Why would USMC recruiters avoid a candidate?

2016-05-20T04:23:55-04:00

When I got out of the Guard in 2015, I immediately contacted the USMC. I wanted to join a disciplined environment, because I needed it (and still need it).

My first recruiter expressed interest and said I met all of the qualifications to join. I shook hands with him, then departed. I followed up with emails and phone calls. He was ignoring me.

A friend of a 'senior' USMC recruiter said he would help. This senior recruiter said that it was weird that a recruiter would fall off the face of the earth like that, and that he would help. 3 months later, after realizing he wasn't responding to calls/emails either, I lost patience and joined the Reserves.

Of course, THE DAY AFTER I signed for the Reserves, he calls me back.

What gives? What could possibly distract recruiters months at a time from actually recruiting? I ask because I'm thinking about inquire again in 2018.

Apologies if I sound like a nagging hag, it's been a chip on my shoulder for a while.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made May 20 at 2016 5:02 AM

2016-05-20T05:02:00-04:00

There are a couple reasons. Recruiters maybe "sandbagging". That means that the recruiter had made mission for the month and will hold on to a prospect until he needs it. If not that, the mission the recruiter has may have changed, or the number of prior-service recruits that the recruiter of the station can put in may have changed.
One thing that we don't want to think of but i very true, Once you are in the service, and you get out, it is NOT the priority of the military to bring you back in. Prior service that are still in the Individual Ready Reserve are still in the service. So, for prior service, during a drawdown, you were lucky to get back in anyplace. this is why, when I was the retention NCO, I made sure to remind the Soldiers I talked to that they needed to be double sure before they got out. you might not be able to get back in.

Response by CPO David Sharp made May 20 at 2016 5:03 AM

2016-05-20T05:03:29-04:00

I also find it strange that any recruiter would not respond. They have enough trouble to find anyone qualified today to enter the Military. My only possible attempt at explaining is that the NDAA has gutted our current forces and finding a Billet or filling a roster for the next class in Boot Camp has become an issue. Don't stop knocking on doors and "nagging" as this approach has worked for me to accomplish an aspect of a mission to be able to move forward to completion. In my mind someone who is constantly following through is a good choice. Dedication and persistence are excellent qualities for success.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2016 5:04 AM

2016-05-20T05:04:13-04:00

Policies change in recruiting month to month. Maybe they weren't accepting prior service at the time. Maybe the recruiter was in school. Or maybe just lazy.

It's your career and nobody is gonna care more about it than you. If they don't answer your calls just goto the office.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made May 20 at 2016 5:05 AM

2016-05-20T05:05:41-04:00

SPC Corbin Sayi great read and share, appreciate the share.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2016 7:37 AM

2016-05-20T07:37:44-04:00

SPC Sayi, I went through the a similar process a few years back. I got out of the Marine Corps in 2002. When I decided I was going to return to service I took me 10 months and 9 different recruiters before I made it back on active duty. The problem is coming in prior service is an uphill battle, and they only accept them a certain time periods. My advice is if you are looking to go on Active Duty go to an Army Recruiter. In the long run I'm glad I didn't go back to the Marine Corps. Don't get me wrong once a Marine always a Marine, but from an opportunity for advancement standpoint the Army has a much larger range of possibilities.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2016 7:42 AM

2016-05-20T07:42:20-04:00

Sandbagging, Marine Recruiters just like all realize that we have to do a SPF from Guard to Marines, Moo5, and Moo6, FL 142, then when all that comes back build your packet, possible physical, and then enlist, this process for one contract will take possibly around a feww weeks to a month, so they were probably trying to go for a clean packet

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2016 7:43 AM

2016-05-20T07:43:24-04:00

Sandbagging, Marine Recruiters just like all realize that we have to do a SPF from Guard to Marines, Moo5, and Moo6, FL 142, then when all that comes back build your packet, possible physical, and then enlist, this process for one contract will take possibly around a few weeks to a month, so they were probably trying to go for a clean packet

