Army halts recruiting for reassessment.

[Art Sandusky 0]

Army to order 1-day break from recruiting

 

Move comes amid reports of inappropriate sign-up methods

 

From Jamie McIntyre

CNN Washington Bureau

 

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Army plans to stop recruiting activities for one day this month to review procedures that its 7,500 recruiters use, an Army official said.

 

Maj. Gen. Michael Rochelle, head of the Army Recruiting Command, is expected to make the announcement, which could come as early as Thursday.

 

The move follows a CBS News report of least two allegations of recruiting abuse.

 

In one case, the network reported a recruiter suggesting how a potential volunteer might cheat to pass a drug test, and in another, a sergeant threatened a prospect with arrest if he didn't report to a recruiting station.

 

The Army said it is investigating the allegations.

 

A senior Army officer said Wednesday that the "stand-down" is being ordered not only because of possible misconduct but also because the service has had a difficult time attracting volunteers. The Army wants to assess the stress facing recruiters.

 

With the war in Iraq, recruiters face increased pressure to meet their recruiting goals. The Army has missed its recruiting targets for three months, and the National Guard and Army Reserve also have fallen short of their goals.

 

The purpose of halting recruitment for a day is to refocus recruiters on their mission, reinforce the Army's core values and ensure its procedures are carried out consistently at all 1,700 stations, an Army spokesman said.

 

The procedure is highly unusual for the Recruiting Command, but "safety stand-downs" are routinely ordered in military aviation following a series of accidents that appear to have a common thread.

 

In the case of aviation, pilots and air crews are grounded for a day while they review proper procedures. An Army official could not say whether a recruiting stand-down has been ordered before.

[Guest Cerebus]

A friend of mine in the Navy finished his tour in Iraq and ended up becoming a recruiter near Boston. After about a month he complained that he would rather be back in Iraq (where he was in the shit more than once) than be stuck as a recruiter.

 

So, yeah, its that bad.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

The recruiter I've spoken to seemed to like it... but, from my soon-to-be father-in-law who works at INSCOM and speaks frequently to the Army's head recruiter dude (I can't think of his real title offhand), this is a RAMPANT problem, so it doesn't surprise me that they're finally addressing it.

[GeneMean 0]

Recruiting sucks ass. I served seven years in the Navy. As my first assignment was coming to an end, BUPERS issued a mandate that ALL sailors headed to shore duty are to be screened for recruiting duty due to a lack of volunteers. Due my job rating as a personnelman I ended up being assigned to processing at the Houston MEPS. My job was to essentially reject the crap the recruiters were trying to put into the Navy. I had to put up with recruiters telling kids how to pass drug tests/buying cleanout kits from GNC, paying for abortions, forged medical records, phony parental consent, et al. The recruiters I knew worked twelve hours days, six days a week under intense pressure from the brass to put kids into the service. It was, and I'm sure still is, very common for these guys to cheat anyway possible to bring in their 1.5 kids a month and keep the CO's off their backs.

[mister foozel 0]

so michael moore got somethng right in his movie?

 

asshole..

[Guest Vitamin X]

Yup, the guy who recruited me into the Marines encouraged me to lie about practically all of my psychiatric history (which included being in independent study-type shit in high school as well) to get through the screening process without a problem. I had 3 1/2 weeks left in boot camp, being one of the top recruits in my company (squad leader and all that shit) before I was notified that I was going to get discharged for fradulent enlistment. But my recruiter still was able to meet his quota because of me regardless and get his transfer to where he wanted. Fucking asshole.

 

Although, looking back, I probably would've been in Iraq had I gone through it, and my MOS (job specialty) was as a tank crewman, so I figure it was a stroke of luck.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Yeah, I had heard about this. Basically, some student journalist feigned being a drop-out student at the local recruitment office, and was told just about everything he wanted to hear in regards to signing up. No diploma? No problem!

[MrRant 0]

My fool cousin tried to join the Navy with a GED and was turned down instantly.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

They don't accept that as equal? Eh. Is that right.

 

Well, if they hold onto their "There's not gonna be a draft" claim, then I'm in the cool and clear.

[MrRant 0]

They would let him in if he completed at least 2 years of community college to show that he could stick with something.

[SuperJerk 0]

I remember one of the first things they told us when we got to Boot Camp was "who must disclose this information, even if your recruiter told you not to" in regards to various questions they were asking.

 

Never

Again

Volunteer

Yourself

 

My fool cousin tried to join the Navy with a GED and was turned down instantly.

 

Was this before the Iraq War?

 

Maybe he got a 0 score on the ASVAB.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I remember one of the first things they told us when we got to Boot Camp was "who must disclose this information, even if your recruiter told you not to" in regards to various questions they were asking.

 

Never

Again

Volunteer

Yourself

 

My fool cousin tried to join the Navy with a GED and was turned down instantly.

 

Was this before the Iraq War?

 

Maybe he got a 0 score on the ASVAB.

I know, but I'm aware of a few people who were able to get by with a few white lies from recruiters. A couple years' worth of psychiatric treatment including rehab which also affected my high school education was just a TAD much to ignore by the Marines, though.

[MrRant 0]

He didn't even get a chance to take the test.

 

And it was like 2-3 years ago.

[Guest Cerebus]

By the way, don't take this to mean all recruiters are dicks or heartless assholes. Some of them will be very helpful and have some pride in their work. Many others will not particularly like the job but try to do it to the best of their abilities.

 

That being said, though, its best to be on the safe side. When my brother in law was signing up about 2 years ago (or so) I told him to wait till I went on leave to start signing shit. When I was on leave I went down with him and heard the recruiter out and took notes. After the meeting, I told my brother in law what the recruiter said was true or fairly true (more than you'd think), what was an outright lie (some), and what was a half-truth/exaggeration (the majority).

 

My advice for anyone who wants to go into the military. DO. YOUR. HOMEWORK. Bring a friend who is in the military along with you or take notes of what the recruiter says and ask that friend if its BS or not. If you don't have a friend in the military, or even if you do, go here and read everything you possibly can and post on the message boards asking for help. You'll get good advice there, I know from personal experience.

 

And, most important, remember THAT YOU ARE IN CONTROL. As you get nearer to enlistement the recruiter will be putting on the pressure. Remember, every threat he might make is almost always total crap. If you change your mind DON'T SIGN THAT PAPER. If you want to walk away, walk away. When you sign the paper, your life is then out of your hands and getting it back, should you want to, is not easy.

[I like Forums 0]

What is the punishment to the recruiters if they don't pull in enough people?

[The Czech Republic 0]

Twenty lashes (like they do down in Singapore)

[CheesalaIsGood 0]

Someone calls there mom and they go to bed without dessert.

 

 

My recruiter was a cool guy. Told me jumping out of an airplane was better than sex. His wife must not have been that hot. Even if it is true.

[SuperJerk 0]

And it was like 2-3 years ago.

That explains it.