Doing good things

So today on the road again. But it was for a good reason. Had this kid that needed an interview. It was approved so he should be in really soon. This is the part of the job that I really do like. This kid was on cloud nine, after he found out he will be approved to join. He was yapping it up all the way back. That is what makes me feel good. That to me is what is being missed at the top. These kids may be numbers to some. But to me they are actual people with actual feelings, with actual needs, wants, hopes, and dreams. The Army is going to fit into their plan. I made or my recruiter actually is going to make a difference in this applicants life. Hopefully he will remember this day for a long time. I usually do, believe it or not if someone was to go through my list of folks I put in I remember everyone, I mean everyone, I even remember some that were not mine. So when these kids come through my station, I actually take an interest in what they are trying to do. I talk to everyone that comes through. After all they are going to be soldiers very soon. They deserve it.

What they don't deserve is someone saying oh hey their day is this day or nothing, fuck them they require this or that. They wait on us. That to me is the biggest downfall. That tells me that person is no longer looked at as a person but they are just another number that no one cares about. Is that the message we want to send to these applicants? After all they are going to be in Army where someone is going to lead them, pay attention to their problems and so forth. They will not be just another nameless number to that Drill are they, what about the Platoon Sergeant, Section Sergeant, or Team Leader? No they will be someones living breathing Soldier. These kids are not just numbers. I guess it is something that I will never understand. Maybe I am not cut out for this.


P.S. Mystery follower note: I left my personal email address up for you to email me. If you don't email me by 2200 EST. Then we will try this again.

Thanks for your concern, but I really don't know what to think of this.

more jacked up shit.

So, this morning starts off with my asshat first sergeant giving me a call. I don't think there is a day that goes by that he doesn't call me. Every fucking morning I get a phone call from this jackass. This morning was about how some projection was not showing on the system. So I am thinking great here we go again. This computerized version of recruiting is going to be our damn downfall. I remember back in the day all you had to do was fax a couple of pieces of paper to the MEPS and your person was good as long as you had the packet tight before the applicant sat down in the chair with the counsler. Now these days with the advent of computers, (which are supposed to make life easier), it is all fucked up. Now everything starts with that computer. OK lets say we have someone that is ready to join up. First off they have to be able to pass the ASVAB test, then they have to be squeeky clean on the medical. And if they are not clean on medical then that opens up a whole new can of worms. Then they have to damn near be clean on law violations. (contrary to popular belief that the Army takes any and every swinging dick and twat that come through the door.) Now in the old days we filled out a handwritten packet. In this paper saving system we have now, we have to print off an application, which is just a printed out blank sf-86. Then after the applicant brings all that to us along with their documents. Then the fucking really fun stuff starts. All this information gets typed in the system. Then we have to go out and physically run police and court checks everywhere the applicant has ever lived worked or went to school. Now you are probably saying wait, the reg says this. Well how we are told to do it here is run them everywhere they list on the SF-86 or in ARISS. After we get all those police checks back then we have to do an applicant prescreen checklist. And this thing is fucking ridiculous. It asks them like over 144 questions, of all this crazy ass shit. What this thing is designed to do is to shake loose anything that the applicant may suddenly remember down at the MEPS while going through the medical portion. While the intent of this thing is good. What it has turned into is a damn parade of stupidity. First the recruiter has to go through this with the applicant, then the station commander has to do it, then the first sergeant has to do it. And all this time you and the applicant are at the mercy of when the first sergeant (who has to have it done before the applicant can join mind you) can do this prescreen checklist. What winds up happening, this thing gets printed out faxed to someone faxed back, scanned into the system. It gets crazy as hell. And to top all this off you have to have their documents scanned in the system, along with the medical prescreen, which is seperate from the other precreen we do. Now this shit has to be done 72 hours prior to the applicant hitting the MEPS. Now back in the day, I could get a packet done in like less than a day and half at most have them projected and someone could be in the Army in less than 3 days. Now we have to go through this damn ordeal everytime someone has to join now. What kills me is the fact with less tech we put more people in. Now with all this technology we are being bogged down in the bullshit. It frustrates me to no damn end. If someone walked into my office let's say on Monday and wanted to join tomorrow, well they just cannot do it. Back in the day if someone walked into the office on Monday and wanted to enlist on Tuesday or Wednesday we could make it happen. Oh well, but hey sarge the computer is going to make it easier for you.
The only thing that is any easier on the computer now is the waiver process. Tech in that part of the recruiting process has helped ten fold. I can now get a waiver pushed through in record time. Back in the day we had to fed ex copies of packets to the waiver clerk then they had to fed ex shit out etc. Well now it's all in there electronically. Oh and the 72 hour rule still applies when they finally get to join too. Well like the saying goes that is all I have to say about that.