Is recruiting duty as much of a "nightmare" as people say or is not really that bad?

2017-03-13T09:00:16-04:00

Just found out all eligible Sergeants will be selected for recruiting Duty within my MOS. My question is is how bad does this assignment suck? I have heard nothing but horror stories about people on recruiting Duty. But since I'm in the eligible pool I wanted to know if it would be worth it to submit a packet for recruiting Duty or hope that I dodge that bullet.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Mar 13 at 2017 9:20 AM

2017-03-13T09:20:35-04:00

While I was never a recruiter, I would just tell you the words that one of my section sergeants told me when I was selected to be the EoR. Any special duty/assignment can suck, any can be awesome. The difference comes at how you approach it. Do your best and make the assignment work for you rather than you work for it. Best of luck!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2017 11:13 AM

2017-03-13T11:13:04-04:00

I was pretty much miserable most of my time in recruiting. I recruited during the height of OIF and we weren't exactly popular at the time. I was also pretty young and immature. I think I would be much more successful now that I have a few more grey hairs and wrinkles. In retrospect I grew a lot as a person and as a NCO during that time. I really was forced out of my shell. I learned how to better communicate and perhaps more importantly how to read people. With that being said, I don't know if I would do it over again. Since I already have the badge I'm a little afraid of getting tabbed as an AMEDD recruiter/OIC somewhere down the line.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Mar 13 at 2017 11:13 AM

2017-03-13T11:13:41-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member Recruiting is what you make of it. If you give 40% effort then expect 40% results. You will work as a team and make mission or fail mission as a team. It will always take every NCO in each recruiting center to make each phase line and stay on the MTD/YTD glide paths. Some places are better than others and historically, the southern states have done well. I'm the S3 for my BN and we made both RA and AR missions last year. The RA was 3+ and the AR was well over what we needed as a BN. It wasn't easy as all recruiters had to give 100% effort daily. Some days will be great while others will not be so great. You have to be able to handle rejections at times and still keep motivated to go and find qualified prospects. When you do find someone who joins, there is nothing more rewarding than to see a smile the day they receive their enlistment contract.

You should take time to visit your local recruiting office and speak to the Center Leader and some of the 79Rs or detailed recruiters to hear their perspective. This should give you a better feel of what recruiting duty is. Take it for what it is worth and make your best judgment from their. Some NCOs hated it at first but soon found their niche and converted to MOS 79R. Others did their time and went back to a line unit. Best of luck.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2017 11:36 AM

2017-03-13T11:36:28-04:00

With a new POTUS on board who seems a little more "military friendly" and is looking to expand our military forces in size as well as coverage outside of our country's borders we'll see a lot of give and take in recruiting as there will be those who will see this as a way to leave home and see the world and others who will fear the deployments and resist the recruitment process.

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Mar 13 at 2017 11:37 AM

2017-03-13T11:37:13-04:00

Think of all the negative stereotypes that you have heard of recruiters. Now imagine that label put on you, and everyone you encounter from here on out will feel that way about you. Now add 12-14 hour days, constant rejections, and constant scrutiny over your production and work ethic. Your recruiting station (center) will be on for a monthly mission that equates to about 1.5 contracts for every recruiter assigned there. You will be held accountable for your role in achieving the monthly mission. There are some places that are better than others. Then there are some truly shitty places for recruiting. It is difficult, not going to lie (even though I am a former recruiter, lol). You will probably hate it. But, if you do find yourself on recruiting duty, just conduct yourself as an NCO, be professional, and learn. If you have the right attitude, you will learn that salesmanship and leadership are a lot alike. How you communicate with people and influence them with purpose, motivation, and direction will dictate your success or failure in recruiting. Good Luck

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Mar 13 at 2017 11:37 AM

2017-03-13T11:37:39-04:00

It was a rough tour. 36 one month tours. Some days were good, others were a blood bath. Your career is in the hands of a 17-20 yr old kid.

Response by 1SG Bill Farmerie made Mar 13 at 2017 4:17 PM

2017-03-13T16:17:58-04:00

I was in Baltimore Recruiting Bn. It had one of the highest "Missions". It was a royal pain. However, some of the guys I went to recruiting school with ended up in different locations and said it was very easy to make mission. It all depends upon where you end up. You can keep your integrity no matter what anyone else says. Hit the high schools and do not be afraid to talk to sophomores as the last year out there they will be seniors and will help you get your senior quota. Best bit of advice I got was always be straight up front with them, as when they return after BT they will talk to their friends and say you were either very honest or lied your a@@ off.

