While I was in government class the other day, the Navy recruiter came and talked to us. I have no way of putting this except the way one of my friends described it...We were mind raped. All of us walked out of there shocked and numbed, ready to sign up for the Navy at that exact moment. We weren't convinced, we were...well, mind raped. There really is no other way to put it.
I have never had any real intentions of joining the military, but I have usually left myself open to the possibility. It wasn't until recently that I truly decided that the military is not for me. But those Navy recruiters almost ruined it for me. I don't know what happened. I was mind raped (really, I can't describe it better). It was just the way they put it. Everyone in that class except maybe two or three are planning on attending college. They then proceeded to ask us if expenses were covered, a valid question. No one really has that covered. They then went on to tell us about how the Navy, or military in general, can help pay for college, give us a great resume, provide us with training, etc. They had very valid points, but I heard them all before.
So, what happened this time? How did they manage to rape my mind and basically make me willing to jump the gun and join the military? They didn't say anything new. All of us had heard it all before. After all, we are all military brats or our parents are associated with the military in some way, shape, or form. They didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. I know how the TSP works, the VA benefits work, how everything works when dealing with the military, college, and money. So, that isn't what won (or screwed) me over.
Maybe it was the way they sad it. Both guys were very different. The younger one was softspoken and just kind of shared and reinforced the points made by the other guy. The older one was forceful and was probably really the one to blame for raping all our minds. He made us feel small and insignificant. He made us feel like life life was gonna throw us curve balls we could only handle if we were in the military. He made us feel like retards, like children who will always need some helping hand to guide them.
I don't know what he did, but he raped my mind. No, I'm not joining the military, but if he had asked me right then and there, I would have. In fact, if the same guy were to ask me now (almost a week later), I would sign up.
My mind has been raped by the Navy and I don't know how long it will take for it to go back to normal.
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No Child Left Behind requires that schools allow the military unfettered access to students and their records. Military recruiters get names, addresses, phone numbers and test scores of every child in every middle and high school.
And they lie. $30,000 does not cover much schooling any more. Also, your tour of duty can be extended as long as they want it to be, so it isn't the 4-6 year commitment they talk it up to be. Also, you can't play college sports and be in the reserves, no matter what they say. The military does not accommodate game days. And if they promise that you won't have to go to Iraq, forget it, because there is a clause in the enlistment document that says that nothing anyone has promised you will be honored.
They were tricky and evil when I was in high school, and we weren't overextended in a war like we are today. i imagine recruiters have gotten even worse.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
Yeah, that's all true. I know a lot of this stuff. Being a military brat, I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. I know a lot of the loop holes. And despite all that, they still managed to mind rape me. It's terrible, really.
First off, please do not ever use your double speak to dare say that you support the troops. How dare you call us liars with no integrity, one of our key values, and then say that you support us. I find that disgusting and lacking any backbone or courage, something I am quite used to seeing from many, sadly.
Most recruiters do not lie. I find it interesting that it is always the disgruntled person calling a recruiter a liar. Gee, I wonder if this could have any personal bias to it? Typically they either never shipped out to basic or washed out of basic. How many of the millions that have reenlisted would give that same impression? I personally got through college because of the military. There is nothing that says that the GI bill will cover 100% of your tuition, however, many states will waive the tuition if you go join from that state and attend a state college.
Yes, no child left behind does give recruiters the phone numbers to contact high school students. However, what records does it give us access to? I think you are wrong. Also, parents can opt out. However, where would you like for us to recruit from? Only 1/3 of the nation can actually join the military. The rest are either too stupid, cannot physically pass the entrance, or have criminal violations. Do we recruit in the schools, yes, that is where are demographic market is at. Colleges recruit out of the high schools too. But because we are in the military, it makes us wrong? I have an idea, why not quote the percentage of freshman college students that actually graduate? What do they do after they drop out? What skills or trades have they acquired? Don’t get me wrong, they typically have earned some great student loans, but unless I am mistaken, this is not a KSAO that most employers screen for.
And before you start talking about how this and that person got in with xxx criminal past, look up the facts in the regulatory guidance. No serious felonies and no more than 5 misdemeanors. Anymore and you are done, period.
Do you realize that the majority of recruiters are only doing this duty for 3 years? That means that they will be going back out into the force and seeing the same kids that they recruited. As stated, honor and integrity are two of the Army’s values. A man that lies to put someone into the Army will lie when it comes to much more serious issues. We cannot and will not tolerate that. Do we have bad seeds, yes we do, absolutely. However, so does the civilian world. Look at the criminal statistics and tell me which group has more values? We police our own, can you say the same? Not likely. Accordingly, you must be a drug dealer. After all, there are a lot of those in the civilian world (in the military as we do monthly drug tests), so it must apply to all civilians, right?
Additionally, tours of duty are typically only extended when a Soldier is deploying and that deployment puts them over their ETS. Why? Because it would not make sense to lose your force that has trained together and become a cohesive team in the middle of combat. Also, what units do not accommodate game days? I am curious for your examples. I can guarantee you for any 1 you give me I can give you 50. Oh, and by the way, that is not sarcasm. I have worked in detail with reserve forces. They simply give their Soldiers make up days, usually assisting with the local recruiting office. The only exception is during their 2 week drill. So you have me, 2 weeks out of 50 they cannot go play a sport. Once again, hurray for ignorance.
Now you are correct, just about everyone who joins might be called upon to go to Iraq or Afghanistan. I am sorry, but as much as this welfare minded country would like to believe, the military expects you to perform as a Soldier. No free passes. Honestly, how many people join the Army and believe that during a time of war they will not have to deploy. That is called stupidity.
Do recruiters sound like used car salesmen, yes much of the time they do. They are trying to do a very tough job, surrounded by people that hate them, in an environment that is foreign to them, with little support. They work 7 days a week, typically 60-80 hours a week. Without compensation. Would you do the same? Doubtful. They have little training and are selected by a time honored and tested method called en-ni, me-ni, mi-ni, moe. Most are not prepared for the different world that civilians live in. The ones that are truly successful are honest and at ease. They can tell what the military means to them. This is what we call the Army Story, and it is different for every one of us, but this is why people join. They see something out there bigger and better than themselves. The recruiters that have a hard time grasping this end up sounding like used car salesmen. However, no matter what the service, do not doubt that the recruiters truly care and want the best for each new enlistee. This is what Noncommissioned Officers do. They train teach and mentor. All the time, whether on duty or not. And your comments intentionally diminish that and stain their honor.
So why do recruiters deal with people like you? They do it because they love the military and what it stands for, not your twisted and hateful view, but the brotherhood that you obviously in no way could ever comprehend.
Again, do not think that you can insult us for recruiting and then say you love us. In fact, your logic (although I find this word in this sense highly misrepresented) is completely flawed. If we lie, cheat, and intentionally abuse our enlistees, why would anyone reenlist? I have an idea, instead of asking those wash outs who did not have the intestinal fortitude to believe in something more than themselves what they thought of the Army, ask those of us who have been in for 5 or more years.
If this seems angry, it is. Call recruiters liars, you call me a liar. Say we recruit only criminals and degenerates, and that is what you say I am. Do so, and I will call you on it every time.