What do you think of this article bashing Army recruiters?

Question

I was so upset after watching this on the news last night. They found their very own Cindy Sheehan. I believe this guy lied to his mother so she wouldn't worry about him enlisting in the Army. My husband is an Army recruiter and I know he never lies to potential soldiers. If they ask, he tells them there is always a possibility of going to Iraq. Then they made it sound like the Army is full of drug addicts and ex-cons. This story makes me sick!

http://cbs3.com/topstories/local_story_032224659.html

Laura C--Are you really that ignorant? Calling our brave soldiers murderers? I hope you sleep well at night.

People always ask my husband what the possibility of going to Iraq is. My husband just says that there is always a possibility. Do people really join thinking that they will NEVER see combat?

Wow, we have a bunch of "winners" on here today.

By the way, I just sent this station a nasty e mail. How dare they "spit on" our troops.

Answer 1

Recruiters have been called liars for as long as there have been recruiters and media. It's part of the "game".

My two cents -

First, the Army is not "full of drug addicts and ex-cons." In order to even enlist in the Army, you can't have as much as an unresolved, outstanding parking ticket. The military also requires a 15 year background check before enlistment, during which any past arrests will come up, even ones that were on the applicant's juvenile record. Some offenses can be given a waiver for enlistment - for example, if you were a teenager and had a charge for possession of drugs; or you've had speeding tickets and the like. The waiver process, however, is not easy and takes time.

Second, about "recruiters lying". The biggest problem I have found is that applicants hear what they want to hear. The recruiter might say, "With your score, there's a chance you will get this job you want." but the applicant hears, "With your score, you WILL get the job you want." So when he goes to MEPS and they don't offer him that job, he says, "My recruiter lied to me! He said I could have this job!"

I don't think any recruiter out there is telling an applicant point blank that they "will not go to Iraq". However, when a recruiter says that "depending on their job, they might not go to Iraq" or that they "might not forward deploy into a combat zone" people hear that they "will not deploy to Iraq" under any circumstances.

Honestly, I don't think anyone who has access to the news and the Internet who enlists is stupid enough to think that there's no chance he might ever deploy to Iraq or some place else. If he is - well, there's a bigger issue than the recruiter there, if you ask me.

Now, that all said - I will say this. There are many jobs in the Army in which you most likely will NOT deploy to Iraq, or if you do deploy to Iraq, will probably not go outside the FOB. There are people in the Army now that I know, who've been in for 18 years and have never been sent to Iraq but have been to Bosnia, Germany, and a slew of other places. I'm a Reservist and I've not been to Iraq - we were a garrison support unit in Southern VA for Operation Iraqi Freedom, that was our call up. If I were a recruiter, I would tell them that - yes, I'm a Reservist. I have not been to Iraq. Not everyone goes to Iraq - but everyone at some point or another WILL deploy SOMEWHERE.

Answer 2

It has been widely reported on other news programs that a large portion of military recruiters either lie or stretch the truth to get new recruits. Often this amounted (in the stories I've heard/read) to making promises that the recruiter had no power over (like promising specific jobs). Perhaps your husband is honest, although you already imply that he is not--if you meant your words literally, you say he tells people they could go to Iraq "if they ask." Telling someone that they are likely to go off and be placed into a highly dangerous job shouldn't be reserved for only when someone asks. If you are signing up to work as, say a miner, your employer is under a moral (and possibly legal) obligation to inform you of potential safety hazards that you might encounter if they are beyond the norm. If I am reading your words too literally, my apologies.

Answer 3

I am a recent recruitee for the Army National Guard and trust me, there is NO "game" to recruiting. Everyone that is interested in a military force, know themselves that there is a HUGE possibility that they will get shipped to Iraq. Hell my recruiter didn't have to tell me, I have common sense to know that, even though I proceeded to ask about it. Yes you will find a few bad apples as recruiters, as I did before a actually did research on my possibilities and i believe I found the best branch of military for reserve. And how dare any of you down our soldiers for fighting for the people of the United States. They are not over there by choice, trust me, but guess what?!?! THEY ARE OVER THERE FOR YOU, THE CITIZENS OF AMERICA!!! How about showing gratitude and thanks to those who risk their lives everyday so that some of you can sit at home without a care in the world. People die everyday due to a work hazard. The military is the same.