Response by CSM David Heidke made May 20 at 2016 8:30 AM

2016-05-20T08:30:59-04:00

They didn't need the contract and they were stringing you until the next quota period.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made May 20 at 2016 9:00 AM

2016-05-20T09:00:13-04:00

I had a similar experience when I first enlisted except it was an Army recruiter. All the communication was on my end and I wasn't getting any responses, so I went to a Marine recruiter and signed my name on the dotted line. Sure as hell, that very next day the Army recruiter was calling me to see if I was still interested.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2016 9:23 AM

2016-05-20T09:23:21-04:00

all recruiters go after the easy low hanging fruit to make mission. If there is anything that will cause them more work you will be put on the back burner. Also, with the draw down they can be more selective. The Marines is the smallest DOD component so it's not too difficult for them to make mission.

Response by SFC Wayne Theilen made May 20 at 2016 10:04 AM

2016-05-20T10:04:15-04:00

As s former recruiter. The one you were working with was weak. Because your a prior service it may or may not involve more paperwork. Once you were qualified you should of been in. USAREC eats its own. My 1SG would of had my ass if I lost a PS applicant.

Response by CPT Kurk Harris made May 20 at 2016 11:12 AM

2016-05-20T11:12:34-04:00

They may have been stringing you along for the next quota period. Possible, but I would think they would want to maintain rapport, and therefore should respond to you. More likely, the Marines consider you to be prior service. They have very limited slots for prior service applicants and they were waiting for a slot to open up. I would have been open with you about that, but some recruiters don't operate that way. Prior service candidates are also a pain to work with and, at least in the Army, aren't as valuable as non-prior service candidates.

Response by SFC J Fullerton made May 20 at 2016 12:06 PM

2016-05-20T12:06:08-04:00

In my 12 years in USAREC, I don't remember the Marines ever taking Prior Service. We put in former Marines on occasion because they couldn't get back in the Corps and only the Army was taking prior service at the time. I am surprised they didn't tell you that up front.

Response by Cpl Glynis Sakowicz made May 24 at 2016 10:13 AM

2016-05-24T10:13:48-04:00

On behalf of the Corps, I would like to appologize to you, for apparently finding the one idiot on recruiting duty.
Not contacting you, not keeping those lines of communication open to you, was a rotten thing to do, and totally uncalled for.
I was a 're-tred' as well, entering into the Corps after the Army, and yes, there is more paperwork, and yes, it is all round, more work, but damn! We 're-treds' are halfway there... we already know the finer points of weaponry, we know all sorts of things that they don't have to waste time re-teaching us, and we usually end up at the top of the class, because most of us can focus on the newer things, instead of how to make a hospital corner, or just how to clean a rifle!
My unmet friend, if you still want this, and I should warn you, its hard going thru Boot older than 99% of your group, so you have to want it more than you've ever wanted anything else, for two reasons... the first being that they will see it as their duty to 'clean the Army crap out" and secondly, you are going to be pointed out in every situation as a Blessing or a Lesson... so be prepared!
Again, on behalf of MY Marine Corps, I offer profound apologies for the run-around you endured.

Response by 2ndLt Fulton Recepcion made May 24 at 2016 10:17 AM

2016-05-24T10:17:56-04:00

It seems harder for prior service to join, but they should be upfront about that and not leave you in the dark.

Response by GySgt Chris Claude made May 24 at 2016 10:56 AM

2016-05-24T10:56:07-04:00

As a former Marine Corps recruiter I can tell you there's a couple reasons why the recruiter not call you back. The first is that because you already served in the Coast Guard, you were considered prior service and are much harder to place in the Marine Corps as they very rarely have spots available to except prior service. When they do it's typically prior Marines first then all others. This is mainly because you would still have to complete Marine Corps boot Camp even though you had already completed Coast Guard Boot Camp. Also, secondly the Marine Corps doesn't like to re-tread service members with no Marine Corps experience coming into the Fleet Marine Force for the first time possibly holding a higher rank than those experienced Marines in a junior leadership position.

