When did recruiters start calling the homes of upcoming seniors?

[goofy!]

My son graduated last year. The calls were incessant for his junior and senior years. And yes, we did sign the paperwork saying that we didn't want to be contacted - didn't deter the recruiters at all.

We would get a call from each branch at least monthly if not more. My son would very patiently explain that he had his life planned already; engineering and then med school. They wouldn't take no for an answer. Most were great to talk to, some were downright rude and a few flat out lied about what his life would be if he didn't enlist.

I just wish that they took "no" for an answer after a year of calls. It took two years and his leaving for college before the calls stopped.

They also called for our daughter, who has Down syndrome. They must not update their database too frequently because I would tell one recruiter about her disability only have another one call later.

My son only took the ACTs and SATs. He was a Speedo/NISCA Academic All American though (have to letter in swimming or diving and have at least an unweighted 3.8 all 4 years of high school,) so maybe the combo of athletics and academics put him on their to-be-badgered list.

 

[tar heel]

Both of my older boys (25 and 21) got calls during their senior year. The younger one also got a couple calls during his freshman year of college.

 

[Mickey527]

I never got calls for my older two boys but the calls were persistant for my youngest.
They always called when he was working or out with friends and I told them to stop calling but they didn't.
Finally I told them that he was not interested and if they continued to call me I would report them to anyone and everyone I had to. My son was not interested in joining right out of HS and since I worked at a college he got free tuition so he didn't need the free tuition they kept telling me he would get.
Well, 4 years later and he hadn't graduated. He figured since school was free when he was doing bad in a class he could just drop it. In 4 years he didn't have enough credits for an Associate degree. So my surprise my son joined the Marines.
He was home last month on recruiter's assistance since his school was backed up and he was bored sitting on base with nothing to do. He didn't have enough leave saved so the only way he could get off base was by doing recruiter's assistance.
He had to go out every day and bring in at least 4 names of kids he met in the street or the mall who might be interested in joining. The recruiter took the names and phone numbers and did the harassing, luckily Chris didn't have to do that.
He hated doing recruiters assistance because he was chased from the malls by security for solicitating. He couldn't set foot within a certain distance from any of the high schools since the recruiters went there during senior weeks, and he got harassed from kids when he stood on the street corner.
I do have to say, I am very proud of him. The specialty he chose will hopefully keep him from the front line, although alot of his friends did chose infantry. I told all their mother's at graduation I would be praying for them. What a tough decision they all made. He is finishing up classes this month and will come home for leave for a month before being sent to Japan. I am hoping I get enough money from my taxes this year to get a ticket and visit him there.
And boy, that Marine uniform is classy looking. The best looking dress uniform of all the branches!

 

[jsmith]

The calls were incessant for his junior and senior years. And yes, we did sign the paperwork saying that we didn't want to be contacted - didn't deter the recruiters at all.

That paper work just says you dont want your child to be contacted by a recruiter at school-has nothing to do with what goes on outside the walls of the school. Recruiters have a quota to meet just like sales people do-and the pressure is huge to meet it-the suicide rate for recruiters is pretty high.-Lots of soldiers would rather volunteer for a tour in iraq than go to recruiting school-so try not to be to harsh on them-just have your student tell them no thanks and drive on with your life.
and as for updating a "database" the only one they have is of young people of an appropriare age and asvab scores-and they dont share across services-sometimes not across stations and in an area where there are more than one station its possible to get overlap.-its funny -we got tons of calls-both my kids had SATS,ACTS and ASVABS off the chain-and i never considered it badgering.

 

[RitaZ.]

I have a question my son just turned 18 does he have to register and if so where does he do this?

By law, they have to register when they turn 18. You used to be able to register at the post office. I don't know if that's still the case.

DS will be a senior this year. He turns 18 next year. He did get two messages from recruiters over the summer. He isn't interested in joining the military.

 

[blissventure]

My son graduated last year. The calls were incessant for his junior and senior years. And yes, we did sign the paperwork saying that we didn't want to be contacted - didn't deter the recruiters at all.

We would get a call from each branch at least monthly if not more. My son would very patiently explain that he had his life planned already; engineering and then med school. They wouldn't take no for an answer. Most were great to talk to, some were downright rude and a few flat out lied about what his life would be if he didn't enlist.

