One of my friends is dead set on being in the Marines. He is a really smart guy and he is a country boy, so he is tough. He has already been to the through the physical tests and everything like that. He has been talking to the recruiters for a while.

 

They had an agreement that he would go to ROTC at Auburn University on a military scholarship and then would serve for four years. He is going to boot camp this summer as well. He has already signed all of the appropriate papers confirming all of this stuff.

 

Apparently the recruiters had him give his application and scholarship apps to them, and they would then send it on to the college. However, they did NOT send the applications to Auburn. They didn't send them at all. So Auburn didn't even know that he was coming, and the ROTC people at Auburn didn't know anything either.

 

So singlehandedly the recruiters have damaged his college career. Furthermore, two of them were supposed to come to his house 2 nights ago to meet with him to try to straighten things out. They didn't even show up.

 

Needless to say, the guy is mad as hell. I think that it is crappy that the local recruiters would do this. Definately doesn't speak well to be about them.

That's the Marines for you... Recruiters from all branches can be pretty sleazy, but the Marines definitely take the cake.

I do hope it was just a mistake that will get straightened out, but all too often you hear about such tactics to get people to just sign up...with what seems to be no care at all for this person beyond that...nor their future.

Lol thats recruiters for you dont trust them cause they will do anything to get you into the military, that includes not telling you about bonuses and other stuff. Anyway they are not ur friends all they care about is how many guys and girls they can recruit. Just like my recruiter isnt recruiting anymore since he decided to sleep with another women even though he is merried not to her of course lol.

Do not ask to get information about the service from a recruiter. Get it from somebody that has already served...........get good and bad from multiple sources. I knew some as personal friends and they confirmed that they are taught to deceive to get recruits any way they can. The person that was screwed over does have rights and should pursue damages, because, #1, the conduct of those recruiters is generally classified or considered as being 'conduct unbecoming' and being of 'dereliction of duty' and does have consequences.

I talked to him again today and he is going to Auburn and not doing ROTC at all. He has a scholarship from the college itself, so apparently he got things straightened out with them at least. I don't think he wants to be a Marine anymore though.

That is too bad for The Marines.

 

Marine recruiters are held in such higher esteem than other recruiters, so I am not sure how this happened.

 

I come from a career USMC family and was in the airwing Navy myself, so I know how all it takes is one small mix-up to ruin one's carrer or future.

 

I would tell your friend to not expect an apology from the DOD, they do not do that. They play 'the blame game' and 'pass the buck'.

 

Best of luck to your friend. Good things.

I don't think that he does expect an apology from them, he is just royally pissed. I think that he wrote a letter to the Alabama congressmen about it. I think he is just mad. I know that my school guidance councelor is extremely mad and she told them that if they do not fix it then she will tell everyone at the school from now on to stay away from the Marines.

Every facet of life has something that is not perfect even the military. Bad things happens but it doesn't mean the military is a bad choice for a career. I've had an awesome time in the military and I wouldn't trade that experince for anything in the world. Defending our country is the greatest job in the world. My little sis is also in the military and in Iraq, which is something she volunteered for. I volunteered to go but was denied due to a shortage of Sub Chiefs in my rating. The military is a good deal, take it from someone who has walked the walk.

Yeah this guy has been set on being a Marine for years though, and the first time that he deals with them they screw him over. That is crap.

Okay. I can't take it anymore! I am a recruiter (military) and there are always 2 sides to the story. Just like any good cop this story does not make sense. Are you sure he was offered a ROTC program? I looked at the Auburn link and they have Air Force and Army ROTC but I did not see a Marine ROTC. I think I am missing something here.

Please tell me your friend is aware that there is a BAW "Big A#@ War" going on?

Usually, when I hear that a person got screwed by his recruiter it usually means that he did not pass something like the Officer Qualifications Test, background check, medical review, or of course the worse case scenario. He did in fact get screwed by his recruiter. Either way, I always tell every person I recruit that there is a BAW going on and if he/she is signing up for college please do me and my fellow "Warriors" a favor and leave and not return.