Response by Cpl Patrik Bernard made May 24 at 2016 5:17 PM

2016-05-24T17:17:37-04:00

possibly a freeze on recruiting quota

Response by SGT Marc Riordan made May 24 at 2016 6:10 PM

2016-05-24T18:10:44-04:00

Same thing happened to me. I was in the NJ national guard on 9/11/01, and I wanted to go back on active duty, but in the Marines. The recruiter said he could do it, explained I would be an E2 again and go to bootcamp, I already knew that and was ready. He literally disappeared. The office was closed and I had to drive to the other office in red bank. The senior recruiter was not interested in doing the paperwork, tried to pawn me off on the Air Force recruiter next door. Well, I wasn't trying to go down the food chain, so I went back in the regular army. A week before I shipped out, the NEW marine recruiter called me and wanted to get me in. I said too late. Guess it was t meant to be.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 6:28 PM

2016-05-24T18:28:33-04:00

There is more than one recruiting station that you could have went to. If he said that you were qualified, then you could have went to another recruiter after not hearing from the original one.

Response by SSG Edward Joy made May 24 at 2016 6:46 PM

2016-05-24T18:46:39-04:00

You can transfer any time you want

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 6:49 PM

2016-05-24T18:49:07-04:00

I would've just gone to the office instead of waiting for a return call or email. It's a lot harder to ignore you when you're standing right there.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 7:42 PM

2016-05-24T19:42:51-04:00

Next time... Talk to someone else, always reach out to different people or supervisors

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made May 24 at 2016 8:36 PM

2016-05-24T20:36:58-04:00

SPC Corbin Sayi - Wouldn't let it bother you too much. That recruiter already had met mission. You were likely a number he didn't need. I guarantee you that it wasn't personal. Just bad timing for both of you.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 10:37 PM

2016-05-24T22:37:34-04:00

Just to tell you now, you can still request conditional release and sign up for Marines although it might take a while. I was in your situation as well. I tried to join Marines right while I was still going through my second enlistment. I never got the chance to go because I wanted to be 311 series, but lo and behold they had nothing available besides one slot for LAV crew member.

Also I know someone who is in her late 20s now (tried to join at 25 years old), but had diversion when she was 16 years old for possession of weed. She tried to join Air Force first. Did practice ASVAB with them, went through application process, then recruiter stopped talking to her for about three weeks and later when she called, he told her, her diversion 10 years ago disqualifies her. She then tried ARNG and they also told her they'll call her later. They never called her back, but Navy called her about one month afterwards and said ARNG said the DQed her as well, but they could get her waiver if she okay with joining Navy. She is now Sailor.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 12:40 AM

2016-05-25T00:40:11-04:00

You probably wouuld not have given him any points is my guess.

Response by SSG Max Geitner made May 25 at 2016 7:03 AM

2016-05-25T07:03:19-04:00

Because you're not a high school senior or you have issues. They want easy recruits. They are on production, numbers are power.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 7:38 AM

2016-05-25T07:38:08-04:00

Not a lot of info, but what was your re-enlistment code? What was your Pro&Con's (they still have them?) Last but not least, I don't know if this is a written or unwritten rule, but they have a limited number of prior service they can recruit. A, shall we say, a lackluster history in the Guard doesn't lend itself to being Marine material. Did you advance your education? Was there anything in the Guard you did to shine? What was your MOS? Yyou know critical MOS's have a priority in the pecking order for enlisting prior service if there is a quota or cap. Second, whatever the first recruiter said to the second as to WHY he hasn't followed up, the second recruiter must have thought was valid or maybe the second recruiter didn't really have any "juice" to begin with . There are a lot of questions but did you ever try having a "come to Jesus" talk and just ask " what has made me second rate and how can I improve it".

