Posted on Nov 21, 2018
SSG Infantryman
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As we all know recruiting is a big thing now with bonus and opportunities to leave units early. My question is should I just go ahead and volunteer or are the horror stories true? Trying to find out more info on recruiting thanks.
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MSG Inspector General
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No, you should not go to recruiting unless you are a self-motivated individual who is trustworthy and can work with minimum supervision. Yes, the horror stories are true. Recruiting is not like the regular Army. In recruiting there is no remedial training, you can go from hero to zero in a minute. I personally miss recruiting rarely, I had the worst possible supervisors and the most toxic 1SG in my entire career was in recruiting. I would highly recommend you to think what are you trying to get out of recruiting, if you are doing it for the cash bonus and extra pay, you are doing it for the wrong reasons. Good luck in your future endeavors.
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SFC Joseph Weber
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No.
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SFC Platoon Sergeant
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As an infantryman (if you plan on going back to the infantry) it’s not a good deal as an E5. You are likely to get promoted while in usarec, but then you have no rated time and basically no time to attend military schools. So while the broadening assignment looks “good” on paper, the lack of more important things for an infantryman (KD time, schools) will set you behind your peers.
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SFC Operations Nco
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That is not true. If you are KD complete at your current grade then a TDA is a great step for professional and career development. The majority that do Recruiting and complete the 36 months are often selected for SFC on their first look.
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SFC Platoon Sergeant
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SFC (Join to see) I’ll use my personal experience here to explain my point. I was an E5 for 2 years when I got orders for recruiting, at the same time I was getting looked at to go to the board for E6. I came out to recruiting, picked up E6 in a little over a year (new “leadership” wanted NCO of the month boards first). Picked up E6, spent another 2 years on recruiting. Now I’m headed back to the infantry and my first look is this coming year. I have no KD time at E6, nor do I have any of the important schools for an Infantryman, nor was I picked for any addditinal duty schools (as nobody in my office was, since we had most positions covered by other NCOs). So now I am atleast 2 or more years behind my peers who got picked up about the same time.

How does that benefit my career? Now I will have 2-4 more years as an E6 before I’m even competitive for E7. I’m not saying that more time as an E6 is a bad thing, I just think USAREC/HRC shouldn’t steal young E5s for broadening assignments.
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