Well I am tired of these meetings that are not accomplishing anything. I am tired of seeing soldiers recieving counslings that just require a digital signature. (no face to face counseling anymore) I am tired of meps not getting things back to us in a timely manner. I am tired of being leaned on all the time. I am tired of this job. I am frustrated with the way this place in particular works. I am tired of leaders accusing me of "dropping dimes" on them. When I never did. I love how people out here just jump to conclusions and assume the worst everytime something goes wrong. I am tired of people going behind my back, but then again for doing what I am doing here, I may deserve it.

Kim here is what you wrote.

Maybe I'm an optimist, but I really had hope that things would get better for our Soldiers (and their Families) in USAREC. I mean, we're ahead in terms of the total Army mission, we've got the Army Family Covenant (woohoo), we're trying to move past the recruiter suicides, we've got the new time off policy, etc. But I just had a frustrating and discouraging FRG experience with the Company Command here. I don't understand the shortsightedness; a little care and compassion (heck, I'd be happy with basic humanity) would go a long way and could actually end up paying big dividends for the command. How long can this lack of care for the Soldier's well-being and morale continue before USAREC finally implodes on itself? Sorry to vent in your comments, but your post struck a nerve with me. Good luck to all of us.


Well to answer your questions or shed some light on this. My wife doesn't see things as getting better because our command is trying to find every damn loophole they can in the policies that have been put into place. Crap like you can add to but not take away. I didn't know they wrote policy. I can believe you had a frustrating FRG experience if my family and others that I know are still frustrated then I can only imagine what it's like in other places. I have rarely had a command or leaders in this business that show a little humanity. They have for the most part been short sighted. It is amazing to me that USAREC has not imploded years ago. I have seen some crazy stuff out here that some of these soldiers do. For the most part it is in the form of DUI's. The stress of making mission sometimes leads to damn good NCO's compromising integrity, just to get a contract in. They don't want to go to the BN HQ three hours from their location the next day after mission day. Especially after they have been working all damn day. Then to have to be somewhere three hours away and be there early in the morning. All to brief a slideshow deck that is absolutely ridiculous and then being told if you don't have no one in the Army within the week. More of this is going to happen.

Also God forbid a soldier needs to take some pers time to take care of something. The higher ups always seems to act like its not a good time. "How can you let them take that time today etc." Well hell when is it ever a good time to take some time. Well I put it like this the BN command will be like let the soldiers take the time they need to take care of family business. The company command and sometime the Station Commander will be like uh no or give the soldier a hard time. And the powers that be wonder why soldiers out here sometimes have a crappy attitude about the whole situation.

I for one am tired of leave being treated as a privledge. Last time I checked it was part of my pay and entitlements. Passes are privledges. Somehow it always seems to get skewed. I have seen leaders tell soldiers that they shouldn't take lunch because it takes an hour away from their prospecting. The latter statement I have seen in the last six months. And forget about eating some supper with your family, for this one I have been berated for that one more often than not. I don't know about you guys but I cannot afford to eat out all the damn time.

Anyway it is usually the company leadership and station commanders that show the shortsightedness. But then again this is just my opinion.

I am very frustrated at the threats that keep coming down the pipe. I wish I could let out the latest and greatest but that just might give us away. And we wouldn't want that. Today was not a good day. Today was one of those days I just felt like running out the door and screaming. I am so sick and tired of hearing the threats...Hey I am to the point now of shit or get off the pot. Stop with the I want your transfer paperwork routine.

I want to post up something new but...why do that. Still the system has me frustrated. It seems now we cannot get simple medical reads back in a timely manner and tell you what that is just damn awesome. I got people calling me up day and damn night asking me if I have heard anything. To be honest it is getting old. Do not get me wrong I understand that these people need an exception to get in, but they also deserve a timely anwer do they not? I am still not understanding the actions of those above me sometimes. It is in reference to the supposed time off policy that was put into place. It is still not being followed. Soldiers are looking to me for answers I cannot give. My wife and other wives are looking to me for answers that I just simply cannot give. I know, everyone finds a loophole in everything, but why was the policy put out. I guess it was put out to be just another feel good thing. Hey look at what we are doing but really we are not following it. I look across the hallway every damn night and guess what? All the other services are not working past 1700-1800. Only if they are actually getting someone in. That is the only time they are working late. I am telling you the people in the public are seeing it. I mean really if ship dates are getting pushed out into damn near 2nd quarter fy10, then why are we still working some screwed up hours. I don't get it. Everyone else I have talked to is working the CG letter to the letter. Enough of me raising hell for the moment. Yeah I almost forgot here is the latest and greatest from above. The threatening of a bar to reenlistment if someone does not make mission or the ROS requirements. Really? I didn't know that could be done. I have always questioned that one and always will. It's still beyond me how you can counsel someone, berate someone about not getting something such as an apt. Especially when everthing these guys do lies in the decision of some kid saying yes or no. Awesome.

This new system

I don't understand this new system. Well let me explain just a little. What I am talking about is the new way Recruiters input data into the system. All web based and secure (That I like, I like the fact anyone can input data on anyone's applicants. This is very good.) What I don't like. The fact that Recruiters still have to replicate and then print documents off of the ARISS. Now why don't the powers that be come up with a system to where we can print the required documents with this new system? I mean come on we can land a man on the moon, have gps in cars, and get a cell phone signal damn near everywhere but this system will not allow us to print our documents off the system. I mean when we fill out this ENSQ it should automatically populate to the forms we need and walla! Print. But this is the ramblings of just one person. Recruiters should also be able to project these people via the internet too. Station Commanders can do this why not the Recruiter? Rambling again I guess.

So what's up with the new categories that we can no longer put in. It's funny have all these folks saying well it's the hayday of Recruiting. Well no it's not when all the categories are being cut back. We quit taking in people with a simple possesion waivers as of tomorrow. That is the craziest thing I have seen in a while. Whatever, people way way above my paygrade makes those desicions. Till then just keep plugging along and finding people. Well here lately I have not had too much to say. Things are still a little crazy. Guess I have learned to live with it. Till then stay tuned I promise there will be more to come.

These jokers here with the blatant direguard for the time off policy is killing me. And no one is saying anything.

So I got off today at 1700, come home, and guess what was going on in my "hood" Other people were getting home too. Seeing their famlies and being hugged by their little ones. I got to see mine today while he was awake, got to sit down and eat with him and the wife. Went out in the neighborhood talked to people. Guess what found me a refferal!!! (How do you like me now?) There is a whole new world out here that I have not seen in a long time. I know this is pretty new but hey it sure is nice. Now only if the ones between us and the puzzle palace will just comply with this. This is going to take some getting used to but, once people adjust their way of thinking this will work. Everyone just has to give it a chance. They say the Army is about adapting, well there are some us that needs to adapt, adjust, and do.