Joining the military has long been an option for young people. Some will join because they come from a line of military service, and it’s all about the pride and honor. While others will join as a means to escape a difficult situation, a way out. The military has much appeal when you are coming from a challenging place such as the streets, an abusive home, or simply poverty. Others join as a way of gaining some life and work experience.
This article is not about your “reasons” for joining the military, but about how you can get the most out of your time in uniform.
Admittedly, most of my points come from hindsight. When I joined up in 1997, I thought I had all my ducks in order, and that I was squared away. Though I was more prepared than your average person walking in from the street, my recruiter still managed to mislead me while benefiting himself. I’ll explain more about that within the points I’ll be making.
So let’s get started!
1) Don’t be afraid to walk out!
Keep this in mind: the recruiter has a quota to meet. Not only that, he has certain jobs to fill, and he may not prioritize what YOU want to accomplish. His main goal is to meet his agenda. I mean no offense to recruiters, as I’m sure some genuinely care about recruits, but my experience suggests otherwise.
Know what you want to do before you walk in! This may sound basic, but when you enter a recruiter’s office, you should already know exactly what you want to get out of the service. If you do not, they might sell you an idealized version while steering you towards the job they need to fill.
That’s why an article like this one can be helpful. Initially, I wanted to enlist in the Marine Corps. I worked with a recruiter out of the Fordham Road Recruiting Station. I knew what I wanted to do, and he knew what HE wanted me to do.
I met an officer recruiter while training with them as a “poolee,” and I wanted to follow the Officer career path. I was well on my way to getting a bachelor’s degree, and that was the path I wanted to take. The officer recruiter saw potential in me and wanted to work with me. The recruiter I started with refused to allow me to work with him, saying I didn’t have the mechanical and electrical scores to be an officer. He told me I would never make it in OCS and that I would be a great infantryman. Due to the structure of the recruiting office, since my first contact was with a Sergeant, the Captain could not take me on as a recruit.
Before actually enlisting, we recited an oath. Mind you, I hadn’t been to MEPS or signed any paperwork at that point. However, based on this, the Sergeant warned me that I couldn’t change my mind anymore.
His forceful approach frustrated me, and I thought, if these guys are this restrictive before I even join, imagine how it will be once I have no choice? At that point, I decided to walk out and move on. He continued calling and trying to use pressure tactics, but I told him I was confident in my options. He then tried a softer approach and offered to work with what I wanted. Even so, I no longer wanted to work with him. He had already shown himself to be manipulative. I’ll leave it at that.
2) Read everything thoroughly before you sign anything.
I mentioned earlier that even though I was relatively prepared, my Air Force recruiter still managed to mislead me. That would not have happened had I followed this advice: READ EVERYTHING THOROUGHLY! Senior Master Sgt. Defrulo once said I was the most “callingest” recruit he’d had. This shows how prepared I was, but apparently not prepared enough. I made a mistake trusting everything he said.
My education up until then was in technology and computers, so I wanted a job in that field. Defrulo was strategic about it. He put me up for three jobs, saying they were all technology-related. He showed me only parts of the AFSC job description that highlighted using computers, while leaving out the rest. Had I read fully, I would have seen that the actual job involved entering patient data as an administrator.
The only technology involved as 4A0 techs was entering data into a computer, and that was assuming that’s where you’d be placed. Most likely, you’d end up doing a lot of filing in outpatient records. So much for the technology-based job!
Please, I urge you to read the job descriptions from top to bottom, then read them again. Share them with friends for review, and don’t let anyone rush or pressure you into accepting a role that may not fit your goals.
3) College degree or credits count towards a higher rank.
Going back to my experience with USMC Recruiter Sgt. Tollinchi: “Rodriguez, you can’t jump ranks in the Marine Corps. You start and work your way up with honor! Your college won’t do you any good. Besides, you advance pretty fast.” First, he wouldn’t let me work with the officer recruiter, and now this. This showed me he was more focused on his own agenda than helping me.
Yes, college credits or degrees do help you come out of basic training at a higher rank. You will enter as an E1, and after completing basic training, you may be granted E3. This applies whether you have a two-year or four-year degree. That said, if you have a four-year degree or higher, I recommend considering the officer career path.
4) Bring a knowledgeable veteran with you.
This relates to earlier points. Bringing someone experienced with you, whether it’s a friend or a relative, greatly helps keep recruiters honest. They will be less likely to push you towards jobs you don’t want. Remember, recruiters aim to fill needed roles, which may not always align with your own goals. Having experienced support improves your chances of making the best choices.
5) Study for the ASVAB.
This may not apply if you’re pursuing an officer path, but most recruits take the ASVAB test. I made a big mistake by not studying or even looking at the test before taking it. Though Tollinchi wasn’t exactly an ally, he was right about one thing. I completely underperformed on the electrical and mechanical sections. I encountered questions about gears, currents, pulleys, things I’d never seen before. I guessed on nearly every question in those sections. Had I prepared, this wouldn’t have happened. Tollinchi pushed me to take the test almost immediately after walking in.
I did well on the sections related to school subjects I’d studied, but those technical sections caught me off guard. You’d expect recruiters to help or advise you on test preparation, but that didn’t happen. They just rushed me through to fit their timeline and recruitment goals.
Final Thoughts.
The military can be a great career path. How you start is crucial. Tollinchi tried to push me toward being a grunt with vague promises of becoming an officer later. But “later” may never come. Deployments, busy jobs, and limited free time can make advancement challenging. And if someone focused only on their own agenda ends up as your boss, you might not find the guidance you need for your career growth.
Of all the branches, I advise you to seriously consider the Air Force. I know two people who went in with me and have since remained in the military, both becoming officers in the Air Force. There may be greater opportunities there, and depending on your job, less chance of deployment to dangerous situations. This is not meant to diminish the courageous men and women who serve on the front lines. However, if that is not your goal, research how your job might fit in wartime roles. The further you are from direct combat, the better your chances of returning safely.
I hope none of this is seen as disparaging to any military branch. I wrote this article with recruits and future service members in mind. My goal is to help you get the most from the military without sacrificing your future or safety. For example, consider how many civilian jobs you could get driving a tank. At one point I was encouraged to become a tank driver, and it was promoted as exciting. It may be something to talk about, but what civilian job skills does that translate to?
I want you to make choices that are right for you, not just right for those recruiting you. If this comes across as criticism of our service members, that was not my intention.
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