Life, the Universe and Everything.
Isn't that title pretentious sounding? It almost makes you think that I'm going to reveal some great truth or maybe just solve one the mystery of some great phenomenon. Well, I'm not. I just came up with a ostentatious title because I don't have anything super cool to say.
Oh, wait a minute... I just remembered. I do have something interesting. Notice how I'm writing this stream-of-conscience? I'm just typing whatever I thinking at the exact moment my fingers hit the keys. Oh no! What will I do after I end this paragraph.
Oh yeah, the intersting thing.
This Monday I met with a recruiter from the Marines. I really wasn't seriously considering joining the Marines but he kept calling me and I was curious to see what they were offering and I didn't think it would take that much time. Besides, maybe he'd get the picture that I wasn't going to sign up.
Anyhow, he offered to meet me somewhere and I chose the local Library. I walked up and met instead of one recruiter there were two. The good 'ol tag-team.
Anyhow I talked with them for a bit and I guess I didn't sound skeptical enough because they asked me if I would be available that afternoon to take the ASVAB. Basicly, the ASVAB is like the military's propietary exam. It is a lot like the SAT except with more practical stuff like mechanical and electronic knowledge.
I didn't have anything to do that afternoon and I'd been looking into some of the Army's options. I thought I'd take a whack at the ASVAB and get some sort of an idea where I was. If I didn't get a good score I could always try again.
Anyhow, one of the recruiters bought me lunch and I filled out a little bit of paper work. Don't worry I read EVERYTHING before I wrote down anything. Then a third guy drove another possible recruit and I down to the MEPS to take the ASVAB. They were able to waive the scheduling that normally would be required for me to take the test and sent me in as a walk on. That seemed to tick-off the lady who was checking people in for the test and she was already having a bad day.
I went in and took the test. I had to make educated guesses on several of the questions so I didn't think I had done very well.
After the test, the recruiter who had brought us in picked us up and brought us back to the recruiting office. They had our scores already. I got a 99. I don't know much about the ASVAB but according to what they told me and what I've found out online that's the maximum possible score. The head recruiter guy said that he had only seen two 99s in the 9 years he had been in recruiting. I suspect that part was pure sales pitch.
All day long they had been leaning on me to go for the Marine Reserves. I had thought that the Reserves sounded like a lousy deal because I'd definitely get called up. They assured me that this wasn't the case. They claimed that the Marines aren't like the Army and that they don't deploy their reserves. According to them, the Reserves was one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer in exchange for full college tuition and $500 a month.
I came home interested but skeptical. I went online to see if I could varify what they said. I found out that they had been giving me a load of garbage. First, coming in I would get about $200 a month, not the $500 they pressented. That would have ticked me off but the big thing was that according to Lt. Gen. McCarthy, commander of the Marine Reserves, the Marines were deploying their Reserves to Iraq at a higher rate then any other branch. Additionally, he said that he wanted to redeploy reservists who had already been called up and then gone back home. Google revealed dozens of stories of Marine Reserve units being called up and sent overseas. The recruiters appear to have been lying through their teeth. Why would I trust these people in combat if they lie to me in the recruiting office? Finally, as icing on the cake, I found loads of articles that explained how civilian employers were responding. Basicly, if you are in the Reserves for any service you will find it almost impossible to find a job. Companies have no desire to hire people who are going to be shipped half way around the globe for a year and if they come back are likely to be shipped out again. If I hand joined up I would be condemned to sitting around working a low-hourly job waiting for the Corps to send me to some sand box for EIGHT YEARS. Thanks alot, USMC. Obviously, Semper Fi doesn't mean much when you're trying to recruit gullible teenagers.
I have a desire to serve my country but I feel that at the same time I have a responsibility to my future wife and family to do so in such a way that lets me out on a solid financial footing. At least the Army guy I talked to a year or so ago was honest. If I ever join up it won't be in the Corps.
Oh, wait a minute... I just remembered. I do have something interesting. Notice how I'm writing this stream-of-conscience? I'm just typing whatever I thinking at the exact moment my fingers hit the keys. Oh no! What will I do after I end this paragraph.
Oh yeah, the intersting thing.
This Monday I met with a recruiter from the Marines. I really wasn't seriously considering joining the Marines but he kept calling me and I was curious to see what they were offering and I didn't think it would take that much time. Besides, maybe he'd get the picture that I wasn't going to sign up.
Anyhow, he offered to meet me somewhere and I chose the local Library. I walked up and met instead of one recruiter there were two. The good 'ol tag-team.
