Posted on Mar 1, 2015
Drill Sergeant or Recruiter? ** and why in comments**
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I'm close to making E-6 as an 88M. I want something outside of my CMF that could assist me in making E-7 and guide me into possible retirement.
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 37
I was DA selected for Recruiting (82-85), I fought like hell to not go. Recruiting back then was a different world then recruiting duty today. But I still ask when I see the badge and it's still a hated assignment by the majority. The things that we were taught as young Soldiers and NCOs were often tossed out in the yard. Morale, welfare of the Soldier, consideration for their family and family issues all took a back seat to putting someone on the floor, getting the contract, shipping that DEP, and mission box; Hero to zero with just the overnight change in the date at the end of the recruiting month. It was rough for me, well, actually I made it rough for myself as a recruiting station commander because I refused to turn my back on my recruiters when they needed someone to support them. Even so, when I left recruiting at the end of my 3 yr detailed duty, I had made E7 while out there (1 0f 2 in my MOS that year that got promoted Army wide and both of us were on recruiting duty). Because of my stubborness, I did not leave with a max EER, however, I was successful and had the awards to show for it. All I wanted was to get back to the mainstream Army and back to leading Soldiers and not being lead by those who had forgotten what leading was.
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Recruiting today has changed a great deal and for the better in my opinion, however, it's still a dreaded duty assignment. There are also many war stories about Drill Sergeant Duty as well. The Army has changed a great deal since the time I'm writing about and my old tales won't help with the decision making.
I would suggest that you go out and visit your local Army Recruiting Office and talk to the Recruiters. You will most likely hear the good and the bad aspect of the assignment. Talk to some of the former Drill Sergeants from your unit, battalion, etc. Then sit down and make the old Pros/Cons list for each one. Do some self reflection on your personality, leadership style, tolerance for BS, how would each one impact your family/marriage, if money is an issue-then add that to the consideration. Most recruiting assignments will prevent you from have access to PX, commissary, etc.
Good thinking on your part in looking forward and wanting to make the decision before you get orders and then have no choice. Wishing you good luck with which ever one you choose...either way, I suspect you will do well......whether you like it out there or not and will be glad to back to a TO&E unit again.
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Recruiting today has changed a great deal and for the better in my opinion, however, it's still a dreaded duty assignment. There are also many war stories about Drill Sergeant Duty as well. The Army has changed a great deal since the time I'm writing about and my old tales won't help with the decision making.
I would suggest that you go out and visit your local Army Recruiting Office and talk to the Recruiters. You will most likely hear the good and the bad aspect of the assignment. Talk to some of the former Drill Sergeants from your unit, battalion, etc. Then sit down and make the old Pros/Cons list for each one. Do some self reflection on your personality, leadership style, tolerance for BS, how would each one impact your family/marriage, if money is an issue-then add that to the consideration. Most recruiting assignments will prevent you from have access to PX, commissary, etc.
Good thinking on your part in looking forward and wanting to make the decision before you get orders and then have no choice. Wishing you good luck with which ever one you choose...either way, I suspect you will do well......whether you like it out there or not and will be glad to back to a TO&E unit again.
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Greetings! I ended up doing an AGR tour as a US Army Reserve Recruiter (00E40) back in 1983-86... I was a devout introvert when I started, and felt like a fish out of the water for most of the first year... Glad I had an awesome Station Commander who actually knew how hard it was to put people in boots. My RA counterparts had missions of 1-2 per month, my lowest mission in 3 years was 5! Never rolled a doughnut, and only had a single twinkie in 33 months on production. Earned a gold badge the second year and was Reserve Recruiter of the Year, Top 56 Club, etc.
Had a nearly 1-1 conversion rating, so my reward was making phone calls to help out the RA recruiters with missions of 1 who weren't making it....
Three years of Recruiting duty was more than enough, but got recruited off AD to become an Executive Recruiter with Management Recruiters International... Spent almost 15 years hunting heads.... Living at Ft Living Room was nice and gave me a path to civilian employment.
Had a nearly 1-1 conversion rating, so my reward was making phone calls to help out the RA recruiters with missions of 1 who weren't making it....
Three years of Recruiting duty was more than enough, but got recruited off AD to become an Executive Recruiter with Management Recruiters International... Spent almost 15 years hunting heads.... Living at Ft Living Room was nice and gave me a path to civilian employment.
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I am partial to Drill Sergeants within the unit, they are master trainers!
There are additional options to consider concerning the generating force, have you thought about becoming an AIT Platoon Sergeant or becoming a Service School Instructor?
