Aggressive Army National Guard recruiters?

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Tue, 26 May 2015 15:59:50 -0400

This just happened to my cousin. For Memorial Day she posted photos of her family in uniform to include her AD Air Force Son and her son that just graduated (in his AFJOTC uniform) and indicated he has contracted with the AF and is just waiting for his job to come available to ship.

Today on the same Facebook thread, a Army National Guard Recuiter posted this:

"Green isn't a bad color either. Hoping to tell Jalen about his options in the Army National Guard next week over lunch. If Mom wants a free shirt or two, let me know what size. Just trying to let Jalen know all his opportunities so he can choose which one will best serve his goals ( ps - I m the recruiter you meant one day at the Hot Dog shop )"

My cousin politely reiterated their previous conversation indicating that he is not interested and that "blue is her favorite color"

He responds that the Army has dress blues so he hopes he is still in the running.

Is it normal for Army National Guard recruiters to be this aggressive? Especially when they have already been told no, and the potential recuit has already contracted with another branch? Not to mention the creepy Facebook stalker-ish behavior!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2015 4:00 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 May 2015 16:00:19 -0400

Never heard that before. Maybe it's a locational thing.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2015 4:00 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 May 2015 16:00:29 -0400

Not very typical from my understanding! Kudos to your cousin as he must be a stud! :)

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made May 26 at 2015 4:00 PM

1LT Nick Kidwell — Tue, 26 May 2015 16:00:56 -0400

Seriously? That's downright predatory.

Someone's hurting to make mission.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2015 4:02 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 May 2015 16:02:06 -0400

I always joke that recruiter is code for "professional stalker". But most recruiters are respectful of other branches....sure we make a pitch for our branch and then if we get told to bugger off we do. I'd say this cat is an exception to the general respect we have for each other.
Unfortunately though Facebook Recruiting is the latest and greatest tactic.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made May 26 at 2015 4:06 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Tue, 26 May 2015 16:06:34 -0400

Not a National Guard recruiter, but I have had a Marine recruiter still contact me even after I enlisted in the Air Force trying to convince me to join the "dark side".

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2015 4:44 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 May 2015 16:44:34 -0400

Agressive as in willl make every resonable effort to make contact yes. Having a back in forth on face book, no. Thats high pressure sales worthy of a most direct and blunt
response. By the way, i am not sure if other branches are even supposed to call once they are aware that a person has contracted ...

Response by MSG Morgan Fiszel, CPCM, CFCM made May 26 at 2015 5:29 PM

MSG Morgan Fiszel, CPCM, CFCM — Tue, 26 May 2015 17:29:05 -0400

It isn't about Army Recruiters, it's just about recruiters. That is the mission of a recruiter in any industry. Recruiters are much like sales guys. Do sales guys go away when you say no? Do the telemarketers stop calling? Do the spam emails stop? Do they pull down all of the billboards and free magazines of ads? The worst are college recruiters. Military recruiters make about 80k a year and when they aren't able to recruit they get fired. And by the way...the army has far more career fields, especially on the enlisted side. Most of those career fields have more transferable skills. If this person is looking at guard or reserve there are far more opportunities in the army. Another thing about AF culture, if they aren't a pilot they will never be considered valuable.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2015 5:58 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 May 2015 17:58:19 -0400

I spent a year with recruiting in the National Guard. I worked in Marketing and was able to travel the state and work with many of the local recruiters. And they are all different. I have seen recruiters fired for not making quota. Some are just about stalking anyone that is qualified to serve. If they know they are contracted in the AF then they know they passed MEPS. So if they can steal a recruit they will. Out of 10 recruits maybe 2 or 3 will make it as far as MEPs. Out of that you are lucky if you get one that is qualified. I can't recall how many times you would see people interested in joining and then when we pulled a Criminal Record we would be shocked to see what they failed to tell us.

