Hmmm. There's some fudgery in our experience.
1) The Marine recruiter told my son [and me] that once he took his physical and passed it, he would be sworn in, and that he would then be the property of the US Marines [even though his entry is delayed until July]. We know that this isn't true. He's not "in" unless and until he actually climbs onto that bus.
2) Prior to his physical and ensuing swearing-in, the recruiter assured my son that he would not be going to boot camp until the agreed upon date in July. Once my son passed that physical, that tune suddenly changed. He told my son that he could send him to boot camp at any time after he graduates high school. Another lie. My son would have to agree to go early.
The problem is that his particular recruiter was a self-serving liar, detested by everyone else working out of that recruiting office. He's been replaced.
It seems to me that enlisting is like buying a used car. You better know your business. [We had FReeper input to help us out.]
Recruiting is just like any field, there's some bad apples as well as fruits and nuts.
But unlike most jobs, military recruiters are not ofter volunteers, usually don't look forward to the duty, and their careers are constantly threatened by their superiors if they don't wrack up their numbers.
And that is during peace time!
I think he was trying to get him to act like a Marine and not do anything stupid. I heard of someone who on their last day as a civilian before reporting to MEPS went to a pot party since it was their last day and they wouldn't be able to smoke pot for the next 4 to 6 years. Of course, the drug test picked it up and they were not allowed in. "Sorry Charlie." I don't know what happened to them after that.