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US Military Recruiter Question
Ultimanecat
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hey, been a year or so since I've been in H/A and didn't see the military thread anywhere - hopefully it's alright to just ask a recruitment-related question.
Does anyone know if there is any reason I couldn't visit a different recruiter and/or station than the one I began with to continue my entrance processing? I've taken and passed the ASVAB and DLAB, had my background and medical checks, and as far as I'm aware there isn't anything left other than me to start signing things...but my current recruiter seems to be dragging his feet. I only talk to him when I actually call him myself, and even then he just keeps saying he'll get back to me when he can or pushing things back.
Considering there is another station on the other side of town here, I'm wondering if I can just walk in over there and see if they can wrap things up or move more quickly? Or is that a bad idea?
Does anyone know if there is any reason I couldn't visit a different recruiter and/or station than the one I began with to continue my entrance processing? I've taken and passed the ASVAB and DLAB, had my background and medical checks, and as far as I'm aware there isn't anything left other than me to start signing things...but my current recruiter seems to be dragging his feet. I only talk to him when I actually call him myself, and even then he just keeps saying he'll get back to me when he can or pushing things back.
Considering there is another station on the other side of town here, I'm wondering if I can just walk in over there and see if they can wrap things up or move more quickly? Or is that a bad idea?
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But beyond that stupid political shit, no, there's nothing stopping another recruiter from processing you. I went to one outside my area because of where I went to school, and he processed me.
Find someone who can take care of you and provide all the services you need.
That said, be prepared for the first recruiter to be prickly about if you change...they get kickbacks for new recruits.
I'd suggest you try once more with your recruiter, something along the lines of "We need to kick this into gear or else I'm going to go over to [other location] and see if they can get things going a bit faster". You might also want to inquire what's taking so long, if there's anything you can do on your end to get things in motion. If at all possible, do this in person at the station because it's a lot harder to hang up on a person when they're standing in front of you.
It's entirely possible that it's not this guys fault, but he should at least be able to give you some information.
Well, time to pose that very direct question to him in a very direct way...as see317 said, likely in person.
Just to be clear "kickbacks" is a bit misleading. They have a quota, that's all.
Try telling him you're going to a different branch. He may be trying to push you into another month if he knows you're a 'lock' if he's already made this months quota.
Also, the Air Force IS actively trying to downsize, so he really might not know whats up with your position.
Unless we kick things off with IRAN getting a military job is getting pretty damn tough these days.
Join us! JOIN USS!
My recruiter said the holdup was because they're not used to trying to enlist people into the position I'm trying to get into, and that they actually can't proceed any further from the station and the rest has to be done by someone at MEPS. Current estimate is that I head there in about two weeks.
I have to wait I guess because the station is clearing out for training next week or something and won't be back until the 18th. Honestly I can never tell when I'm getting fed a line so I guess at this point I'll just roll with it.
Judging by the fact that you took the DLAB, I'm guessing you're going in as a linguist? They tend to be a little... different than other jobs in the military. When I was in basic at Ft. Jackson, we had an 09L (MOS for linguist in the Army) in my platoon. On graduation day when everyone else was meeting up with their families in our Class A's, he was in civilian clothes being friendly escorted out of the barracks by a couple guys in suits. His phone number was promptly changed (he gave it to us) and I haven't heard a word from him since.
Recruiters can only do so much in the process, and at absolute best they are the "preliminary" round of the enlistment. MEPS is the final determination of just about everything, and it is a drawn-out, boring, and ridiculously tedious few hours to say the least. Basically, everything the recruiter has had you sign and do have been their recommendations to the MEPS people, and those civilians at MEPS can choose to agree (Which they do 99% of the time) or change shit up.
Make sure you keep all your MEPS paperwork, and make double sure you have your GI Bill paperwork stored and saved. That stuff can be a real pain to get back.
And the last bit sounds on par with the Army, at least. Recruiter numbers have been reduced and within the past few weeks we've received numerous guidelines, as active duty soldiers, on our re-enlistment options (they're shrinking by the day). It wouldn't surprise me if they were really in training, as the military has adopted a new outlook on recruiting as a whole.
While it doesn't sound currently like your recruiter is feeding you garbage and telling you it's steak, you already have the correct attitude with your very last sentence. This will be a feeling you will become very, very accustomed to.
Background on me: I'm currently serving in Ft. Sill as a 25U. I'm an E4 with several injuries (and a few pending surgeries) that have stymied my climb up the ladder. My exit date is September 27th of next year, and right now I'm counting the damn days.
The school house at DLI is a joint base and a long training program. They won't try to ship you until they can match up a graduation date from bootcamp and a start date at the school.