Talking to a Recruiter

A little after 8:00 this morning my phone rings. I had been up for about 15 minutes(stupid dog barking) and was just about back to sleep, at the second ring I decide to roll out of bed and don pants, then race downstairs to get the phone in the event it was something important. As soon as he said "Hello this is Sgt. Checko.." I figured my sister was at the police station or something, I was relieved when he said he was from the Marine Corps and calling to talk to me. Appearently I requested some information on the Marine Corps, which means on one of those post highschool plans surveys at school, I checked the USMC box in the military section of it. I got the usual battery of questions, I've been called by recruiters before but they prett much left me alone and just offered to send some information, probably because I was just a junior(think I may have had a few calls sophomore year too). Once he figured out I wasn't a drug addict, criminal, medicated for ADD or any other sort of disorder, or had replacement joints or had broken any bones, and wasn't 5' 2" and 280lbs, he immediatly wanted to meet with me and talk face to face. The nearest recruiting station is about a 40min drive away, I figured what the hell I'll set up a time to talk with him.

I've really got to scramble and look at colleges, plus take the SATs and all that stuff, and well, I have no freaking clue what I'd be going to college to study. I've been toying with the idea of going into a branch of the service to give myself a few years to develope some interests, plus help pay for college. I'd really like to DO something, and going to college immediatly after highschool doing liberal arts or whatever seems boring as hell. I'd really like to experiance the world a bit more before I go to school and put myself seriously in debt for a goal I'm not exactly clear on. And considering the times, I'm afraid I'd regret not doing this a few years down the line. I certainly am not dead set on it, but it's an option I've looked at.

So with this in my mind, plus the fact that I was half asleep, I decided to talk to have a talk with the guy. I was prepared to drive out there, but he wanted to drive right out here tomorrow morning. Since I'm not sure when I'm working tomorrow, I told him I'd have to take a raincheck. I figured he'd buzz off until I called him. Nope. What about Wednesday? Hmmm, I'm not working then, what the heck eh? So he's coming up here to talk to me Wednesday at noon, and forewarned me that he will be calling in the morning to remind me. I thanked him for the warning since I'd otherwise not bother getting out of bed to get the phone.

Now for why I bothered posting this. I've heard enough horror storys of unscrupulous recruiters and enough these stories are from former recruiters, so I'm a bit worried. I'd like to know how to calibrate my BS detectors for this. For anyone who's gone through this, what's he going to be trying to get out of this meeting?(besides a recruit) Is he going to pretty much gauge how interested I am and possible schedule a few tests? Are there any obvious things I should look for that would let me know he's making unrealistic offers?

As for why I'm talking to a USMC recruiter instead of any other branch(I might talk to the Army later for comparison) well, the former Marines I know or have talked to are still nuts about the Corps. A lot of guys who were in the Army seem, well, less enthusiastic. A few have actually told me to join the Corps if I go into a branch. My neighbor, a former Marine, and my pistol instructor, seems to have benifitted from it enough. Up until 9/11 he was going to a lot of former USSR countries for the state department, mainly working with government radio stations and helping to start up new stations and stuff like that. I guess he must have made some connections when he was in. His son used to be a recruiter as well, and told me to talk to him before I sign anything with a recruiter and warned me about the way some recruiters can be.

So anyway, any words of warning or advice?

Thanks

One of my friends just went into the Marines to play Trumpet (He's really good...).  He left for Basic Training 3 weeks ago...

I've never heard of a recruiter coming to someones house, let alone just all out of the blue and start talking about joining the military.  Are you sure he isn't some sick guy that wants to kill you lol

Well anyways I say take a look at what they have to offer, and see what suits you best, and go from there, I've always considered doing something like that.

Ward them off until you've made a decision

My brothers Navy recruiter was a skeevy little jerk who told my brother he couldnt get the 2 year program he wanted, and tricked him into an 8 year program. When you decide to talk to them, tell them WHAT you want, with no "I think" or "maybe" they'll exploit anything they can to get you to sign anything.

I have alot of respect for the armed service, and am in the process of selecting my own branch when I get out of college, BUt recruiters are right up there with used car salesmen and lawyers. Be careful of them.

Hades wrote: Caller Id.

haha.

i have a neighbor thats a recruiter...

A recruiter saw me driving around one day and he reconized me, so he followed me home. When I got out of the car he was propped up on my tailgate saying "Hi, would you like to be in the Army?" So we went inside and talked for a half hour, and most of what he said was wrong, so be careful and check things out thoroughly.

The American wrote: I've never heard of a recruiter coming to someones house, let alone just all out of the blue and start talking about joining the military.  Are you sure he isn't some sick guy that wants to kill you lol

That though did cross my mind, but again, I've requested information from the National Gaurd and stuff before and had them call me. It was pretty much like this. Also, he already knows where I live and has my number, if he's planning on killing me I'm already screwed lol. And if a recruiter thinks you're interested enough they're certainly aren't going to have a problem in hopping into their government provided car(I bet you a soggy cookie it's an SUV) and go out to talk to someone. Just so long as he doesn't offer me anything to drink and I black out and wake up at Paris Island tomorrow morning. Besides, I can't legally sign anything until the end of October anyways, and out doubt my parents would sign for me even if I asked them to. I suppose I have enough time to feel out what I'm getting into.

The Marines are trying to contact me as well, they called my house at around 11PM, when I was already sleeping, so I didn't answer the phone. They never called after that though.

i get about 2 calls a week from recruiters asking for my brother, i just hang up on them now

Recruiters are the most persistent "sales people" you will ever find, do you blame them. Doing well recruiting will only benefit the recruiter when he returns to the Fleet or keep him away from it. Good luck, I have an Army NG recruiter who calls me all the time because I guess they are pretty desperate locally for prior-enlisted Officer Candidates. He is a nice guy who knows he can't blow smoke up my tail, so he isn't too pushy, plus he's only in the Army NG, he knows I'll hurt him!
If it becomes too overwhelming or they become too pushy, just tell them to stop calling our you'll never join!