Recruiter issues.

[tanksoldier]

It's true that you have to keep looking... but is also true that you need the Army more than the Army wants you now, even as an 11B.

Economy in the crapper, deployments reduced, downsizing... everybody and their cat wants in the military now. Combine the economy with the reduced chance of going somewhere dangerous and you have all the "military as a welfare program" applicants lining up. Mostly in jobs and services where they don't think they'll ever actually get shot at, but the combat arms have plenty of applicants as well.

Ten years ago that recruiter, or his predecessor, was working 16+ hour days and not making mission, getting screamed at (literally) by his chain of command and receiving crappy efficiency reports that damaged their future career because they couldn't make mission even with dropping the standards and taking in prior felons, morons, druggies and whatever else.

Now the worm has turned. Standards are back up, applicants are lining up out the door and he doesn't need to do any waiver paperwork if he doesn't want to. If he hasn't kept in contact he doesn't need you there's no reason for him to keep in touch. He's got better things to do like spend time with his family, going on vacation and just hanging out. He's probably had 3-4 deployments by this point in his career and is looking forward to taking it easy for a year or two.

When he needs more recruits there will be somebody at his door. You or somebody else, it's all the same to him.

I'm in the bay area and I think they need more recruits

Fewer qualified recruits, even tho the population density is higher.

The service looks at population density and sets the number of recruits to come from a given geo area, and then that "mission" gets divided up between teh recruiters in eth area, but the services don't always factor in the higher crime, drug use, lower HS completion rate, etc. Some estimate that 75% of the potential applicant pool is ineligible or otherwise unsuited to military service... 3 in 4... and those numbers are higher in urban areas.

Generally speaking the Corps has the highest physical and moral standards of any of the services, and declines to waiver many issues that other services will overlook.

[Scuba Steve33]

If any of you guys are near Compton trying to join one of my buddies is a recruiter there. He was one of the squad leaders in my platoon and was awarded the Silver Star on our deployment. After completing recruiter school there was one office that was in need of someone they knew could handle it and he was sent there. If anyone is serious PM me.

[ParadigmGuy]

No answer at his office either? What did they say when you showed up at their office?

[Cactuscooler]

I guess they changed the requirements "

Absolutely no felonies, absolutely no drug or alcohol charges (to include misdemeanors). Expunged charges still disqualify you, and your juvenile record counts. Absolutely no domestic violence charges (to include misdemeanors). All other misdemeanors will be considered if all charges are paid off, all forms of probation are complete, the case is closed, and you have all court documents."

Before It wasn't an issue. Guess I'm prohibited from joining. Phuck.....

This is what it said before

"Minimum qualifications:
Must be between the ages of 17 and 34 years old. Prior service applicants (with a good discharge) fall under a different rule. Call for details.
We do not take any felonies. No more than one misdemeanor.
You must have a high school diploma or 15 college credits. ***Our new program will allow you to join if you DO NOT have a GED, but not if you already have one***
There are NO exceptions to any of the above requirements.



Can't believe I wanted to give this recruiter the oppertunity to enlist my two friends, and in the end he just wasted all of our time and hopes.

[BrianRodela]

Poor decisions will always come back to haunt you,.......welcome to the big boy world.

[SoCal_Sapper]

Poor decisions will always come back to haunt you,.......welcome to the big boy world.

This. Actions and Consequences.

[metalliman545]

Either on leave, he doesn't care, or you're charges were an issue. You do know you have to be of good character too, if they feel you aren't they are allowed to not accept you.

[metalliman545]

Sure, his loss, but the military's gain.

[NastyNate]

Call different recruiters in your area. Oftentimes, these guys hit their numbers and that is why they tell you that leaving at a certain time would be better as opposed to another time. If you keep calling different recruiters, you will eventually run into one that hasn't met his numbers yet. If all else fails, and you think you have what it takes, go talk to the USMC, they always need bodies.

[Cactuscooler]

Got a new recruiter. I'm taking the asvab this week. Hes alot more squared away.

Wish me luck guys!

[stevepsd]

My son who is a Bio-engineering major decided at the end of his freshman year in college (this past May) that he wanted to serve his country and finish is college education later, even giving up his academic scholarship. We were not surprised at his decision.

Since we are a Air Force family, that was his choice. It took months to get a recruiter to talk to him. Since we live in a remote area, the closest recruiter(s) are at least 100 miles away. We called recruiters all over, at least a dozen offices, for months. Not one called back. Ever. Some you could not even leave message for. And forget about getting a response to emails (from the USAF recruiting website).

Even driving down and by-chance finding someone in the office (most offices were closed - during the day!) the recruiter told us his was 'busy' and would call up back the next day. Never heard from him again. Even after leaving at least a dozen voice messages. Very, very discouraging.

We finally got a-hold of a live one over the phone and told him the problem we had been having and I think he took sympathy on my sons plight. He asked what seemed like a 100 questions. Any wrong response was a automatic DQ. After passing the verbal test, the recruiter wanted to know his AVSAB scores, which he did not have since the AVSAB was given on at the same time as the SAT's.

The recruiter set an appointment for the following week to come down and take a AVSAB pre-test. He passed without missing a question. That really got the recruiters attention. Suddenly the previous '6-8 months' to go to MEPS was reduced to 'what are you doing next week ?'

He went to MEPS and passed the physical's and took the AVSAB. He scored 95+ in every area. That really got their attention.

He was given 7+ pages of jobs he was eligible for and was told to choose 10 and he would be guaranteed one of the ten. He then entered into the Delayed Entry Program.

After 4+ months he his still waiting to hear on what job he will get and when he will ship out to boot camp. The recruiter is telling him it is usually a 6-8 month wait.

All in all it has been a very frustrating process. Much different than that of 30 years ago!

Thank goodness we finally found a good recruiter, even if it it took months and months and trying no fewer than a dozen different recruiting offices.

Now just waiting.

[epilepticninja]

The one thing about the Air Force, is that there is never a shortage of people trying to get in it. Especially these days with the job market the way it is. I spent 24 years as a zoomie, best thing that ever happened to me.

[CavTrooper]

So... what happened?

[thehummerguy]

As everyone has said...New recruiter...I got Jerked around when I went to go back in after a 10yr Break in Service...1yr of wasted time with 2 BS NG recruiters and ended up in the AF Reserve in 30days from the time the recruiter called me on the Phone...Green to Blue baby...But Im old now so it suites me fine....and Travis is a Nice base.

[mreed]

Yea, your recruiter was just fartin around or something, im currently in the DEP for the Marines, i took my asvab, week later finished all my paperwork, day after that i was in LA MEPS swearing in.