Anyhow I talked with them for a bit and I guess I didn't sound skeptical enough because they asked me if I would be available that afternoon to take the ASVAB. Basicly, the ASVAB is like the military's propietary exam. It is a lot like the SAT except with more practical stuff like mechanical and electronic knowledge.
I didn't have anything to do that afternoon and I'd been looking into some of the Army's options. I thought I'd take a whack at the ASVAB and get some sort of an idea where I was. If I didn't get a good score I could always try again.
Anyhow, one of the recruiters bought me lunch and I filled out a little bit of paper work. Don't worry I read EVERYTHING before I wrote down anything. Then a third guy drove another possible recruit and I down to the MEPS to take the ASVAB. They were able to waive the scheduling that normally would be required for me to take the test and sent me in as a walk on. That seemed to tick-off the lady who was checking people in for the test and she was already having a bad day.
I went in and took the test. I had to make educated guesses on several of the questions so I didn't think I had done very well.
After the test, the recruiter who had brought us in picked us up and brought us back to the recruiting office. They had our scores already. I got a 99. I don't know much about the ASVAB but according to what they told me and what I've found out online that's the maximum possible score. The head recruiter guy said that he had only seen two 99s in the 9 years he had been in recruiting. I suspect that part was pure sales pitch.
All day long they had been leaning on me to go for the Marine Reserves. I had thought that the Reserves sounded like a lousy deal because I'd definitely get called up. They assured me that this wasn't the case. They claimed that the Marines aren't like the Army and that they don't deploy their reserves. According to them, the Reserves was one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer in exchange for full college tuition and $500 a month.
I came home interested but skeptical. I went online to see if I could varify what they said. I found out that they had been giving me a load of garbage. First, coming in I would get about $200 a month, not the $500 they pressented. That would have ticked me off but the big thing was that according to Lt. Gen. McCarthy, commander of the Marine Reserves, the Marines were deploying their Reserves to Iraq at a higher rate then any other branch. Additionally, he said that he wanted to redeploy reservists who had already been called up and then gone back home. Google revealed dozens of stories of Marine Reserve units being called up and sent overseas. The recruiters appear to have been lying through their teeth. Why would I trust these people in combat if they lie to me in the recruiting office? Finally, as icing on the cake, I found loads of articles that explained how civilian employers were responding. Basicly, if you are in the Reserves for any service you will find it almost impossible to find a job. Companies have no desire to hire people who are going to be shipped half way around the globe for a year and if they come back are likely to be shipped out again. If I hand joined up I would be condemned to sitting around working a low-hourly job waiting for the Corps to send me to some sand box for EIGHT YEARS. Thanks alot, USMC. Obviously, Semper Fi doesn't mean much when you're trying to recruit gullible teenagers.
I have a desire to serve my country but I feel that at the same time I have a responsibility to my future wife and family to do so in such a way that lets me out on a solid financial footing. At least the Army guy I talked to a year or so ago was honest. If I ever join up it won't be in the Corps.
9 Comments:
seriously wow....thats it wow
Whoa! That's very interesting....
whew!! I thought you were gonna say you joined! They are sending EVERYONE right now. I have a friend who wants to join right out of highschool. I don't think she realizes that she would prolly be going to Iraq, I'm not sure there is such a thing as reserves anywmore. At least not in MN. ROund here, they are sending everyone.
My brother-in-law just finished his commitment to the Marine Corp Reserves this past year. When he got sent to Iraq, he had already graduated college and started a very good job. The USMC called him on FRIDAY AFTERNOON and told him to report on MONDAY! That gave him the weekend to get all of his stuff in order-- job, power of attorney, lease, etc.
He would definitely not recommend the USMC Reserves to anyone-- and I don't blame him!
Glad you had your wits about you and didn't get dozed by those recruiters! If you really want to get into the military, I highly recommend getting your degree and then trying to get in as an officer. Your family life (and paycheck) will be MUCH better.
And my dad (who was enlisted AF for 20 yrs) said that at least if you're in the AF, you'll have a bed to sleep in at night. :-)
Wow - interesting story! I get mail from the different military branches every once in a while, but I have never yet talked to a military recruiter. Congradulations on the test.
Bethany :)
Wow. That's cool that you got a good score, but you know this country is in a little bit of trouble if even the Marines are lying to people...
good job at doing your research. and i agree with marsha...do your family a favor and go in as an officer!
it's just awful that they can tell you all this garbage and get away with it. i hate that! my girls get something in the mail at least once a month asking them to enlist. i'll make sure they hear your story!
thanks!
lisa
Hmmm....
I always post whatever comes to me-or my fingers. :)
Good job doing the research. i'm sure you seem like a perfect recruit and they tried to sell you hard. you have a good head on your shoulders.
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