Since my MOS is overstrength in E-6s, I’m tempted to convert to 79R. Can someone give me the no B.S. rundown on what life is like in USAREC?

2017-12-02T01:23:47-05:00

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2017 1:25 AM

2017-12-02T01:25:53-05:00

Just FYI: I already was a recruiter from 2010-2013 in Atlantic City, NJ.
I’m wondering how much it’s changed. Please include positions (future soldier leader, packets, prospecting) and work hours/schedule.
Thanks in advance.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2017 1:28 AM

2017-12-02T01:28:47-05:00

Converting to 79R, is like changing your MOS when re-enlisting. It’s a selection and board process. I am a recently converted 79R and my biggest suggestion would be to volunteer for Recruiting Duty and see if it is something you want to do. You need to be sure that you want to convert for the right reasons and not just career advancement. It is not for everyone.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2017 8:01 AM

2017-12-02T08:01:05-05:00

Its definitely not for everyone. Its like they are trying to do a mix of legacy and modern recruiting or whatever they call it these days. If you like dealing with people having too much pride and ego then go for it, but for me this job is for the birds.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2017 12:14 PM

2017-12-02T12:14:59-05:00

It all depends on where you end up, but lately from what I have heard from friends around USAREC is that everywhere sucks. It you enjoy sucking up to your CO/BN leadership, and doing only what they tell you, you will have fun. If you want to be an actual leader in a the Army don’t become a 79R.

Response by SFC Dan Sorrow, M.S. made Dec 2 at 2017 1:06 PM

2017-12-02T13:06:52-05:00

Can you sale ice to an Eskimo? Like others have said, it’s not for everybody. It really depends on where you are and that areas perception of the military in general. Right after coming off Drill Sgt duty, I was selected for Recruiting. The area I was in had a lot of options for HS students with numerous colleges and good work opportunities. I struggled terribly. Other companies in my battalion and recruiting stations were in Army towns and they did great! They’re Market was mostly a walk-in market and they were considered heroes for processing so many applicants. The rest of us had to actively recruit and overcome objections, some were legit and some were ridiculous. But, that’s the deal. If you didn’t make your monthly mission, you were placed on additional red time (phone calls) at night and on weekends to increase your contact to contract ratio. If you didn’t get anyone in for the month, you were sent to battalion HQ for zero roller training at 6:00 am on Saturday mornings until you put someone in boots. Keep in mind, battalion HQ could be one hundred miles or more away.

Some people excelled at it, many of us were lucky to still be in the army afterward.

Of interest, several of the walk-in market recruiters converted to that MOS (OOR at the time) and were transferred to regular recruiting stations...and flopped! They’d received all these recruiting awards gold stars, gold badges, sapphires in the badge, and some had their rings. But, they couldn’t recruit to save their ass.

Response by 1SG Timothy Trewin made Dec 2 at 2017 11:41 PM

2017-12-02T23:41:00-05:00

BLUF: It's a sales job. If you can handle that you should find recruiting both rewarding and beneficial. If you don't or you struggle to produce you might find it's not all it's cracked up to be. Have you ever volunteered? You might want to try to do three years as a "Detail Recruiter" before taking that plunge. That way if it's not what you hoped then you can go back to the Regular Army. If you love it then you can convert (and believe me they will ask you).

Response by SFC Keith Sollazzo made Dec 3 at 2017 9:30 AM

2017-12-03T09:30:41-05:00

I am unable to answer that since I retired as a 79R in 2009. It was a 7 day work week, 10 to 12 hour days when I did it. I hear they have changed that mind set. Stop into a recruiting office & ask to speak with the Station Commander. Usually a SFC & a career 79R. Good luck .

Response by SSG Cody Reedy made Dec 4 at 2017 8:27 PM

2017-12-04T20:27:51-05:00

USAREC had a few good leaders. For the most part most of them have retired. Your day to day does not change and your mission always comes first. If you make mission then happy days until the next month starts. If you don’t then you are treated like shit and told you need training and help. If you are looking at 79R you have to either be very good at sales or a damn good at lies. You would be better off if your GT score is high enough to put in for psyops.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2017 10:52 AM

2017-12-13T10:52:16-05:00

At least for me, not for everyone however, recruiting was the seventh layer of hell. I personally would take a dec statement before going back...

Response by SFC Mark Bailey made Dec 14 at 2017 1:21 AM

2017-12-14T01:21:01-05:00

If you decide to go to Recruiting, whatever you do.... DO NOT CONVERT until you have done at least 18 months. Anyone telling you to convert earlier is just blowing sunshine up your ACU's. They are either in an area where they do not have to work to get recruits, or they are simply better off being a Recruiter for any one of a various number of reasons.

Recruiting can be a rewarding tour or an absolute HELL all depending upon your market, your leadership, and worst of all every single applicant you run into for the next 3-4 years.

I served 42 very long missions in a terrible area that had a 67% YTD mission rate going back 25 years (in simpler terms, a crappy zip code filled with people who simply could not join for one reason or another). I have a Gold Badge with 3 Star Sapphires earned by working an 80 hour workweek for most of my 42 months. I am 180 points away from my Ring... and almost lost my family over the amount of time, effort, blood-sweat-tears expended on the 187 DEP'ers I put into the US Army.

After 42 long missions, I returned (very happily) to the Infantry and went on to complete a very good rewarding career, without ONCE looking back on Recruiting with anything but memories of never seeing my family for most of that 42 months.

One thing to remember... as a 79R.... you are a SALES PERSON... no longer a Soldier except in what you look like.... your MOS... your JOB.... your LIFE....

...is SALES... and unlike every other kind of SALES....
...you cannot offer a Test Drive, and there is no LEMON LAW....

So HARD SALES with an intangible commodity...."Life in the ARMY"

If your MOS is that locked up, consider REcruiting, but also consider re-enlisting into something else that is a bit more open to promotion and upward mobility...

Choice is yours, but remember one final thing...
Recruiting for a married person is 50-50 shot at a divorce... (or better)
Your spouse may understand a 12-month deployment into Baghdad or Kandahar....
...but they will NEVER understand working every single Saturday and Sunday for a month trying to complete a GFA Mission (Grad Female with a 50 or better ASVAB)..
....especially if they stick you with a ""Double GFA Mission", (otherwise known as a "Death Mission")

...and it has nothing to do with 'how good you are' and very little to do with 'compatibility factors'
...you end up in a crappy zip-code.... you're going to have a very long very ugly tour
...you end up in a 'gravy zip code', and you will likely convert and get sent to a crappy zip-code

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2017 7:26 PM

2017-12-30T19:26:10-05:00

Please make sure you reclass for the right reasons. I’m sure you have many reasons but a quick promotion isn’t a good one. Expect the worst and hope for the best. If you are a good leader then you will be fine. Take care of your soldiers and do your best. Don’t let the psychological games some tend to play affect your team. Do what you know to be right. You need to have great admin skills because you are expected to make your mission and find time for counseling and professional development etc. There are good and bad leaders everywhere. The mission is high and you will probably work long hours as a station commander. If you have other questions let me know if I can help.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2018 9:24 PM

2018-01-18T21:24:10-05:00