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 7:57 AM

2016-05-25T07:57:12-04:00

Wow, I commented before reading the other comments and read many that "dogged" the recruiter as being lazy FIRST and many didn't even ask about the SPC's history as if there could be nothing wrong! I took the behavior of the second Marine as an indication the recruiter had a good reason. Are you saying there were 2 "lazy" Marines?

Response by GySgt Steven Hedges made May 25 at 2016 8:29 AM

2016-05-25T08:29:01-04:00

recruiters don't get credit for an enlistment until after you graduate from bootcamp.. Maybe he had strong feelings that you wouldn't make it..

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made May 25 at 2016 11:10 AM

2016-05-25T11:10:14-04:00

You would need to contact a prior service recruiter instead of a canvassing recruiter. Do that next time. Prior service is a different route and they didn't want to spend the time on you more than likely.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 1:34 PM

2016-05-25T13:34:47-04:00

If you want to join the Marines and you meet the requirements when you sign the contract all you need to do is take it to the Reserve personnel office and they discharge you.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2016 8:21 AM

2016-05-26T08:21:09-04:00

some recruiters are horrible , they just suck up all the air and paychecks.

Response by LCpl Steve Smith made Jul 1 at 2017 5:02 PM

2017-07-01T17:02:55-04:00

I agree with the others here about your Recruiter Dropping the Ball in your case. Now there are times where yes there are times like some said where Recruiters will turn down, avoid, deter a Viable Candidate like they said policy changes. In 1991 I just graduated Boot and got put on Recruiters Assistance for a month and during that time Orders had come down from the Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Carl E. Mundy Jr that we were not to recruit Married People and shortly after receiving those orders I got a Great Candidate High ASVAB score, Fit and highly motivated but Newly married (about a year or two) he could've pick any MOS he wanted but I had to sit there and convince him the Suck wasn't for him. Which as any Married Marine will tell you is True for the most part Especially for Grunt Unit Marines and other Deployable Marines. Lots of stress on a Marriage. So I had to tell him all the shitty parts deploying for 6 months to a year and he couldn't take his wife with him, always being at the Corps bec and call 24/7, that when he deploys his wife loses BHA because the Corps is feeding and housing you while on deployment all that happy horse shit (at that time) just so he would feel better about us denying him and then lead him over to the Army Recruiters office.

Response by LTC Stephen Conway made Jul 1 at 2017 7:56 PM

2017-07-01T19:56:39-04:00

No offense to my brothers in the USMC but the USMC will not give you much credit for your prior rank. I had a platoon sergeant in armor who worked at China Lake Naval Air Station as a civilian and he was going to be transferred to Camp Lejeune North Carolina and its civilian job and he was looking into becoming a Marine Corps armor senior NCO E7. The Marine Corps is not very keen on giving credit to your prior service even if they went to the exact same school such as Fort Knox armored School back in the 90s and had he joined the Marine Corps Reserve he may have gone in as a private E2. The Marine Corps dropped the ball and you may have had a harder time dealing with their drill and ceremony ,their Cadence calls their Naval terms and their need to have a pool of very young Marines. If you have pldc or wlc out of the way you can make E5 in the Army guard or the Army Reserve. You are in an artillery unit so you should have some good discipline there. You are combat arms. Behind every disappointment as a new opportunity but thank you Marine Corps veterans and service numbers for apologizing and giving possible scenarios of what may have happened.

Response by PO2 Frank Schneller made Jul 7 at 2017 1:37 PM

2017-07-07T13:37:47-04:00

I would have showed more initiative and found a different recruiter. My recruiter flew me from Texas to Kansas befor sending me off to boot camp.

