I have posted the So I’m gonna be a Recruiter for the Army thread and Why I think my job as a Recruiter is hard so this will be an update for all who are concerned.
I have been stationed in Paris, Texas. This is my first time to live in a small town, even though people in the surrounding towns call Paris as “going to the city.” I have school that I recruit from that have a graduating class of 10 people. I am getting used to the small town life and have enlisted two people in the two months that I have been on numbers (that is months in which I have to meet a goal.) I feel that I have been forthright in all my dealings with people and only wish they would do the same for me.
In the last two weeks, I have had two people ready to go and swear in to the Army, but both tested positive for Marijuana. Another was over the body fat limit after he had lost 20 pounds. That just pushes them back for awhile, but I instead have to make up for the losses.
I am under pressure to put in people who have graduated high school and who can score better than 51 points on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. Those that can, generally are in college and think that the only thing the Army can offer is a free college education and a chance at getting sent to Iraq. We do offer a lot of benefits other than college, but most young people have never had to pay rent in this community and don’t think that will ever happen to them.
I spend a lot of time with the young people that don’t have many ways to get out of Paris. Not that there is anything wrong with this town, but the biggest employers are Campbell Soup plant, the Sarah Lee plant, and TCIM. All of these jobs pay good to get young people in, but will work you for 40+ years until retirement and don’t offer great benefits. I really want to help the young people and give them opportunities that they would otherwise not have. Forget the college money, I can give them a chance to get away from the drugs and the criminal life.
I have spent time getting to know the Recruiters from the other branches and all are willing to help me place someone they cannot place. I have tried to get to know the HS teachers and the guidance counselors and get recommendations from them.
My greatest success so far is the sister of a Doper who will remain nameless without her permission. My greatest failure is that I needed to put someone in the Army today. I met a young man yesterday who said today that he was willing to commit based upon my Integrity, but he failed the pre-screen drug test. So I will have to wait two weeks or so to raise my total and my sig.
SSG Schwartz