Why Terrorism Won't Improve Military Recruiting

» OneHopey - response to your article.

I found your article very interesting, some areas good reading indeed. However, some areas were clearly quite biased opinions on your part. I disagree with you in stating that most schools don't allow recruiting and/or encourage the military. My son joined a "pre-training" program the first year he began high school. Most of the high schools in the area where we live highly encourage these types of programs to better prepare the students for that actual military upon graduation. The active branches give recognition and credit for the time that the students have received the pre-training. For example, my son is presently in his fourth year of the United States Navy Sea Cadet Corps., and E3. He eagerly went down and signed up for the DEP at the beginning of his Senior Year in high school and will leave July 7th for bootcamp. He'll go into bootcamp as an E3 and come out as an E4. As you know, this is a higher pay rate as well. Recruiters are assigned to individual schools and have their own assigned areas where they're allowed to cover. I come from a military family background and can relate to some of what you say. Yes, the anti-Vietnam protestors are now the parents of these students. I see things a bit differently as you do. It's not so much the parents "fault" as it is the lack of education being given to the public. The more education provided, the more open-minded one can be. One problem that I see the parents of these students being ignorant with their choices and guidance of their children, and all due to the lack of education or information. Promoting pre-training through the various military branches gives the parents more of an insight to what the possibilities are for their children to learn, ... and all at the expense of Uncle Sam if given the opportunity to join, ... Meaning that the government will pay for most of the schooling, which most parents don't realize from my observations. My son worked at the Recruiting Station for two years. It is a hard job. From what he expressed to me, it wasn't so much the students not wanting to join, it was more that the students weren't being honest with their past history! Some students would lie about their having criminal records, health history, etc. Another issue was in the student accepting responsibility for his/her own actions and making his/her own choices and decissions and not the choices of their parents! I can sympathize with you when you stated that most of the schools where you were assigned to be a Recruiter didn't allow you on campus. That is clearly not the case in this area where we live, ... Not by a long shot!!! There's ROTC programs throughout which are nation wide thankfully! I have been actively involved in training the United States Naval Sea Cadets for three years now and can't tell you enough about the rewards that this program offers for the cadets. The pre-training they receive benefits them as a student as well. Someone once said that knowledge is power. Working the recruiting station is a difficult job. Dealing with people can be a difficult job. The more education and information you can provide, the more doors you will open. In conclusion, did you ever step back and look at your approach to the matter? There's different styles to be considered based on the culture you are directly involved with. What works in one area might not necessarily work in another area because of the culture there. Because of the manner in which you expressed your words, I have to say that your opinion is clearly biased and somewhat closed-minded. Sorry. That's how I'm percieve your words. There's always, always room for improvement within each one of us, and sometimes we don't always see everything we'd like to. Your attitude clearly had a lot to do with your success in recruiting those students, as well as convincing the school district to allow you to go on campus for a brief presentation to those students. I don't know for certain, but from what you wrote, it sounds to me that you have not accepted full accountability about your own attitude and actions, and instead are readily pointing the finger at the schools. Tell me, what did you do that was positive in the community to let the community know that you had an "open-door" policy for whenever they wanted to inquire for information? What did you do to get the information/education out there to the public so the schools would even be slightly interested? You didn't state any steps you tried and moreover stated to an effect that "all" schools don't allow the military on campus. That is very false and misleading to the general public, Sir! Shame on you! The United States Navy has a long reputation that didn't take over night to build. It took Leaders with Leadership skills that knew when to change their approaches and stand for what they believed to be right while involving their communities to believe in those same ideals. We teach our children that they are as successful as they allow themselves to be. Doesn't the Navy believe in that same philosophy? I always thought so! You can catch more bees with honey than vinegar, Sir!

-- posted by OneHopey

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» AWillis - Re: response to your article.

In response to message posted by OneHopey:

Your response was longer than my article, but I'll try to take your major points one at a time.

First, I'll reiterate what I said at the beginning of my article, which will solve the issue of where I got my information: I was a recruiter for three years. Personal experience taught me what I wrote. Also, I've been a career counselor in the Navy and in civilian circles. I have a degree in Workforce Education and I'm about to finish my Master's degree in Adult Education.

Second, I never said that schools don't let military recruiters in. Most do. What I said was that schools don't encourage the military as a career option, especially when compared to college. If you're going to disagree with what I said, then you should use what I said, not what you think I meant to say.

Third, the Sea Cadets aren't run through schools, whereas JROTC, which I was in during high school is.

Fourth, your son will not come out of boot camp an E-4. Coming out of "A" School maybe, but not boot camp. I'd have to know what his specific program is to know for sure. I wish him luck whatever his program.

Fifth, of course the article is biased. It's my opinion, based on 14 years in the Navy, eight of which were at sea, 3 as a recruiter, and 3 as an instructor. But the fact that it's biased doesn't make it incorrect.

Since you asked about what I did while I was a recruiter, I'll tell you. I worked hard. I visited schools, malls, veteran's organizations, and anywhere else I thought would be a good spot to get the Navy's message of opportunity out. I volunteered in the community, even being awarded a letter of appreciation from the city. I had schools that actively encouraged their students to speak to us, but the vast majority did not. Some even discouraged their students from looking at the military. I'm glad your experiences were more positive, but I'd be willing to bet that were you not in a high military population area, things may have been a lot different. That notwithstanding, I was a good recruiter, if you consider that I was sixth out of 115 recruiters my final year. I worked hard at it, and it paid off, but by no means was it ever easy.

Finally, I must disagree with the idea that people are "as successful as they allow themselves to be." People are as successful as they make themselves. One implies that good things will come if you only wait. The other implies that good things come to those who work for them. The latter is what the Navy teaches, not the former. Your own pursuit of a bachelor's degree is further proof of it. You're making it happen for yourself, and you're to be applauded for it. It's the hard work that makes things worthwhile.

-- posted by AWillis

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