Busy times for my recruiters...

Once more the recruiters in my life have been busy with the usual hunt. My friends are part of the hardest job in the military, bar none. The folks that serve on the front lines have to come from somewhere and to some of the most talented people I have ever known are in the ranks of the recuiting services of the Navy, the Marines, and the Air Force (Reserve and Active). I also champion the cause of my local Army National Guard troops who are just as professional and dedicated to finding those quality applicants who always seem to be found.

Generally speaking, you must meet these following basic requirements for even getting an appointment:

1. Be a US citizen or legal immigrant
2. Be at least 17, better yet 18
3. Be a High School Grad
4. Have no criminal record...parking tickets don't count.
5. Speak English

You may laugh at #5 but trust me, noy being able to understand such an imperative command as "GET THE HELL DOWN!!!!!!" can have very unfortunate outcomes. My recruiters work some long hours and many don't see home or family until sometimes well after 11 at night. An immensely strong family support network and strong spouses make things somewhat easier but only a little. The wives and husbands are also special and dedicated. Single recruiters don't last very long. You also have to be a special person just to be a recruiter. Part social worker, part therapist, part teacher, part mentor, and part adoptive parent. I don't know how things work in the Air Force DEP (Delayed Enlistment Program, eg not leaving right away for basic training) but my Marines seem to nurture, care for, and generally adopt their young charges who have signed up but not yet left. Naturally enough you won't see these Marines being gentle in terms we civilians understand, but I have seen many of my Marines mentor these gallant young men and women in a uniquely Marine Corps way and gentle is not part of it. Just because you have signed that contract and are waiting to leave doesn't make you a Marine.

There are many ways for a younster biding his or her time to leave to mess up. Something as mundane as a traffic ticket or two can see a would be Marine booted out or delayed. False statements on your paperwork can also get you into trouble. Pissing off your recruiter or his supervisor can get you into a world of discomfort. I have seen a young kid report for his shipping date reeeking of cannibis because he had had a going away party the night before and somebody had partaken of the drug. His departure was delayed some 7 months and more importantly had pissed of the Gunny, something even Majors and Generals are wisely unwilling to do. More about the power of Staff Seargents and Gunnery Seargents' powers in another post.

You see, the Corps is all about honesty and integrity. You say something and it turns out to be untrue then you are never believed again on that issue. You will be forgiven eventually but you will never be believed again. In a PC world where lying is rampant and encouraged outright, it is refreshing to be around these brutally honest (sometimes painfully so) men and women are refreshing to deal with. You DONOT ever misrepresent anything to a potential young Marine. Everything is out in writing as you speak with the applicant and if something is not the recruiter is held to account.

Recruiting is all about selling the idea of service to the American people and to your neighbour. If you do it well you attract the right sort of person to serve and the better the quality of that person the better it is for the Corps. Gone are the days where judges would offer jail time or service in the military. Such applicants these days would face a nearly impossible process depending on the nature of the offense, more about that in later posts.

Semper Fi, Carry On