There are additional options to consider concerning the generating force, have you thought about becoming an AIT Platoon Sergeant or becoming a Service School Instructor?
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SGT(P) Daniel McBride
Honestly CSM, I have. Even the possibilitary of being an O.C. has crossed my mind. Whatever can help me advance...I will broaden my horizons and do to the fullest of my abilities.
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Either are listed as critical right now. Either are looked at as helping you when Branch looks at you for your MOS. The question is going to be what do you feel that you can handle the most of. I am going into recruiting knowing that there are a lot of challenges that I am going to face in recruiting, yet these are something that I am willing to face and when I looked at the option of Drill Sergeant it was something that I was not interested in at all. I am more interested in bringing future Soldiers into the Army than dealing with the Soldiers that are brought in. When you look at "which one is going to help you more" they are both going to help you the same. It is all going to depend on you.
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I commanded a Recruiting Company for over four years and found it the hardest assignment in my military career, and I served two tours in Baghdad, one at the tactical level and one at the operational level. I never felt so estranged from my military family. I do not speak of geography. I and my NCOs suffered a wide variety of indignities as we sought qualified applicants; many of which seemed to find their source in our HQ. All that aside, I learned more about leadership in those years than I would have thought possible; lessons which stood me in good stead walking the streets of Baghdad.
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I was a recruiter for more than five years. First year was great from then on it was all down hill. I was working so many hours that I mine as well have done deployment after deployment. When you're succesful you're the man in the chain of commands eyes. One bad month is a bad NCOER. You can have a stellar year and one or two bad months you're just a dud. It doesn't matter to the chain how many hours you've worked how many you've put in boots in the past. I got out by volunteering to deploy ended up getting shot twice seeing two of my comrades brutally murdered when I retu my chain of command wanted me to forget what had happened and return to duty as a recruiter. Best day of my life was the day I medical retired 100% disable with TBI and severe PTSD.
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SFC Harold Benton
I am sorry that was your way out and i wish you all the best. Your description of recruiting mirrored mine. In October of my second year i received many awards at the end of year battalion banquet. At the end of that month I had "rolled a donut". I was counseled on being an ineffective recruiter. My comment of the form was that if I am an ineffective recruiter I should be sent back to the regular Army. A couple months later i was out and back home in the field artillery.
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It all depends on what you want. Having an additional duty assignment like DS or Recruiter is definitely helpful. Are you more of a "Ruckin' it Alongside your Troops" kind of a leader or a "Logistical" leader.
The other things you could look into are AIT Instructor/PSG or NCOES Instructor.
The other things you could look into are AIT Instructor/PSG or NCOES Instructor.
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I was both a Service school Instructor and a black hat trainer as well as an NCO Academy SGL and Senior Instructor there. I never compare the three, Recruiter, Drill SGT, or Service School however, I do believe all three have equal promotion potential and career enhancements. There are some post service benefits to the recruiter and service school training and experience that the DI position lacks. 1st, recruiter TNG sets you up for great sales both inside and outside, positions. The instructor opens up classroom teacher, TNG positions, etc. An example is when I applied for my teachers credentials the TNG and certifications I received as a service school instructor saved me 1500 dollars and 4 college courses. The experience itself prepared me for the classroom. Now I know the DI teaches and can also be good experience for the classroom in civilian schools but I'm not sure of the transfer of credits and course requirements being met. Bottom line up front, your choice and subsequent selection for either of these two (3), career choices will be based on personality, opportunity, and short/long term goals. We all know some that shouldn't have been a DI, recruiter, or instructor and others that were bang on perfect for the jobs. DA selection only looks at numbers and I think you should be interviewed once selected to determine aptitude.
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I did both. Recruiter from 91-94 and DS from 2000-2004. Recruiting sucks unless you are good at sales. I wasn't. DS is the most difficult job I ever loved. It is probably easier to hurt your career in recruiting then as a DS. If you miss your numbers, stress goes up for you, your station, and your family. At least as a DS you still have all the support of a military base.
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While I think it is important that you are looking ahead and trying to take the steps to assist you in promotion. I also think is important that you complete that step previous to making SFC. You are a sergeant now, get your 18 to 24 months in that next duty position. I am not an 88M so I do know the progression from Sgt to Ssg. I can safely deduct that it's something of greater responsibility. Then once you have done that make your choise on which route to take. Being a drill sergeant or recruiter is important but it is more important that we put Soldiers in these positions who are already qualified in their current grade or rank. Either way most of this is opinion and I wish you the best.
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