God bless you, Old Sarge. Best of luck in your new venture! :-)
nutmeg & zelig
Posted on 09/29/2004 7:41:48 AM PDT by Old Sarge
I can't imagine anyone better suited for the job.
Your principle and conviction will surely be wonderful tools of persuasion.
I'd be happy to help in any way I can.
God bless you, Old Sarge. Best of luck in your new venture! :-)
nutmeg & zelig
Thank you both for the ping!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.
1. Cold calls suck.
2. Quotas suck.
3. Lectures suck.
4. Watching your prospect take the oath...priceless.
From a Navy Reserve recruiter - best to you and learn your forms, manuals, and references inside out.
All I can say is good luck Sarge!
Well if you set up a ping list I'll go for it.
Sarge.......I salute you! GOD's speed and GOD bless you,for all that you have done and all that you are about to do now.
((((((((((((((((((((( Old Sarge )))))))))))))))))))))))))))
God Bless you and good luck! If I wasn't 45 and basically a wuss, lol, I'd sign up!
September 11, 2002
President's Remarks to the Nation
Ellis Island
New York, New York
Spirit of Freedom Tribute
THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. A long year has passed since enemies attacked our country. We've seen the images so many times they are seared on our souls, and remembering the horror, reliving the anguish, re-imagining the terror, is hard -- and painful.
For those who lost loved ones, it's been a year of sorrow, of empty places, of newborn children who will never know their fathers here on earth. For members of our military, it's been a year of sacrifice and service far from home. For all Americans, it has been a year of adjustment, of coming to terms with the difficult knowledge that our nation has determined enemies, and that we are not invulnerable to their attacks.
Yet, in the events that have challenged us, we have also seen the character that will deliver us. We have seen the greatness of America in airline passengers who defied their hijackers and ran a plane into the ground to spare the lives of others. We've seen the greatness of America in rescuers who rushed up flights of stairs toward peril. And we continue to see the greatness of America in the care and compassion our citizens show to each other.
September 11, 2001 will always be a fixed point in the life of America. The loss of so many lives left us to examine our own. Each of us was reminded that we are here only for a time, and these counted days should be filled with things that last and matter: love for our families, love for our neighbors, and for our country; gratitude for life and to the Giver of life.
We resolved a year ago to honor every last person lost. We owe them remembrance and we owe them more. We owe them, and their children, and our own, the most enduring monument we can build: a world of liberty and security made possible by the way America leads, and by the way Americans lead our lives.
The attack on our nation was also attack on the ideals that make us a nation. Our deepest national conviction is that every life is precious, because every life is the gift of a Creator who intended us to live in liberty and equality. More than anything else, this separates us from the enemy we fight. We value every life; our enemies value none -- not even the innocent, not even their own. And we seek the freedom and opportunity that give meaning and value to life.
There is a line in our time, and in every time, between those who believe all men are created equal, and those who believe that some men and women and children are expendable in the pursuit of power. There is a line in our time, and in every time, between the defenders of human liberty and those who seek to master the minds and souls of others. Our generation has now heard history's call, and we will answer it.
America has entered a great struggle that tests our strength, and even more our resolve. Our nation is patient and steadfast. We continue to pursue the terrorists in cities and camps and caves across the earth. We are joined by a great coalition of nations to rid the world of terror. And we will not allow any terrorist or tyrant to threaten civilization with weapons of mass murder. Now and in the future, Americans will live as free people, not in fear, and never at the mercy of any foreign plot or power.
This nation has defeated tyrants and liberated death camps, raised this lamp of liberty to every captive land. We have no intention of ignoring or appeasing history's latest gang of fanatics trying to murder their way to power. They are discovering, as others before them, the resolve of a great country and a great democracy. In the ruins of two towers, under a flag unfurled at the Pentagon, at the funerals of the lost, we have made a sacred promise to ourselves and to the world: we will not relent until justice is done and our nation is secure. What our enemies have begun, we will finish.
I believe there is a reason that history has matched this nation with this time. America strives to be tolerant and just. We respect the faith of Islam, even as we fight those whose actions defile that faith. We fight, not to impose our will, but to defend ourselves and extend the blessings of freedom.
