After a rough 2018, Army recruiting is trying to turn around both its strategies and its...

"Does this article represent challenges and opportunities facing Army recruiting?"- For the most part, it does. Some things about recruiting never changes: It is a never ending number's game. The Army, USAREC, the recruiting brigade, battalion, company, station, and individual recruiter all have a number to make. Every day, week, month, quarter and year is a number that has to be met. The pressure to meet those numbers rolls down hill. LTC's and CSM's get pressured when their battalions fall short, they in turn put pressure on their CPT's and 1SG's at the company level, who then take it out on Station Commanders and recruiters. It is a vicious cycle that inherently breeds a toxic environment, long hours, and low morale. On top of the stress and pressure, recruiters have to do their jobs knowing that most prospects, parents, teachers, veteran family members, and even fellow Soldiers perceive them as being lying, crooked, used car salesmen that will say and do anything to get them to sign on the dotted line. Add to that a low propensity to enlist and only about 30 percent of the target age of the recruiting market being qualified to enlist. I have literally seen two recruiters get into a fist fight over a marginally qualified kid who barely passed the ASVAB test because it meant the difference between getting a Saturday off or having to attend "zero roller training" with the CSM. For all the initiatives, strategies, and changes attempted by USAREC commanders over the years, it all eventually comes full circle again with higher numbers=more recruiters, longer hours, and more pressure. I am sorry, but video games is not going to get more people to join any more than dumping millions into NASCAR and NHRA did in the 90's and 00's.

This brings back some severe nightmares from my Recruiting days
I frequently broke SOP and wore BDUs despite an order to remain in Class Bs
I did that because it made me different from other Army Recruiters, and I felt it gave me an edge

That edge was simple "I was the picture of what the applicant wanted to be; a Soldier"
The message got lost with the class Bs I think

I ran DEP'r PT twice a week, and even had 'Ranger pre-training' with Ruck marches out into the surrounding areas....

One of my Ranger enlistees said we had "out Marined the Marines"...

Understanding both your environment as well as your Recruiters was key
Maybe it will work...

But I see the writing between the lines, Recruiting is where good NCO's get the real pressure put to both them physically as well as emotionally...and their families suffer right alongside

TJ Pandolfino, I didn't understand what your point was and was hoping you would elaborate. Instead you got offended and blocked me. Your post came across as an incoherent rant, and perhaps I could provide some professional insight if you were to clarify. This is an interactive veterans and service members forum. If you choose to post a comment as a civilian guest, then expect some feedback.