I have spent the last few days observing the chatter on the U.S. Army facebook page, where one of my recent posts was featured and stirred up some friendly debate. Now, I’m all for debate! Without a little controversy, we have nothing to talk about. However, I did notice that a fair enough number of respondents still have a misperception about recruiters. There is a long-standing belief in the general public that recruiters are liars. I have even been told as much by members within my own extended family circle.  Few things irritate me for prolonged periods of time, but this observation ranks at the top of personal irritants!

Let’s start with the obvious – war.  I can tell you that as a service member of more than two decades and counting, the vast majority of my personal friendships are with Soldiers.  When I put someone in the Army, I ALWAYS ask myself if this person is someone I want watching the back of my friends. I challenge their commitment to service and, believe it or not, I have tried to talk many of them out of combat arms jobs when I didn’t think they knew what they were getting into.  In fact, I have quite a reputation among former co-workers for telling fully qualified applicants they might need to find another recruiter because I wasn’t confident enough with their commitment to enlist them in good conscience. Over the years amusing stories have been told about many such instances, as I depart duty stations. 

In one such case, while working in Michigan, an 18 year old male came into my office with his uncle, a retired service member.  The pair announced that the young man wanted to be a Special Forces Soldier. This quickly caught my interest and we began to talk. He appeared very interested and, after we talked for an hour or so, I ran through qualifications with the two men.  This guy was qualified, but I remained concerned about his motives. I asked when he was thinking of enlisting. At this point the uncle piped in and said “he wants to enlist in January.”  Okay, I said. At the time it was October. I asked why January? His uncle chimed in again, “because he doesn’t want to miss hunting season.” The sound of this answer caused immediate brain swelling and my head began to hurt. My mind flashed all at once to the hundreds of personal friends of mine that had spent years deployed. The time they spent away from their families, away for holidays, away for a year or more at a time, away several times in the years since 9/11. My mind recalled the handful of personal friends that have lost their lives in combat operations.  I said to the young man, “I can certainly help you get in the Army, if that’s what you want, but Special Forces is probably not for you.” The uncle looked displeased with this and I explained myself. I explained that an MOS like that requires selfless service beyond your current comprehension. It will cause you to miss a whole hell of a lot more than a single hunting season! That job requires a commitment that NOTHING can be placed in front of.  I can’t allow you into a foxhole protecting brothers of mine and you thinking about hunting season, I continued. At this point, the uncle threw my business card on the floor and left. I never saw them again. He may or may not have joined the Army somewhere else after hunting season. What he did not do, is become the battle buddy of one of my comrades. Not on my watch anyway. This is what helps me sleep at night. This is how I know my recruits are committed. This is how I know the whole family wanted this for their loved one, regardless of the peril. I don’t hide the war from anyone – as if I could (it’s been 9 years and change people).

Some of you don’t believe me even now and that’s okay, but if you’ve worked alongside me in the last nine years, you know I operate that way. I have trained my subordinate leaders to operate that way too. I challenge all that think recruiters spend their day telling lies to find ANY recruit, ANY Soldier, ANY family member I’ve ever been affiliated with to prove me a liar!

There are issues besides the war that recruiters are accused of misrepresenting.  I won’t write a thousand page blog today to retort, but in time, I will get to these issues. I will again support and defend the integrity of THE VAST MAJORITY of all recruiters! Don’t talk to me about the 5% that go astray either. Five percent of ANY population breakdown does something wrong, so don’t be a hypocrite!

By and large, the general public is supportive and trusts its military recruiters. SEVERAL defended the ideal behind the controversial blog post I mentioned in the beginning of this post. Thank you!  For those diehard cynics out there who just need something to disagree with, you’re welcome! You’re welcome for the freedom of speech and choice that brave men and women fought to get you.

Today, I will stay and defend the honor of my Soldiers!  Army Strong!

Until next time,

Terry