Recruiting duty is a "very" hard job and I would rather go to the desert than recruit (5 tours in the AOR). In seven years of recruiting I have heard it all. I guess my recruiter screwed me too but after 22 years of "HONORABLE" service it had to be the best SCRE#$#@# I have ever received. I say thank you!

Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum! Always [XXXXXX]>>>>>>>>>>>>>

By the way I am retiring this Fall on the Air Force's 60th Birthday 1985-2007. God Bless...

If there is not an ROTC program at Auburn then my friend got some serious misinformation. Down here in Alabama college football is a lifestyle, and Auburn is Alabama's rival. The guy is a hardcore Alabama fan. Here that means that you don't go to Auburn or you are a traitor (this all may sound silly, but hell, its how it is.) The Marine ROTC is the ONLY reason that he is/was going there.

He wanted to go to Iraq actually, but he wanted to get a college education first because he is one of the brightest guys at our school. He wasn't just signing up for the college money. He truly wanted to go to war. Trust me on this one.

He passed all of the tests and such that he took, or so he was told. If he did not pass them then somebody lied to him.

1. It's a shame that the reputations of organizations can get ruined by the actions of one. Weigh, and remember, that responsibility in your own careers. And for those with government jobs, remember that you not only represent yourself and your department, but on some levels, you represent your country. Act accordingly.

 

2. If it's important, get it in writing. If they won't give it to you in writing, then something is amiss...

 

Glad your friend was able to proceed with his academic career anyway. Hopefully he places the blame in the recruiter, and not in the USMC as a whole.

I have dealt with 3 different recruiters. I am an Army ROTC, SMP cadet. What does that mean? I am in the National Guard and ROTC at the same time. Unfortunately (believe me I tried to get this changed), the ROTC contract stipulates that I could not go to Basic/AIT due to some red tape, etc.

 

Anyhow, here's the point of this story: I switched from an active duty to a National Guard contract, so that meant I had to work with some recuiters to get the contract changed and to get sworn in. Of the 3 I worked with, 2 of them were (and one of them still is the NG liason to my ROTC btn, so I see him often) were upstanding and did and continue to do everything they could for me. I got all the straight facts, and as I said, I still work with one of them on a weekly basis.

 

However... The third one, the recruited that actually did my paperwork and got me sworn in, was a little iffy. He was a nice guy... a little too nice. Luckly by the time I worked with him I knew all the facts and had talked with friends who had dealt previously with recruiters. I asked him some questions about pay, and bare in mind, he KNEW I was a non-prior service cadet with basic/AIT in my future, and he assured me up and down I would get the GI bill and kicker in addition to my normal pay. He said all this BEFORE I swore in. As I said, I knew the facts already, and I knew I wouldnt get either of those pay packages since I wouldnt be MOSQ-ed... He seemingly failed the integrity check...

 

Moral of the story: While Im willing to bet he was possibly just misinformed himself, one must do as was mentioned above, and do a TON of research before dealing with recruiters. I wouldnt rely on anything but the most basic facts from them, no offense Warfighter. It's just plain good sense that applies equally to things like getting a loan or buying a car. Even if the car is from your best friend, you still want to research it right?

 

SneakyArab:

If your friend truly wants to defend the country, tell him not to get jaded by some apparent bad apples... Check other options. Reserve forces perhaps? I know the Army National guard has desperate need of officers and your friend will be able to attend basic/AIT in addition to being a cadet if he does it right.

To set the record straight> I would say, without a doubt, that the USA has the best recruiting standards in the world. A few 'bad apples' do not ruin the entire basket. Recruiters have a very hard job and have to put up with a lot of snide questions from a lot of already very skepticle familes that know very little about military life and/or do not have a family history of serving thier country. The military sells itself in many many ways. All it takes is a visit to a local recruiter or to an airshow or Bay Fest to be convinced. If you want to see the world and be able to talk about it as an experiencd participant, then go military. There is no better feeling than being a part of something that is bigger than your home town. Your buddy should opt for a Reserve career or National Guard. So, if you want to run with the 'big dogs', you have to get off the porch. :thumbsup: