Well, today’s Veteran’s Day. As I was responsible for “leading” some young people to become veterans, I thought I’d share a story from my Army Recruiting days that got me in trouble from one of my superiors. I told the truth.
Big mistake.
A Simple Question, a Simple Answer
It was a normal day in recruiting for me, struggling and under pressure to find another person to join the Army. Luckily, I had someone that did want to join and he was coming into the recruiting office to start his paperwork.
There was another recruiter in the office doing his own work. A salesman, he naturally lit up when my future soldier entered. Since my time in recruiting, I’ve always been wary of people being excited to see me when I’m buying something.
As we were processing the future soldier’s paperwork, he asked me what life as an infantryman was like. He wanted to be a combat medic, so he was curious as to what infantrymen, my former MOS (job), do on a daily basis.
I told the truth…something like:
“Well, it’s not all kicking in doors and shooting guns. The only thing you could depend on everyday was that there would be PT (physical training) in the morning.
Honestly, since we were a Stryker unit, we would spend time at the motor pool cleaning the Strykers. We also would go to the field for the field and train, sometimes for a week at a time, but we’d get some a pass (extra days off) after the field to make up for all the time at work. We would do other training in or around the barracks, maybe go to a firing range. Although, there were days where much wasn’t going on, usually after days in the field.
Heck, the term ‘Hurry up and wait’ most likely started with the Army! We spent a good chunk of time waiting around, and most of that waiting around was chilling in the barracks playing video games or watching movies.”
I Told the Truth and It Was the Worst Answer Ever
It was my experience I was sharing with the future soldier. I honestly didn’t feel it was a bad answer either. Oh, it’s true we did hang out and play video games during the work day sometimes, but I made sure he understood how much time we spent training and all the time spent out in the field. However, it was the lower enlisted that were hanging out in the rooms – the leadership (to the best of my knowledge) was busy planning out training.
My future soldier looked happy with the answer. He sat there and listened the entire time, and I started to get more of his paperwork done.
Wrong answer.
“Corporal Corcoran, can I see you in the back office?” the other recruiter in the office politely demanded.
Behind our station commander’s office, there was a small room (really more of a closet) that we kept recruiting materials in. There was a small desk where we’d put potential applicants to take the practice ASVAB.
Once in the closet, I got chewed out. As the other recruiter was giving me a scolding, I was at an absolute loss at why I was getting yelled at.
I was informed that what I told the future soldier was boring and I needed to make it sound more exciting. The answer I gave, apparently, made the Army look really bad and I needed to fix how I talked about the Army.
What I Was Told I Should Have Said
After a while, I couldn’t wait to get out of the office. I wasn’t the best recruiter by far, but I didn’t even want to do the job. The Department of the Army selected me for it for some reason. I didn’t pick recruiting at all. I was “DA selected.”
I’m not a salesman, especially when it came to someone enlisting into the Army. In my mind, I wasn’t selling a car or a normal job. Someone picking the Army was entering a totally different kind of life of which they simply couldn’t just quit. It’s not for everyone. It’s a job where you are expected to kill and possibly die.
So, what I was told I should have said almost made me laugh on the spot!
“You need to make it sound more exciting, ‘There I was, standing shoulder to shoulder with my brothers-in-arms, charging up the hill and taking it.’ Doesn’t that sound a lot better?“
As he was giving me his scenario, I was picturing it in my head. I saw a dark, cinematic movie scene from the World War 2, but soldiers were marching up a hill literally standing shoulder to shoulder. It was so ridiculous to me, after having deployed to Iraq.
Of course, I responded with “Roger, Sarn’t” and carried on with my day.
Other Notes I Told the Truth on!
The future soldier in this story I actually have written about recently. Check out my post on his Insane Army Bride!
If you’re thinking about joining the Army, don’t.
If that doesn’t convince you to not join the Army, check out my 5 things you should be aware of when talking to an Army Recruiter.
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