pickupman96

well thanks for reading this first off. i am writing for a good friend because i think that his recruiter is filling his head with bs and im trying to get some solid info for him. Just some back ground, hes 25, married, and got a skull harder than granite. He did 4 years in a tech high school. After getting laid off from his plumbing job he got the idea that the army will fix all his problems. Well heres where the fun starts. The recruiter says that he will be going to boot camp as a e-4 Sargent. Then after boot camp he goes somewhere for 4 weeks and the army is going to get him his plumbing license, then its off to fort hood where he will spend 4 years. They tell him that this is all guaranteed and he does not need to do any basic infantry stuff, and he will not be seeing ANY time in the sand box. Im not in the service so i dont know, but some of this sounds real fishy to me and he just wont listen. So hopefully someone out here with some first hand experience can help me set him straight. I just dont think hes going about it for the right reasons, just a easier way out. thanks

tchdodg

I went through basic in 86, so some of this info could be dated, but I'll tell you what I remember. First of all, an E4 was a specialist, not a sergeant. I was also told that if I enlisted with 2 buddies we would all go to boot camp together, as E3 private first class. We all 3 enlisted, all of us went to separate boot camps, as E1 privates. Our agreement was guaranteed also. As far as skipping basic infantry stuff, I doubt it. They used to do testing to determine the best MOS skill you were qualified for. If he's as young and hard-headed as you say, I'd be worried about him ending up as a frontline infantry grunt. Not a bad thing, if that's what he wants. But, darn sure not a plumber at Ft. Hood. Just my 2 cents. Hope it helped.

pickupman96

thats the thing. he wants to be a plumber. he believes that what the recruiter says in the office and the paper he signs is the way its going to be

larrybartlett

he may end up being a plumber but he should not believe anything a recruiter tells him, most of those type of services are outsourced by the military, expecially now

he'll have to go through basic training, he will not be an E-4

pickupman96

thats what i keep telling him. but he says nope, in his paperwork it says he will be a e-4, and they will need to call his Sargent in basic

staarma

He will get called lots of things in basic but sergeant isn't one of them. An E-4 used to be a Spec 4 or Specialist. E-5 is sergeant but nobody goes to basic as anything higher than an E-1 Private unless they have already gone through some kind of University sponsored program or the like and then the highest they can go is an E-3 Private First Class but that's with some college credits earned and those guys weren't looked upon very good by the drills at least not in our comapny they weren't. They looked upon them as officers in the making going through ROTC through the Reserve or Guard program.

Larry makes a good point about that stuff being outsourced. Back in the 80's early 90's when I was in that stuff was already outsourced as well as most of the job training, etc. After his ASVAB tests, he will basically get a list of MOS' that he qualifies for. His recruiter will secretly guide him to the ones where they need people the most. He won't have much of a choice in the matter. Don't believe most/anything the recruiter says. They have a tough job and they do it well by getting the max signups but a little fudging goes on in the process.

With that said though, the Army isn't a bad place to have a career.

12valve@heart

Sounds like you better suggest that he have his attorney review that paperwork. Personally, that paperwork sounds like it might work well in the latrine. Maybe that's what the recruiter meant by "plumber".

johnh

from my memory, private E-1 recruit, E-2 private, E-3 private first class, E-4 corporal or Specialist, E-5 and up to E-9 sergeant or Specialist

cmac

ok heres the deal and it might get a little long...
1. E-4 is a specialist. an e-4 will not be adressed as a sergeant. in basic everyone is refered to as a private. he will attend basic and AIT. basic infantry skills are now taught in basci training for ALL MOS's. it is possible to be an e-4 going into basic, however you need college credits for that. (usually close to enough credits for an under-grad) there are other things that you can do to get promoted before going to basic like passing a pt test along with displaying some general military knowledge. the rank goes as follows: E-1 Private; E-2 Private second class; E-3 Private second class; e-4 Specialist(or corpral); e-5 sergeant; e-6 staff sergeant... blah blah blah