Response by PO1 Dallas Shewmaker made Jul 7 at 2017 2:02 PM

2017-07-07T14:02:34-04:00

I worked in recruiting for a spell. The ONLY reason why a recruiter would leave you hanging is because no matter how good as your ASVAB score is and your physical readiness is, you still missed a mark somewhere in your screening. My first guess is the prior service. The bottom line is that everyone that walks through those recruiting office doors is placed on a priority list. Maybe that month, they were focused on bringing in more females or other demographic. Who knows? It could have also been that the office had already met their quota. This gives the recruiter more time to focus on the "hard sell" candidates. A walk-in with previous service who already meets the requirements is a no-brainer. All you have to do is sign papers and make your way to San Diego or Camp Lejeune.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2017 2:39 PM

2017-07-07T14:39:18-04:00

Get some professional training in the Reserves and get on with your life. The Corps has already shown that they won't see you as a priority. The best you'll get out of wasting your time with them is a snazzy outfit to take pictures in for the ladies. Learn your trade, get as many civilian certifications as you can while you're still in, get a job in your field, and move on.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2017 3:16 PM

2017-07-07T15:16:52-04:00

The Marines are a picky bunch. I got out of the Marines in 2000 and after 9/11 wanted back in. They said no thanks. I was wanting a different MOS but still weird. So here I am in the Army. In retrospect I'm glad it worked out this way.

Response by SSG Joseph VanDyck made Jul 7 at 2017 3:52 PM

2017-07-07T15:52:33-04:00

This is just a joke...

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2017 6:15 PM

2017-07-07T18:15:12-04:00

yeah...one marine recruiter told me im too old at 32.....ok i will go to the army they thought i was bluffing..............i sure did went to the army and serve my country for 13 1/2 yrs until i was medically discharged

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2017 8:11 PM

2017-07-07T20:11:45-04:00

I'm currently enlisting with the Marines and my recruiter is awesome. I was informed that prior service guys get priority shipping to basic.

Response by SPC Paul Pfaff made Jul 7 at 2017 8:19 PM

2017-07-07T20:19:24-04:00

Being personal friends with a marine recruiter, who is on the process of enlisting me right now, I can tell you it was because you were prior service and we are always much more difficult and there is much more paperwork involved in enlisting us. He even told me if I wasn't his friend, they wouldn't have bothered enlisting me due to me being prior service and the difficulty involved in the process.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jul 7 at 2017 10:01 PM

2017-07-07T22:01:06-04:00

Obviously there is something on your DD214 scaring them off. A bad RE Code or something that they are not wavering.

Response by PO3 Andrew Kelly made Jul 7 at 2017 11:48 PM

2017-07-07T23:48:54-04:00

My experience with the MC recruiter was much different. I took the ASVAB in 78 and barely got my scores back and the calls started coming in. The approach of the four recruiters stuck in my mind.

The Army recruiter(s) definitely had an agenda (they needed recruits for Armor) and talking to them was a bit like a tag team match since as soon as one stopped talking the other would chime in and continue the delivery. I never did follow up with them.

The Air Force recruiter had the bad luck to come down with double pneumonia and evidently had no one to pick up the slack since I did not hear from him again until after I had made my decision.

The Navy recruiter had answers to my questions and was honest enough to let me know when he had to check on questions he did not have on hand. Obviously, he got my signature in the end.

Now the recruiter that impressed me the most was the Marine representative. And not for the reasons you might guess. He had made an appointment to talk with me around 2 in the afternoon and he must have been running ahead that day as he showed up just after lunch while I was busy turning the flower beds. I greeted him and asked him to give me a moment to tidy up. His answer was to ask me if I had another shovel and to strip off his blouse and helped me with my work as we talked. That was just the beginning. The second thing that stuck with me was his first point. He said to me that the Marines is not for everyone but if I was interested he would be happy to lay out what opportunities they could offer me. He was the only one of the four who did not assume from the start that I would sign with them in the end. These two things taken together left me with a deep respect for the man and by extension the Corp.

