my greatest wish is to serve this nation of ours in uniform.
That opportunity has arisen once again, as I return to Active Duty once more. This time, though, the mission is something unique to my experience, something I have never done in twenty-plus years of Active, Reserve and National Guard service. For as of next month, I shall become… a Recruiter.
Yes, you heard it. I shall shortly become one of those intrepid souls who venture out into the countryside, into the schools, the marketplaces, the state and county fairs, and anywhere else that citizens gather, to bring to them the virtues and distinctiveness of military life.
Now, I am going to confess something, here. I know that I shall be bringing to the job a very unique set of skills and experiences. I know that usually the older recruiters have an advantage over younger troops in the job, because they’ve seen and done so much more. That would be true, if this were a parallel universe.
This is a nation at war. A war that is not only on the battlefields, but also in the minds and hearts of its’ own citizens. Young folks today are technologically savvy, have better access to more data, and their innate distrust of adults has been hardened by focus-group-tested ads. In short, I shall be playing to a very hostile audience, which has been fed the bitter food of a poisoned ideology.
And this is where you, each of you, come in. As I begin this mission, I am recognizing that I must be better informed than anyone else, more than ever before, about more issues than I gave myself time to consider. And there is no better place to find these things, as I tell my soldiers who ask me, than Free Republic.
I need links, Web pages, facts and evidence, for the questions and sound bites that will be cast upon me. Young people have issues that matter to them: jobs, education, the “draft”, to name a few. I don’t doubt there are others; I need those, as well.
So, consider this an open appeal to my Pajama Patriot comrades. Help me to prepare for these upcoming debates. Arm me with fact and truth. Equip me with the data, debunked or confirmed, to do one sincere thing: to help me articulate what I might not otherwise say clearly, that their nation, this mightiest and best of nations, is worth their support and their service, and that there is no more honorable and noble title than United States Service Member.
Vigilantly Yours,
OLD SARGE
Sarge,
For what it is worth, bring history into your presentation. As much as possible, deflect all politics. Keep it simple. Keep it American.
You know there will be many issues raised around the war in Iraq. The issue of how we got there will arise often, as will why we cannot just abandon the war now that Saddam has been toppled.
On the first count, we are in Iraq today because we did not topple Saddam the first time around. Had we completed the job in the Gulf War we would have saved tens of thousands of Iraqi lives, and quite possibly the thousand plus American lives we have lost in the recent war.
That experience is also the reason we must stay in Iraq and complete the job. If we don't see this to a peaceful conclusion now, the very people you will be recruiting will be sending their sons and daughters to a third war a decade down the road. The new recruits will not be fighting just for our country. They will be fighting so their children can have peace one day.
Remind your audience of WWI and the Gulf War, and the consequence of not achieving a just peace. And remind them that the street fighting in Germany did not end with the surrender after WWII. It took years to stabilize Germany.
Take our history with you and leave the politics aside. I wish you every success.
BTTT for later, Old Sarge. God bless you, big time.
God bless you, Sarge. We'll be happy to support you however we can.
But not in a gay way.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Thank you, sir. Your service is greatly appreciated.
Record the debate tomorrow. Think about how President Bush talks about the really important things in life. Try to enter into his mind. (I know that sounds hippy-dippy new age, but it's the only way I know to express this.)
Good luck, and God Bless!
God bless you!
Good luck in reelin' them in!
Well darlin' good for you being out finding the best for our ranks. The youth calls us old, we recognize it as maturity & wisdom. so you go get up you old, wise guy!!!
{{{ Old Sarge }}}
Godspeed, Old Sarge.
As one of the youth you refer to (16), I can say that there are still those of us who reject the stereotypical rebellious nature of our peers, and would fight to the death for our country.
I firmly believe we are the Silent Majority, and you will probably only find a few youth unwilling to serve or ungrateful enough to refuse to protect the freedom they exploit so well.
Or perhaps that's just because I live in the conservative South. Regardless, Godspeed, and thank you.
I am officially starting a PING list, maybe later on a thread, about this very thing.
BUMP
A couple of "pointers" to add to my other post. I spent years recruiting for a different type of venue. Two things that are most important:
Remember FORM. FORM is that which is most important to everyone, no matter their age, income or background.
F=Family and friends
O=Occupation
R=Recreation
M=Money
When you find out where they stand with these things, your answers and comments can reflect there priorities. Is there reason for interest a concern for their families safety, or are their doubts due to family concerns etc.
What are their other occupational choices chance for advancement, travel etc.
Recreation, how does there other employment options tie in with that etc. how concerned are they with losing recreational choices..
Money, what are their concerns with income etc.
I'm sure this is covered in your training, but I thought I would point out the importance of it.
As for how to reply to questions, comments. Often when people offer an objection, they already know the answer. Asking them questions in response is usually a better way to "answer" otherwise you often risk talking them out of something.
I'll do the legwork, and let you know the details of what I find!
The other issue is that I had pulled him out of school to homeschool him due to his ADHD and he was on ritilin at the time, he's not taken it for over 8 years now, but I understand that his having taken it and never having attended a school since then to prove his capability to function with out it might disallow him from being recruited. I think you may run into a lot of kids who are on ritilin, how do you deal with that? is there a work around?
My son, The Boy, is currently on time-release Ritalin; he also has ADHD.
The official line is: If a recruit has been on Ritalin or similar in the past, but HAS NOT BEEN ON FOR TWO YEARS, is good to go. And if ADHD is diagnosed as a pre-existing condition, as long as you've got it documented as such, you're also good.
You can imagine the relief I felt, when I learned that The Boy can follow is grandfather and his dad in uniform.
I'll get a better idea once I'm out on the trail, talking with the new generation.
I really do sincerely, hope you're right.
What's the upper age limit for enlisting in any branch of the armed services?
(what about age 46?)
God Bless, Old Sarge.
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