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.