2. i'm not sure if there is a mos for plumbers. he will have a choice of mos's base on different things like his ASVAB score and medical reasons like being color blind limits you to only a few different jobs. tell him to stay away from crap like an 11X or 18X. they are just mos's that a recruiter will tell them that it will get them into ranger school or SF selection... its crap! it will get you 11B Infantry and thats about it. when he picks a MOS have him look it up online. my MOS is 13F. if you type that into google it will give you the defination for it

3. dont for one minute let him beleive that he will not be deployed! if he stays in for 4 years it is highly likely that its gonna happen so be ready for it.


i think thats all for now lol

-SGT McQuade US Army

larrybartlett

".

hadn't though of that, he'll be cleaning the "latrines" all through basic

they bull "s" my son just like they did me, he spent 6 years enlisted and went to the big sandbox, finished college and then went back in as an Officer, they even bull "s" him before he went back in

the best advice to your son is to do the best he can and ask for every school he can get, Brett's been to Armor, Scout, Airborne, Ranger & Air Assault schools but he like's that stuff, the better the training the better the unit the better those around him will be, Brett's a Scout Platoon Leader in a Cav outfit now and has earned his spurs

regardless of whether your friend is a plumber or not the service is a pretty good place to be in this economy, especially with a family when you consider the benefits

Lary Ellis (Top)

Tell your buddy to break the surface and dance on his tail like a good fish because he swallowed the hook and is being played like a Bass

These guys are correct, there is NO guarantee short of College that will help dictate his MOS (Military Occupational Skill) they will determine what he does by how his test results come out.

If he is willing to go in with his eyes open and take what comes he might find the Army will provide a good life but he will start at the bottom and go where they send him.

Retired 18 Bravo

Wolfcsm

First, the Recruiter does not get him his MOS. That is done at the MEPPS, where he takes his physical and ASVAB (or whatever it is called today). THen he sees a Carreer Counselor. At that point the "guarantees" are made. MOS for the Army is 21K. Here is a link to a description of the MOS: http://www.nationalguard.com/careers...p?mos_code=21K

My advice: 1. Go to the MEPPS and take the test (If he is unsure of his ability to do well, there are books to help get ready)
2. Do as well as he can
3. When talking to the Carreer Counselor, do not take any BS or let him tell you this is your only option - they might try

After the MEPPS: Work on the physical skills the Recruiter tells him about - running, upper body and abdominal strength.

Basic training is basic training. Basic skills - weapons, map reading, first aid, NBC.

The Vertical Construction unit here on Ft Hood does deploy and probably willl again.


Hal

04ctd

the Military is a good place to be.

you should go with him

Life is...what it is....
like LarryB said, get in, get every school you can,
and just enjoy the ride.

if he has to go...then he has to go. you should do a post on here "who has been deployed six months or longer"

i would bet you get 50% on here.

i would ask local for someone retired military to go with him to the MEPS.

i went with my daughter. me and the MEPS Chief had a "one ON one" and that cleared up a lot of stuff. he really laid out our options clearly.




He will go all the way through basic, just like everyone does.
HE picks his MOS, not MEPS or his ASVAB score. If his score isn't high enough it could take away some options but there's still a lot of options left. After basic, he will go to AIT from anywhere from 6
weeks-1 year depending on the job he picks. He should google it, I did and it answered almost all of my questions. NOTHING IN THE ARMY IS GURANTEED UNLESS IT IS WRITTEN IN YOUR CONTRACT AND IT IS SIGNED.
Will he go to the "giant sandbox"... probably, but if he gets in he will be itching to go as soon as he realizes what actually goes on out here.
Nobody wants to go when they're a civilian but once you're in, you understand and have tons of training for what to do in every situation.
And everyone looks forward to coming and doing their job and making all that extra money.

Redleg

He COULD got to basic as an E-4, but I think most likely go as PFC, with promotion upon graduation, then POSSIBLY another promotion after graduating AIT. They're not gonna send him in as an NCO if they aren't sure whether he can handle the job. He might just be able to boss people around though. The recruiter was probably referring to him having seniority and being made "squad leader" over the E-1's. He'll have "pretend" stripes.