Can I get any time Recruiter

[signal20]

I am having a difficult time getting a hold of my local NG recruiter. I sent him an email and got a quick resp with his cell px but have left him several msgs since than and get no resp back. I really dont need to talk to him I just need the application so I can get started. I only need him when I am ready to go to MEPS. The kicker is that there is another recruiter in the armorary that actually answers the phone, but I feel bad changing recruiters. Anyone have a suggestion how I can proceed further. I have heard from other people how hard it is to get ahold of him.

[SteveLord]

Use another. Snooze ya lose.

[Recruiter yosis]

If you the application use the path to honor on the site.
I'm using that for my little bro. Really it is the same thing that the recruiters use.

I would use the other recruiter but CALL the 1st one that you are dealing with and tell him why you are going to use SGT Joe Smo. It covers the new recruiters butt big time (happened to me before)

[Dave-O^8706]

Yea I would suggest using that,It's a long form but when I was done recruiters were calling me non stop.

[signal20]

Im really trying to get paper version of the application. I have tried several times to call my recruiter without luck. I tried the online path to honor when I had the recruiters RSID but I didnt finish it in a timely manner so it got cancelled also it gave me some trouble since I was not born in the US. I didnt know it would be so hard to join.

[NCdross]

what state are you in? NC recruiters are really on top of things, at least in Raleigh.

[signal20]

Im in Florida. If there was a recruiter on here that could send me the application in email would be great.

[shutterm4]

It's a butt load of paperwork. You should just go in and talk to a recruiter. If you want it bad enough you will press the issue. just go to another recruiter. and remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

[dnall]

USAREC has stats you should look at - I couldn't give you a link, I've just seen a paper version. It says fewer than 10% of people that state money for college as a reason for enlisting active duty ever complete a 4yr degree in their lifetime.

National guard gets 4500federal plus whatever state (mine is another 4500, some are free at any state school) per year tuition assistance, and full time to use it. Active duty, particularly in a high optempo period, it's going to be difficult to make extensive use of tuition assistance to get very far with school.

With a young single soldier, health benefits are not central to their purpose. If they are, then the tricare-select reserve is now avail.

Far as the money, an ROTC-SMP cadet makes more per month than a private on active duty. Plus tuition assistance, plus book allowance; and still has time for another job if they want/need it.

I do understand active duty can be the right choice for some people in some situations. You coming out of a gang neighborhood is a good example of that. When you come across those folks, active first is almost always the best answer for them. It's more money for the same active duty MOS & very little additional obligation.

[WO1 Quinones]

Different strokes for different folks. I went Reserves and Guard before I went Marine Corps active and I did like the active lifestyle because I felt that I was really submerged into military life to better make me a well rounded Marine and the world-wide travel was awesome. Bouncing from Japan to Korea to Hawaii wasnt bad for a guy from the hood. In my opinion, I felt that a single soldier right after high school or college was good to make active duty a first choice then after he knew what he wanted out of life and then embarked on a wife and family then the reserve component was a better bet after he ETSed. But talk to your active duty brethen who has been lifers and they wouldnt trade it for one reserve/guard day at all. They live and breathe the military. Now as an officer, I am running a shop, embarking on my masters and completing certifications plus deal with COMMEXes, CTX, JMTC and a future deployment and getting paid. If you are an M-DAY then do what you do but I know I will enjoy my retirement check much better.

Now and days with the hits of the private sector, I am happy being a public servant with job security. My IRA has taken hits but at least a government pension is on the horizon.

On the notion of pay, nothing wrong starting off at 15k. I know guys that make less than me that has more cash on hand because they have less debt and better money management. I dont care how much money that you make; if a big ratio of your pay is in debt, then you probably living paycheck to paycheck. I am going to start investing into stocks directly from my USAA account and see what happens. The Captains in my shop are doing well.

[Mr_Loki]

Guaranteed shelter and food are good too?

[dnall]

Not slighting active duty. There are some great things about it, but there are also some serious limitations. Likewise for Guard/Reserve. If you're coming into the military for the purpose of going to college, starting in guard/reserve is the way to go. If you need to leave the hood & grow up, then active might be right for you, but not because the benefits are so much greater.

Personally, there's things about active duty I'd like that I don't get here, but I really like the idea of staying in Texas versus getting shipped off to Ft Drum. I like the idea I can make six figures on the civilian side & still be a military officer.

My biggest thing talking to young people looking to enlist though is... take advantage of what's available to you, but if you're here to accomplish something (like college or becoming an officer), don't BS around taking the long road to it cause you think it'll give you better experience or whatever. Just buckle down and go straight at your goals. If that's active duty, then ROTC-SMP is a great program for you. If it's to get out of the hood, then active first is something you need to look at. If it's pay for school & get out of the military, then guard is your best option.

One is not better than the other though, it is as you said, different strokes for different folks.

[WIBecky74]

I know, with a click I could find out for myself... Is there still an Active First Program? Daughter of a friend has an appointment with the AD Recruiter. The child comes from a military family but he has been out for some years now. One of the main reasons is college money although they understand the patriotic side of it also and has that in her blood. I brought up Active First to her tonight but thought it had been stopped around October and couldnt remember for sure.

I'll start pushing now because i'm opening my mouth about something that I dont have the experience in, but in my opinion an AGR Guard job would be the best. I agree it is what you want out of it and want to put into it that makes it an individual choice of which is the 'best' decision.

[NCdross]

They still have the Active First program.