Some of them were great and potential recruits would flock to them and some had to fight for everyone they got in every month. I would worry about it. I have a feeling that he is hurting for recruits.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2015 6:37 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 May 2015 18:37:59 -0400

Report as "Spam" to Facebook....lol

Response by PFC Tuan Trang made May 26 at 2015 8:17 PM

PFC Tuan Trang — Tue, 26 May 2015 20:17:07 -0400

Lack of Professionalism, I think it not right to stalker nor talk to the individual in any disrespect way.

Response by PO2 Skip Kirkwood made May 27 at 2015 7:18 AM

PO2 Skip Kirkwood — Wed, 27 May 2015 07:18:33 -0400

I don't think that this is either "aggressive" or "creepy Facebook stalker-ish behavior." It sounds like a sharp recruiter doing his job - which is to "sell" enlistment in the National Guard.
Your cousin is the one who decided to take this subject to social media. It is an open area, and anybody who wants is free to do whatever they want - including trying to recruit. I'd give the recruiter a B Z and suggest that you stop trying to make "social media rules" where none exist.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 12:30 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 May 2015 00:30:15 -0400

Cant stereotype all Guard recruiters because of the action of one. Maybe the boy was twlling him something totally different than his family..or maybe the recruiter was aggressive. But one of the best guys i know recruits for the guard and be will literally break his back to help you even if it isnt about joining. Works in Jonesboro Ar. So if youre interested at all in joining or know someone in this area who is...send them to jonesboro ar building and ask for SSG Jones. he will not lie, blow smoke, push any MOS, and he will even help you get your diploma or ged wether u join or not.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2015 4:55 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 May 2015 16:55:11 -0400

Yes thats normal, guard recruiters are very number driven.

You said he was contracted. Do you mean enlisted? If so it is against regulation for any branch to try and get people to switch branches.

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Oct 2 at 2018 11:04 PM

MSG Frank Kapaun — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 23:04:48 -0400

I was a National Guard recruiter in the late 1980s. Let me say it was the worst effin job I ever had. My main observation would be his district supervisor, a.k.a. a diaper; because they are full of $hit and always on his a$$, has threatened him with his job. To be a successful recruiter in the ARNG during my era, one had to be equal parts pimp, snake oil salesman and liar. As for honor amongst recruiters, that is an oxymoron along the lines of jumbo shrimp. Back in the day, most recruiters would cut their own mother’s throat to make mission. In fact, poaching another recruiter’s prospects/enlistees was an acceptable business practice.

Response by Eddie Powell made Mar 20 at 2019 10:36 AM

Eddie Powell — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 10:36:45 -0400

11 B 10 National Guard with a metal army achievement

Response by Eddie Powell made Mar 20 at 2019 10:37 AM

Eddie Powell — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 10:37:43 -0400

Why don’t we get VA cemetery

Response by Eddie Powell made Mar 20 at 2019 10:38 AM

Eddie Powell — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 10:38:35 -0400

Applied but was turned down because I a vet National Guard

Response by Eddie Powell made Mar 20 at 2019 10:39 AM

Eddie Powell — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 10:39:24 -0400

Like to know why

Response by Eddie Powell made Mar 20 at 2019 10:40 AM

Eddie Powell — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 10:40:44 -0400

Why can’t we get cemetery benefits

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made May 28 at 2019 12:04 PM

LTC Charles T Dalbec — Tue, 28 May 2019 12:04:17 -0400

Recommend you Contact the State National Guard Headquarters listed in the Directory/Google. Does that help?

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made May 29 at 2019 4:16 AM

CW4 Craig Urban — Wed, 29 May 2019 04:16:07 -0400

Tell that recruiter to call me. I wiil go back on active duty. And my friend ltg Dennis Benchoff was DCG east. He retired as à 3 Star.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made May 29 at 2019 4:18 AM

CW4 Craig Urban — Wed, 29 May 2019 04:18:59 -0400

I am a warrant. And proud of it. And a former GS 12. Turned down cw5.