Answer 4

i dont see anything said there really a lie,,,,, although lets be honest, there may be a few dishonest recruiters, just like there are police, ministers etc, a few in every group,,,,,,,,, most in the military are not going to Iraq,,,,, and yes one can die at any time,,,,,,,,, and like most any job,,, i am sure they pump up the benefits, while not tounching on the negative much,,,,,,,, the mother i am sure is upset,,,,,,,, and she is reacting towards the recruiter,,,,,as to the drug testing, and multiple,,,,, if the person cleans their selves up,,,,,, what does that matter? they will be watched and tested once they are in,,,,,, as to the felonies, that is not a change in policy,,, its been in place for a long time,,,,, plus often people have been given a choice of jail or military,, this was done alot in the Vietnam era,,,,,,,,,,, i see no reason to fault anyone willing to go in,,,,,or those who recruit them,,,,,, both are rough jobs that most would not do,,,,,,,,,, which is something to think about,,, if we eliminate anyone who ever had a problem from the military,,,,,, and if we lose our recruiters,,, who will go in???
ps: like in my job, when i agreed to work days and also nights,,,,,, they didnt explain the days might run from 3 am to 4pm and the night from 5pm to 3am,,,,,, and that i would do a day and night back to back,,,,,,,,,

and your right,,,,,,, who would go in the military not thinking there is a chance they would go to a war zone? and even if they didnt,,,,,, they might end up in a Pentagon situation like on 9/11, where they are targeted here at home,,,,

Answer 5

Recruiters dont always lie, some do, but then again what job doesnt have people who lie? Either to recruit or to hide what is going on. I have been in the Army now for over 6 years, I deal with recruiters all the time. There are some who are shadey, but few and far between. My recruiter was straight forward with me. Recuiters have a really tough job and I have to take my hat off to them, lots of hours and and all lot of BS they deal with.

Answer 6

You have got to be kidding me? When did the American Citizens turn so damn stupid as to think you may not have to go to war, be deployed, or get hurt if you join the Army? It's the Army for crying out loud! Not the damn Peace Corps! Smarten up America! As far as I'm concerned it's not the recruiter that are at fault, its the recruits family for allowing a kid to be so stupid! I'm not saying those recruiters were right in everything they said, but lets face facts, their job is to get recruits to join, It's MEPS and the DI who weeds out the bad ones, not the recruiters. I just wished that someone would take a hidden camera onto these high schools and college campus's that receive government funding and record what is being told graduates who want to join the military by faculty and administration people, it's outrageous and totally off the mark! to hear them tell it, they would be joining the Nazi's and killing babies! As far as I'm concerned, these schools should lose all government funding and student loan certification!

Answer 7

that segement was biased to their side of the story. The figures that they used to compare falling out of bed and dying in iraq don't equate. There are many more people here in the US than fighting in iraq, which makes the percentages not comparable. About the hero that unfourtunately died in iraq, his story was also misleading. you can't enlist in the army and then become an officer, it takes time. they won't let you go to OCS (officer candidate school) until you have met the time in grade and time in service requirements. he knew exaclty what he was doing. his mother is just heart broken and needs someone to blame. i hope she can recover, but it is hard to lose a child. leave the country if you don't like the military that provides you with a safe, comfortable life.

I wish a big F - you to the following scu8mbags:
Spaghetti
Seraph
Laura C (Extra for you, commie hairbag)
Qwyrx
Mikewave (coward, stupid loser)

Answer 8

My recuiter was a good guy, I still talk to him every once in awhile, were both at ft.knox. He never really lied to me. The only thing that he said that wasent true was that I probley wouldnt go to Iraq for very long, but that was just when the war started so who knew it would of lasted this long, Like I said I have nothing bad to say about the man

Answer 9

There have been many tv 'exclusives' regarding recruiters who mislead potential volunteers.(secret videos, audio equipment - 'potential volunteers") I don't think these were 'made up' in any way. I believe there are SOME recruiters who are basically FORCED to meet certain criteria and that they do whatever is necesssary to meet that end,You have got to remember that today,(keeping in mind that the government is often referded to as "Big Brother" to the masses,) on the same page, people can find out just about anything regarding the government and its tactics.

Answer 10

It's too bad not everyone is honest. They make people like your husband look bad, when he has done nothing wrong.

As far as the Army being full of drug addicts and ex-cons, I'd put some of my Army friends up against any so called "Liberal intellectual" in a battle of wits. I knew and I know some very smart people who serve in our military.