Do people choose to be recruiters, is it a punishment, or a combination of both?

Question

I've met some pretty highly skilled people who are recruiters, and it seems like it would be a waste just having them behind a desk unless an injury is keeping them out of their field. It doesn't seem like a job people would want to volunteer for, to me. No offense to any recruiters here. I know you guys do a hell of a lot of work.

Answer 1

I would not ever want to do it. It is the hardest job in the Marine Corps. Lot of people volunteer lots get "chosen". I would rather and want to be a drill instructor. Recruiting is hard long hours and stressfull. It can make or break your career. You also have to take into consideration that we are at war. You try talking someone into joining the military right now. Its hard. I just got off from being a recruitrs assistance and got offered to be a recruiter on a special program. I said no! Although I know Id do good. I wouldnt do it. It takes alot of time away from the fam. Which to me is very important. Now Im from Los Angeles and in that area they have a high quota rate and how many young L.A. kids do you think would join the military and leave the party life? I did but then again all my friends either ended up in jail or dead. So I made a good decision. I love the Marine Corps and would do anything like volunteer for deplayment after deployment. But try telling that to the young youth of today. It is hard. Anyway I can tell you how the Marine Corps does it. They send a screening team out to every major command about once or twice a year. They randomly select E-5s and E-6s to get screened to see if they are fit for duty.... Now you can deny orders to Recruiters school if you are selected and found qualified. But if you do you can kiss your chances of reenlisting or getting promoted good bye. So in a way its forced on some. Others choose it in hopes they will do good and advance their military careers. Blah Blah Blah. Well I hope I answered your question. ome hate it some love it. Those who love it are usually single those who hate it are usually married.....

Answer 2

Some recruiters volunteer, some are Dept of the Army Selected, some are selected by their branch managers. Usually at the grade of E-6 a Soldier in the Army will do one of the following jobs outside of their normal specialty: Detailed Recruiter, Drill Instructor, or AIT Instructor. Some volunteer as Corporals and serve about 1 year, others come in as SGTs and do approx 3 years. I say 3 because thats the norm. I was involuntarily extended as a detailed recruiter because of a shortage during the 2004-2005 FY.

Answer 3

I served as an Air Force recruiter for 4 years in California. Far from punishment. Recruiting (at least in the Air Force) is a special duty assignment. There is an unwritten rule in the military that you must accomplish a special duty assignment if you ever want to attain an E-7 or higher rank. These assignments are not just handed out either. My application process for recruiting was very tough. I had to submit a package. Once that was reviewed (they tend to only select the cream of the crop), I had to attend several (I believe it was 5 or 6) interviews. That was the easy part. Recruiting school for the Air Force is not easy. The drop out rate of the school was about 30%. That was a combination of those that did not perform to standards and those that couldn't take the pressure. Once you graduate (which is a HUGE event) you have the prestige of being a military recruiter. Recruiters have zones. That is their territory. They control every aspect of recruiting for their branch in that zone. It is an extremely autonomous position. You are also the diplomat of your service in that area. My zone of recruiting covered nearly 1800 square miles. A very big area. I was very well known and made a lot of very important friends. You are also exempt from anything else while you are recruiting. Don't want to do a tour overseas? Recruiting takes care of that.

Recruiting is a position of honor. It's a very difficult job and only the best are selected for it. Many will try to attain the appointment, many will fail. It's not for the faint of heart as they DO tend to eat their own. Not making numbers? Kiss your butt goodbye. Not just goodbye from recruiting, but your career can take a hit sometimes too. Do well at it and very, very good things could happen to you.

Answer 4

Seems to me I remember that recruiter duty was volunteered for by many people,

Not so sure about today but i do stop by the recruiters office every so often. Just to speak military for a few moments.

They always seem happy enough.

Answer 5

To some people its a punishment. In my rec. office there are 3 recruiters. 2 are great and love it. The other HATES it and thinks of it like a death sentence. It just depends you can request it or you could be assigned. It all depends.
There are also quite a few recruiters roaming around Y! answers. They are very skilled and seem to love what they do.

Answer 6

When I was in the Corps, recruiting duty was what they called a
" B" billet. A special assignment one had to do to continue on in there career. Recruiting, Drill field, Marine Security Guard(MSG) commonly known as embassy duty, and I&I or inspector/ instructor. They were the active duty personnel assigned to a reserve unit.
If one did poorly in the billet they were assigned, there career was virtually over. If they did well, they could carry on. You volunteered for the "B" billets, but some times ordered else where.

Answer 7

Some people volunteer and some are selected. It's typically a good way to get promoted quickly.

Answer 8

a few volunteer while others are "volunteered"

much like some in the military are "volunteered" for sniper school, survival school and the such.

Answer 9

they chose but some are chosen because they are so good