Talk to a US Military Recruiter
The decision to join the U.S. Military is not an easy one. Knowing how to talk to a recruiter is crucial to ensure you are not misdirected, lied to, or miss out on any benefits. To the Recruiter, you are just a number. Recruiters have monthly quotas they have to make, and they are pressured constantly to make it. Now, they are instructed not to lie or mislead, and can even be held liable if they do, but it still happens.
Steps
- Take everything the Recruiter says with a grain of salt. While they may say that you will get your requested duty station, they actually have no control of where you are eventually stationed.
- Remember that you are in control. Just like when you're buying a car, you can walk away at any time during the recruitment process. Until you sign that dotted line and recite the oath, you are free to walk away. Do not be pressured into situations you are uncomfortable with. Remember, you hold the reins.
- Determine what your interests are. Do you like architecture? Computers? Fixing cars? All the services have a wide range of jobs. Find a field that you like and stick with. Don't let the Recruiter pressure you to be a cook if you want to be a mechanic.
- If you have friends or relatives in the military, ask them to confirm some of the things the Recruiter told you. Also, research on the internet.
- Be prepared to fill out lots and lots of paperwork. Ensure that you are not rushed to sign. Read through every document before you sign it. The Recruiter may promise you a bonus, but the contract you sign may not include it. You'll know ahead of time if you read through everything.
- Have all of your paperwork in order- and don't lose it. You'll need your Social Security Number, Birth Certificate, contracts, and any relevant financial paperwork. Keep all of this information accessible, and if possible, make copies.
- Do not lie. If you lie to a recruiter about drug use, give false documents or any similar intentional distribution of misinformation, and you sign that contract, you can be liable in the court of law.
- If you do catch your recruiter in a lie, let the commander or senior supervisor of the Recruiting station know immediately.
Warnings
- Signing a military contract makes you liable for that contract in a Court of Law. You can be fined and/or thrown in jail for attempting to avoid your contractual duties.