Response by SFC Ron Gragg made Jul 8 at 2017 8:38 AM

2017-07-08T08:38:04-04:00

The Marine Corps is the smallest of the big four US Services. Therefore their slots are fewer. Further, you were prior service. You would need to wait until they had a slot open for prior service person. They also have to consider what the "QT" score on your ASVAB test was (Were you a "Cat-1", "Cat-2" etc...), AND were they attempting to put you in your previous MOS? Or wer you going to be retrained? Also, you would need to go through the Marines Corps Boot Camp as well (Yes, your previous boot camp didn't count). You had all these factors working against you.

If you would have been a Non Prior service "Cat-1", AND passed your MEPS Physical, you would be spending a LOT of time with your recruiters prior to shipping.

Response by SFC Antonio Nieto made Jul 8 at 2017 11:15 PM

2017-07-08T23:15:41-04:00

Because you would have to complete boot camp all over again, your mentality would not be the same, you been there done that and got a dd214 for it, if you wanted to be a Marine you should have join there from the beginning

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2017 4:09 PM

2017-09-11T16:09:29-04:00

Can't speak for your Ric--you obviosuly weren't truly committed if you let this situation deter you. Part of being s grown man is setting goals and seeing them through. Good luck and god speed.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2017 11:36 PM

2017-09-11T23:36:21-04:00

I would have visited him or another recruiter in person and got things going myself.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2017 7:57 AM

2017-09-15T07:57:41-04:00

Sad part of it is you still went to boot camp to become a reserve soldier. He lost out on your enlistment.

Response by PVT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2017 11:29 PM

2017-11-05T23:29:17-05:00

Response by SFC Deb N Bob Spruill made Nov 28 at 2017 5:56 PM

2017-11-28T17:56:20-05:00

Just like everything else-you are a means to their job. Once you’re in you don’t matter any more

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 28 at 2017 8:01 PM

2017-11-28T20:01:40-05:00

So one of the things that actually got me to join was my recruiter's brute honesty. He straight up told me, "Kyle, I work on a quota system. If you join now, I'm already stacked. But if you give me until next quarter, it'll help both of us out." I respected that, so I did. Great decision; I avoided Basic Training during the middle of summer in Texas, and he got a guaranteed contract before his next quota period.

Response by PO1 Robin Flores made Nov 30 at 2017 4:26 PM

2017-11-30T16:26:34-05:00

Back when I first joined the Navy in 1977 I had all types on inquiries from Army and marine recruiters. Not sure why this happened

Response by GySgt Christopher Treichel made Dec 1 at 2017 12:16 AM

2017-12-01T00:16:36-05:00

I was a Marine recruiter. This baffles me? If he didn’t keep in touch with you then it’s his loss. I have no explanation for him ignoring you?

Response by CPT Jeff Robinette made Dec 2 at 2017 10:59 AM

2017-12-02T10:59:16-05:00

Every kid I talked to about the Military i gave this save advice,
1)Your recruiter is a salesman, his job is to get your signature on the dotted line.
2) Forget E-Mails and Phone calls if you want to talk to him KKNOCK ON HIS DOOR! I sold a lot of cars but by never sold one on the phone or E-Mail. They are Just tools.
3)When talking to him BE BRUTALLY HONEST! Question and confirm everything!
4) Keep your appointments.

Response by Sgt Andy Watson made Dec 3 at 2017 11:24 AM

2017-12-03T11:24:54-05:00

As a Marine in the former sense I too was a 8411 recruiter. I personally enjoyed prior service, and contracted many of them. I liked having because typically once re-enlisted we would have you in the office up to 90 days before you had orders heading to training or tge feet. I would employ you with many tasks making my job easier. I had a check list fir prior service to complete once you came back with all your documents and written statements in hand I went to work for you. During your waiting time to take you oath I treated you as one of my poolees you in a sense became apart if the family, but you had to follow our office requirements and be held to a higher standard. Now if you came to me as someone who didn't meet enlistment standards i.e. hieght weight ir criminal I made sure you knew up front what you had to do. I am sorry you had to experience a pile of crap 10% that all services have. Yes the officer who said policies change regularly he is right and our job to make sure you know and don't get strung along.