Response by SFC David Xanten made Mar 13 at 2017 4:28 PM

2017-03-13T16:28:23-04:00

Recruiting duty can be a great time for those that are willing to work hard. Working evenings and weekends to meet your goals is normal and I found that the Combat Arms MOS's people did the best, as they were used to working harder then most MOS's. I smile when I hear that the goals today are 1 to 1.5 people per month. I have had goals of 5-7 a month for several years and we met them.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Mar 13 at 2017 5:22 PM

2017-03-13T17:22:18-04:00

Avoid if possible. Some have it ok. Some get sent to Lincoln, Nebraska and the first thing you are told is that your Company is the lowest rated in all of recruiting. 242 out of 242 Recruiting Company's in the Army. Don't risk it!

Response by MGySgt James Forward made Mar 14 at 2017 11:32 AM

2017-03-14T11:32:13-04:00

Recruiting duty is a career enhancement, if you are interested then by all means submit a packet. Just because folks say it sucks, it might not. Long hours, but you are shaping the next 20-30 years of how your Army marches. Very important position. Semper Fi

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2017 11:32 AM

2017-03-14T11:32:14-04:00

I had a close friend in South Carolina who was a recruiter and he loved it.

Response by GySgt Scott Favors made Mar 14 at 2017 10:45 PM

2017-03-14T22:45:53-04:00

Did 6 years total and like one Captain said you put in 40% you get back 40%. I would have stayed as a career but to be successful you give up a lot, and family matters. It is the only job you will ever have (at least in the Marine Corps) that if you fail all you have to do is look in the mirror, the reason you failed is staring back at you! Only job you plan you own mission, if you make a successful plan you will be successful, if you have a terrible plan you will fail! I was in a terrible location, took over a station that had not made mission in 2 years, I made the decision I was not going to fail, when I left if was the top small station in the RS and in the top 5 for the region. You are given all the tools to succeed, it is how you use them that makes you successful or not. We had PSS Core training, if you used it they way your were taught you would make it, but if you used BSS (Bullshit Selling Skills) you wouldn't!

Response by 1SG Timothy Trewin made Mar 15 at 2017 12:13 PM

2017-03-15T12:13:36-04:00

To answer your questions in regards to recruiting, it is truly what you make of it. I can't emphasize enough how much the location of where you recruit can affect how your three years will go. If you think you are going to be DA selected for it then it might be wise for you to submit a volunteer packet. With that you typically have more control over where you are stationed. Some areas of recruiting are easier than other areas. As far as an assignment, understand that you are a salesman and you are selling the Army to prospective individuals and their families. When you are successful it can be very rewarding. Look at it this way, if you plan to make the Army a career then being successful at a broadening assignment such as recruiting will only benefit you. Lastly, I found that my perspective on how the Army works, especially from the force generation side of the house changed significantly based off of my tour as recruiting.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2017 2:38 PM

2017-03-16T14:38:30-04:00

It is what it is... And a big part is what you make of it. It's like any other job. There is good and bad to everything. My biggest struggle is dealing with indecisive, entitled, undisciplined, disrespectful teens... Some of the parents are pretty interesting too

Response by SFC John Mikelson made Mar 18 at 2017 9:21 PM

2017-03-18T21:21:36-04:00

Recruiting changed from an individual mission to a station mission. Your team will make or break your career. I survived 10 years of it.

Response by SFC Scott George made Apr 18 at 2017 10:14 PM

2017-04-18T22:14:40-04:00

It was tough but rewarding.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Dec 6 at 2019 3:27 PM

2019-12-06T15:27:00-05:00

We had a ton of people from the south both in boot and at Lejeune, I’d also bet at that time maybe even more so in the 03 fields. If I was a recruiter NC/SC/ Ga/ Tn would be good, bastions of liberal think shit like NY City and suburbs, LA, The PNW might be really tough. Just my opinion.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2020 2:24 AM

2020-03-07T02:24:43-05:00

Response by SSG James Bigbie made Jul 18 at 2020 6:27 AM

2020-07-18T06:27:09-04:00

Head South. I was in Michigan, and totally sucked. Meanwhile the recruiting station I was supposed to go to made mission every month with ease and was a walk-in station.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Dec 1 at 2020 8:12 PM

2020-12-01T20:12:00-05:00

I’m so far removed, but I guess location would account for a lot. If your a Marine recruiter in rural SC that would be great, vs say San Francisco. I’d bet a good many of my boot platoon were rural, many from the south, and funny enough Mass, I think they were all buddies that joined enmasse.