Why would USMC recruiters avoid a candidate?

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.

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.

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.

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

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

possibly a freeze on recruiting quota

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.

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.

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.

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.