Response by SFC Jim Dorsey made Dec 3 at 2017 8:56 PM

2017-12-03T20:56:13-05:00

Wow! Communication is paramount in any business environment! Regardless of the recruiters decision, good bad or indifferent you should have received feedback!

Response by Sgt Jude Eschete made Dec 27 at 2018 3:01 PM

2018-12-27T15:01:23-05:00

Maybe they were reaching the end of their tour, maybe they met their mission on contracts, maybe they had issues to deal with those who had already DEP'd in. Best not to think about it, won't change anything and you'll be stressing over nothing.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2019 11:29 AM

2019-06-21T11:29:41-04:00

Remember the USMC is a MUCH smaller organization than the other branches (except maybe the USCG).
As a result, their yearly recruiting mission is a fraction of what is required of other military recruiters.
If you met the enlistment criteria for the Guard and Reserves, then there's nothing that would've kept them from enlisting you into the USMC.
Most likely, they just didn't need the number.

Take advantage of the training and education available through the USAR.
As for the discipline...
That'll have to come from within, no matter what uniform you wear.

Response by SSG Danny Anderson made Aug 26 at 2019 2:04 PM

2019-08-26T14:04:24-04:00

I'll sum it down to these reasons, it either something mental, moral, medical and physical that would cause the USMC recruiters to avoid a candidate. Read my facebook post for more details

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2019 12:11 PM

2019-11-05T12:11:14-05:00

I was sleeping with his daughter

Response by PO2 Steven Youngblood made Nov 28 at 2019 8:07 PM

2019-11-28T20:07:23-05:00

I went in april 11, 78. No high school diploma, no Ged. Missed 2 questions on the ASVAB. my recruiter, helped me, get in at 17 years 4 months, of age. as a reservist, on a 3x3. went to A school, another year active, went to Aircrew school, then to HM-12, And HM-14. my total was 6 years active, then 3 inactive. I have nothing but positive things to say about being in the Navy. I wish I could do it again. even a FAM Flight would be nice.

Response by SPC Rob Lewis made Nov 29 at 2019 9:43 AM

2019-11-29T09:43:59-05:00

I guess the system doesn't change, had almost the same thing happen to me back in the late 80's. Served in the Army, got out, still felt like I didn't belong in the civilian world. Tried to go back in and got ether ignored or shot down as soon as I walked into their office (tried all branches).

Response by SSG James Harlow made Jul 21 at 2020 9:52 PM

2020-07-21T21:52:57-04:00

I can only really speak from the Army side of recruiting. You’re prior service, you’re not high on the list. The Army and probably the Corps want fresh meat. My 1Sg’s policy was you decided to get out, you knew what you’re dumb a$$ was doing. You can wait until DA has a need for you. In the mid 90’s we only put in maybe 2 prior service.

Response by GySgt Dj B made Jul 22 at 2020 11:54 PM

2020-07-22T23:54:48-04:00

As one who went from Reserve to Active Duty, the recruiter has to care. They get no credit getting you in. My recruiter was honest about that and passed me on to another recruiter who had surpassed his quota and worked super hard with me to get me in. It's a lottery.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2021 12:38 PM

2021-07-08T12:38:57-04:00

Many reasons. Short timer, or even a struggling Recruiter being at least two. I survived 36 one month tours 84-87 and if it moved and was qualified I tried to enlist them. 86, so two Rifle Platoons. Lost one in DEP and one at MCRD PI. Most don't realize that the NCOIC of smaller sub-stations are also on production. They also carry the brunt of managing the RSS, besides their own quota. They could have pursued your case more vigorously, but if it's not lack of effort they saw something you were not aware of. The needs of the USMC always take precedence.