What questions should we ask the RECRUITER?

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

My daughter is talking to RECRUITER for military service, and we have someone coming by from the Army tonight.

Can you please help me with questions to ask?

We plan to talk to all branches before she decides. Thank you for any help.

[twstearman]

She can take the ASVAB with any of the services. And if she's not really interested in the Army after the test, she can talk to any of the others - her test score will stand.

[jz638]

one more thing... the shiny bonus and guaranteed job is nothing more than a wager with Uncle Sam that she can successfully be trained for that job. She loses the bet, she's at the mercy of her superiors and she won't see the bonus. The training is made to be passed but sometimes passing just isn't in the cards.

[TSgt]

If she likes bobbing up and down on an air mattress at the enlisted pool between games of golf, try the Air Force.

Excuse me but I never did this when I was in the Air Force...okay...maybe once or twice...but it was after a long 4 hour workday... ;)

[Yasotay]

Just remember all enlistments are really for 8 years AND don't forget: STOP LOST

Get signing bonuses ($) in writing.

[68skylark]

Otherwise, they'll put her into whatever they feel like they need. Cook, Clerk, Garbage can washer, etc.

Actually that's not quite true. The ASVAB scores are mostly what counts here. Someone with strong scores will be offered jobs that require strong scores.(And the Army is phasing out cooks as an MOS -- I don't think that's an option any longer.)

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

What is the enlistment bonus?

After she enlists in the Air Force you can FRmail me for more info. I spent 6 years in the U.S.A.F. Reserves and my hubby has been in for 34 years. My son in taking his physical this weekend to join his father's unit.

[Ben Mugged]

In 1967 I turned down a cross-service commission as an Army 2nd Lt to fly rotary wings in Viet Nam (I was an Air Force Sgt). Average life span of a 'copter pilot was 10 missions. So they made me a gunner on a B52 instead.

[Not A Snowbird]

Marine Corps! Ooh Rah!

The only advice I have to give is read the fine print and get every promise in writing.

If she's guaranteed a certain occupational specialty, make sure it's spelled out and there's no possibility of loopholes.

[ladtx]

I turned down a cross-service commission as an Army 2nd Lt to fly rotary wings in Viet Nam

You should have taken it. It was uhhh---ummm----interesting at the least. The years afterwards were just plain fun.

[31M20RedDevil]

"ALSO DEMAND A RANK OF E2 OR HIGHER UPON COMPLETION OF BASIC TRAINING! I thought that that was SOP.It was for us back in '69."

Yeah,I was in the Army then too,back then everyone made Spec 4 in 3 or 4 months it seemed like.
We had more buck sgts than today I`d bet.
If I had a daughter today I think I`d reccomend AF. It`s true you need to get anything the recruiter says in writing.

[A.A. Cunningham]

If we need CAS the Air Force is absolutely the last outfit we call.

Not everyone in the Marine Corps is a grunt and your statement is a sign of ignorance. There's a cornucopia of highly technical MOSs in the Corps, particularly in the wing.

Over the years I've interviewed quite a few Air Force trained techs who couldn't hold a candle to former Marines and squids.

[american_ranger]

Here are some normal loopholes:

1. Guaranteed training. This means that you will be assigned o that trainng but they can reassign you the next day or wash you out of that training for any reason. My son was guaranteed Rangeer training. When he got there they were 250% overasigned. He got washed out on day two due to not dropping for push-ups quick enough. I saw it coming when I read his contract.

2.They will promise you an assignemnt but when you show up to sign they contract, they will suddenly "discover" that that assignment is full and do a "bait and switch" to something else.

3. They will tell you that you cannot take the contract home to study it. "It is against the rules" they will say. They lie.

3.a. They will act just like time share salemen. If you say know and refuse to sign the contract, they will bring in the bigger guns, keep you isolated (even sitting in a room alone), and do everything possible to break you down.

4. Whatever money they offer, there is more available if you hold out. Pretend they are used car salesmen in reverse.

5. Play off the individual branch recruiters against each other. Don't let you or anyone else let them know which way you are leaning. They will use it against you.

By the way I love the military, I just know that the recruiters' job is to recruit people and leave as much in Uncle Sam's pocket as possible. There are books available written by recruiters. Also websites with more information. Google on military recruters.

[Not A Snowbird]

I'm done with recruiters, thanks. I already did my 20+ years. :-)

[Ben Mugged]

I didn't get to see much of the country inside a B52. My position was next to the Bomb/Nav and completely surrounded by windowless aircraft. His name was Harold and he had a bad habit of eating beans and drinking beer before missions. He often wondered why I kept my oxygen mask on for the entire mission. Noisy and your feet froze while your head roasted. Only time I pulled the trigger was to clear the 50's. I could barely hear them firing from our position in the middle of the aircraft. We were stationed in Guam so the round-trip to 'Nam was long and weary..

[ODC-GIRL]

Over 20 years in the Air National Guard and making Senior Master Sergeant (E-8) on Saturday. The reserves of the Air Force have been very good to me. I am a Supervisor in a field I have always enjoyed. I have FORMER Marines, Army and Navy folks working for me and without exception, they all have been pleased with the Air Force.

If she's set on going active duty, fine, but the Reserves or Guard may be an option to getting her feet wet and getting a lot of benefits. She could always go Active Duty later.

I've had a full-time job since 9-11 and, despite the talk of cuts, there are awesome opportunities announced every day.

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

"AND don't forget: STOP LOST"

What is "stop lost"?

[armymarinemom]

Just read the fine print and then ask questions. Cindy Sheehan obviously never read the fine print.

[TSgt]

Not everyone in the Marine Corps is a grunt and your statement is a sign of ignorance.

Yes they are. They even tell them in basic training that they are a grunt first before anything. Again I was not slamming the Marines. I was just responding to the "your not a man if you don't join the Marines" comment.

[weps4ret]

Short of starting an inter-service rival flame.

Two more words, Coast Guard. Highest ASVAB scores required. They actually do something, besides train to do something. Saving lives, Port Security, Environmental Protection, Pollution Response, Drug Interdiction, and Law Enforcement. An E-4 is a fully sanctioned Federal Law Enforcement Officer. We all know how to swim, no longer are issued Jesus Sandals, and we no longer have to be six feet tall.

Semper Paratus

Gunner

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

"Just read the fine print and then ask questions. Cindy Sheehan obviously never read the fine print."

Don't get me started on that traitor, She sickens me!
I know some of the guys who served with her son, and they say he would die all over again if he could see what she has done to our country in his name.
BTW, what a sorry excuse for a mother!

LOL I told you I can't stand her.