US Army to stop ALL recruiting.

[Bosh]

The problem is that not many people want to join the army, (for some strange reason ) so recruiters are cutting a lot of corners in order to get as many warm bodies in as possible.

[Winston]

"Abuse" is quickly becoming my favourite candidate for Most Abused Term of the Year.

The guy abused the US military, so they decided to abuse him right back. And now this has become a news item to abuse all of us, and what little time we have for abusing things on this earth.

[Brundlefly]

A friend of mine in the Army - an officer for 10 years - said that if you join there is no negotiation about the type of service you will do or the location of your duties. He said you should count on going to Iraq almost immediately if you sign up. And that counts for both regular army AND reserves..

[Bosh]

The guy abused the US military, so they decided to abuse him right back. And now this has become a news item to abuse all of us, and what little time we have for abusing things on this earth.

Its not just that, its recruiters letting people into the army who shouldn't be let in, people with criminal records, people who can't pass the ridiculously-easy entrance test without "help" etc. etc.

[Patroklos]

The problem is that not many people want to join the army, (for some strange reason ) so recruiters are cutting a lot of corners in order to get as many warm bodies in as possible.

Believe me, this is nothing new.

A friend of mine in the Army - an officer for 10 years - said that if you join there is no negotiation about the type of service you will do or the location of your duties. He said you should count on going to Iraq almost immediately if you sign up. And that counts for both regular army AND reserves..

Absolutely untrue. Having worked at a recruiting command, there are several programs that guaruntee communities, you just have to not be a dumb ass and read your contract before signing.

Though I fail to see why someone joining the military during something like Iraq should expect not to be sent there

[Alexander's Horse]

what a cheery thought

[chequita guevara]

I've also been told by ex-recruiters that the contract you sign is meaningless.

[lord of the mark]

so answer me this - if there are lots of folks in the army who want out, how is the (stupid) dont ask dont tell policy still in place? Id think someone would just go up to their officer and say "im gay". Its not like thats gonna hurt so much in civilian life in this day, especially if you tell everyone you just wanted out. (yeah im sure there are some employers who will be picky about your discharge, and wont like it if you lied, but I doubt 19 year olds afraid of getting killed are gonna worry too much about that)

Youd think the side benefit of the recruitment problems would be to kill off dont ask dont tell.

[Brundlefly]

The thing that would scare me the most as a new recruit is being in a war zone under the command of retarded officers like the ones implicated in the Abu Gharaib scandal.. My Army buddy says the Army has scraped the bottom of the barrel of its reserves for deployment and there are so many people supervising troops over there who are unfit superivsors.

[MrFun]

Lancer you realize that by posting that link in the OP that you hate your country?

[pchang]

I think the halt is only for 1 day.

[Apocalypse]

Wow...

Seriously, contracts do mean a lot. And people have gotten out of army contracts quite a bit when tehir recruiter lied. I was also able to negociate what I wanted to do in the army. I made a thread about going Military Intelligence before enlisting...well, I enlisted and now work military intelligence. It's quite easy really.