We cannot know all that lies ahead. Yet, we do know that God had placed us together in this moment, to grieve together, to stand together, to serve each other and our country. And the duty we have been given -- defending America and our freedom -- is also a privilege we share.
We're prepared for this journey. And our prayer tonight is that God will see us through, and keep us worthy.
Tomorrow is September the 12th. A milestone is passed, and a mission goes on. Be confident. Our country is strong. And our cause is even larger than our country. Ours is the cause of human dignity; freedom guided by conscience and guarded by peace. This ideal of America is the hope of all mankind. That hope drew millions to this harbor. That hope still lights our way. And the light shines in the darkness. And the darkness will not overcome it.
May God bless America.
Old Sarge, congratulations on your new challenge. Coming from a 24 year Air National Guard member and a shop Superintendent, I can give you some general ideas. Today's young folks, and I have several new recruits working for me, are VERY interested in educational benefits, bonuses, and the less tangible rewards that come with military service.
I would suggest you get as smart as possible on the current education benefits offered by both the Army, the Guard and your State. It can be a complex web of grants, tuition assistance, GI Bill, and "kickers" that go a LONG way to paying for nearly every penny of education towards any degree their interested in.
Learn about each career and the bonuses attached. Some career fields may require interviews with the Supervisor or Officer in Charge to get their approval for the candidate (such as my area does).
Become familiar with the weight requirements, as that can throw a big monkey wrench onto an otherwise great candidate. Make sure he/she meets it BEFORE an enlistment physical.
Brush up on rank progression requirements. Folks will want to know what it will take to succeed and be prepared for it. I always tell my folks that no one is more concerned about their progression than they are. If they aren't making any progress they need to know what is required and if they meet it, speak up to make sure they get what's due them. Supervisors get pretty busy with the day-to-day brushfires and those pesky promotions can slip through the cracks!
As others have said, honesty and sincerity will go a long way. Even though these kids are interested, their also intimidated and scared of the unknown. Mentoring probably comes with the territory.
Good luck to you. I'm sure you will do well.
Thanks for the ping, Howlin!
Thank you for your service, Old Sarge!
Thank you for your past service, and the best of luck for your future service!
(Just don't wear jammies on the job....)
God bless you real good sir...
Thanks, Sarge, for all you've done and best of success in this new "MOS". Find some more "rough men willing to do violence on behalf of others", so that we might continue to sleep peacefully. Safe travels to you.
bump
Whatever you need, you got it
Looks like you've put that old canard to rest; you're not fading away at all.
Thanks, those new recruits need your wisdom, we'll help our with factual minutia here on the forum.
My husband recruited for four years for the Air Force and is now still working for Recruiting Services at a different level. I'm so grateful the active recruiting days are over. They were difficult then, but I can't imagine trying to recruit today with the world climate the way it is. While the USAF basically stopped recruiting for the past several months, I understand the other services are having difficulty reaching goals. You have my prayers and support, not to mention admiration! Best of luck to you in your efforts!
About the only advice I can offer is to maintain your honesty and not be pressured by the goal into compromising your ethics. I say this not because I doubt you, but because I've seen the pressure applied and I have known many who resorted to means they never assumed they would.
Take care of yourself and be willing to find ways to relax in whatever "down time" you get. If you begin feeling stressed, FIND AN OUTLET! Exercise, talk about it, painting, break dance...whatever! Just do it! Finally,find ways to make it enjoyable during the "pressure periods."
Looking back, my post is really negative sounding. I'm sorry for that! Recruiting has some very wonderful aspects, but it can also take its toll! The "Hero to Zero" factor every month starts getting old, fast! Just keep your chin up and remember to enjoy every day!
I don't know the area you're in, but I hope you are flooded with fresh recruits from the start! Best of luck!
You Wrote: While I can't do a lot, I can do a little in honor of your service. I think I'll order some pizzas and send them down to our local recruiting office today.
I can't tell you how much my husband would have appreciated that when he was recruiting! Not only because of the appreciation felt, but because he rarely had time to get something to eat! What an awesome idea you have! Thank you for doing that for whatever lucky office benefits!
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