Military Fighting Uphill Battle For New Recruits

[Porsche320]

Originally Posted by DeepFreeze

What about all of the movies that glamorize war? If you don't like paintball as a recruiting tool you shouldn't like the movies either.

not all war movies glamorize war, examples: Full Metal Jacket, Saving Private Ryan, and Band of Brothers. also the movies dont say at the end "Join the military its the patriotic thing to do." The only movies that i have seen that do glamorize war were Pearl Harbor (HORRIBLE MOVIE!!!!), XXX (equally horrible), and a few others that i just cant remember. If Full Metal Jacket, Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers were recruiting tools, thats not the greatest idea because that gives me more of a reason not to join the military. anyway that was a good point that you brought up. Like a fat kid in dodge ball "I'm out"

[II Gar Bear II]

i think the oppisite. i think those movies are patroiotic and makes me want to fight for my country. it gets me fired up everytime!!

[nightcrawlers]

I hope the Marines are still recruiting after i get out of high school. Ive been wanting to join that elite branch of the services since i was 10! Im so use to military life i dont know if i would be good, or happy doing anything else, unless of course it involved paintball!!! :biggrin:

[Tazz]

Originally Posted by fronter

a 50 will get you anywhere and that is with a GED. I think this is what are country was founded on. The will to survive and the pride a courage it takes.

Uhhmmm,,,,,,,
NOT TRUE!!!!!!
No GED will get you into the AF and I think the Navy either.
An ASVAB score of 50 may qualify you for many jobs, BUT NOT ALL!
My AFSC in the AF required an electronic minimum of 68.

unknown

[emmyemmyjojo]

Well to give you some of the Down-low:
The Navy and the Airforce are on the down size, but the Army and the Marines need a few more "good men"(or women). Also if you have someone looking at enlisting tell them to check the Coast Guard. They are now a part of the DOD and really have some of the best accomidations around. Plus if you want to go to Iraq then they are accepting Volunteers so for the most part you are serving your country and may never leave the states.

As for the movies. The three good movies: Saving Pvt Ryan, Band O' Bros, and Full Medal jacket. They get me choked up everytime. I have big respect to those guys of all services that have served this country before I joined. And just remember that the freedom that we enjoy is freedom that has been earned.

Anyway just a little of my two cents as well.

[elcali007]

This is a different time than any time in the last 15 years (as far back as I go recruitment wise). This is not uncommon in a standing ground war. The AF and Navy have both downsized by 7k or so each. The USA and USMC are increasing a few brigades each. Most people who have had anything to do with the last two conflicts will tell you its been a weird few years.

I have personally spent some considerable time over the last few years doing strange things for uncle Sam (USAFR). Got a brother guarding convoys in Fallujah.

There are a lot of people who assume raising the right hand is just something to escape a bad home or a cheap college ticket. Those are the things we were told. Recruiters don't "lie", they have a crappy tendancy to tell you the parts of service you want hear. The partying, education, etc, etc.... Recruiter have a hard time selling the party when the evening news shows a body count.

I have faith that all things will work out in the end.

[The Muffin Man]

Telling u this i went and talked to all the recruiters and they all tell u how good it is and what they can do for you.The Marine Core got me to enlist and im only 17 but i backed out because they lied to me. Telling me all this Shit that they were going to do for me but once i sign the first set of papers they told me a different story. I give my props to anyone overseas or even serving in the one of the forces. But they lost me. But i still support are trops over there. But the recruiters are starting to say anything to get you in ture or not. Well now im going stay in school. Love to all thoz who have fallin in the line of duty.

[leetup]

I'm finishing up a 6 year enlistment in the Navy. When I got in, you did need a high school diploma or equivalent. I'm sure that hasn't changed. With my ASVAB score, they pushed me to take the nuke test. I apparently did well on that one, and they were really trying to get me into one of the nuclear rates. I chose to go for regular Electronics Technician, and I now maintain Air Traffic Control radars and displays. My recruiter never lied to me, but he did leave out some parts.

[The Muffin Man]

well times have changed abit and he did leave a lot out and told me alot of wrong things.


I scored pretty good on my ASVAB and was able to get any job i wanted but i picked my job and everything and it was open so there was no problems intell after i joined and my recruiter switched my job and i was like "never" and call a few ppl and now im out

[Tazz]

Hate to use the word "advice" but that being said,,,,,,

If you want to join,, and have good scores, you can do anything you want!
The deal is, you have to be as attractive to them as they may be to you! Have a score in the 90s and you can have any position you want. If its not open, and you want it, it can ALMOST always be opened. They're not gonna turn down an Einstein that wants to join up. Now,,,,

If, you try to do this, NO promise is worth a crap if its not in the Enlistment Contract. Wnat it? Get it in writing, PERIOD!!! The recruiter will tell you that and then try to leave it out. DO NOT LET THEM! That is your responsibility. If you sign a contract that is not to your liking, thats your fault!

I spent some time in the Army Reserve and three years active in the AF and early-outed 1990. Since then, I have been doing the exact same job the AF trained me for. I did not enjoy the military while I was in but have reaped the benefits of it for the last 14 years. Its a GREAT place to start but you have to realize what it is you are signing up for!