I just wish that they took "no" for an answer after a year of calls. It took two years and his leaving for college before the calls stopped.

They also called for our daughter, who has Down syndrome. They must not update their database too frequently because I would tell one recruiter about her disability only have another one call later.

My son only took the ACTs and SATs. He was a Speedo/NISCA Academic All American though (have to letter in swimming or diving and have at least an unweighted 3.8 all 4 years of high school,) so maybe the combo of athletics and academics put him on their to-be-badgered list.

Maybe I'm missing something, but why did you answer the phone when you get call after call? Caller ID will tell you it's someone you know. If it's important they'll leave a message. If it's a sales call or something else you're not interested in, just let the machine take the call, then listen and delete the message. Life's too short to continually explain why, why, why when you're not interested. And yes, I use this technique all the time. I don't like to be interrupted by sales/surveys/political calls. If I don't know you, you'll be sent to the machine.

 

[anewmac]

That is the same reason I did not like the Walmart recruiters. If the teens shopping want to speak to a recruiter I'm sure they are smart enough to know where to find one. It would of been different if they had a desk set up somewhere and the teens went to them, but they were walking up to the teens and interrupting there shopping.

This is why they are called RECRUITERS! They work hard to Recruite... plus SOME of those kids just hanging out at the mall/walmart may not know what they want to do when the "GROW UP" and so never thing to go to see a Military Recruiter let alone a COLLEGE Recruiter. In my eyes they are the same thing! Its all about the #'s!

When both of my children were in 9th grade, I signed forms that no one was to approach them at school. At the same time, I also signed forms to allow all colleges to contact them. They are both heading into their senior year and so far, not a single recruiter has called (though we have gotten mail), but the college brochures that have been pouring in is really mind boggling. I never expected this many.

Im curious why would you allow them to be RECRUITED by one Organization but not the other.

I'm not saying all recruiters lie, but enough do that I do NOT want them speaking to my children without their father and I present.

Ive heard many colleges lying to people also.

Sorry guess this is a sore subject for me being that my dh is a Marine. I hold a soft spot for those men and women that have a hard job of filling in the spots of a job that many think is not good enough, and granted the pay isnt , the benifits arent but the pride IS!

 

[goofy!]

That paper work just says you dont want your child to be contacted by a recruiter at school-has nothing to do with what goes on outside the walls of the school. Recruiters have a quota to meet just like sales people do-and the pressure is huge to meet it-the suicide rate for recruiters is pretty high.-Lots of soldiers would rather volunteer for a tour in iraq than go to recruiting school-so try not to be to harsh on them-just have your student tell them no thanks and drive on with your life.
and as for updating a "database" the only one they have is of young people of an appropriare age and asvab scores-and they dont share across services-sometimes not across stations and in an area where there are more than one station its possible to get overlap.-its funny -we got tons of calls-both my kids had SATS,ACTS and ASVABS off the chain-and i never considered it badgering.

When the exact same person calls every other week, is consistently told "no thank you, I am not interested" then calls back getting more and more belligerent and pushy, then yes, that is badgering.

If were as easy to say no thank you and drive on with your life, then that would be fine.

As I said, most were pleasant and my son enjoyed the discussions, some were rude, and a few like Sgt XXX harassed, badgered, threatened and flat out lied.

 

[goofy!]

Maybe I'm missing something, but why did you answer the phone when you get call after call? Caller ID will tell you it's someone you know. If it's important they'll leave a message. If it's a sales call or something else you're not interested in, just let the machine take the call, then listen and delete the message. Life's too short to continually explain why, why, why when you're not interested. And yes, I use this technique all the time. I don't like to be interrupted by sales/surveys/political calls. If I don't know you, you'll be sent to the machine.

Some did go to the machine. Some were answered in hopes that just one more no would stop the calls. Some were answered because unlike sales people, we do respect our military and feel they deserve at least a polite answer.

And some were answered because my son did enjoy some of the conversations. Although he has no intentions of enlisting, since most of his male relatives are navy men, he did enjoy the occasional discussion.

 

[robinb]

I really think that they are getting desperate in getting new recruits. I have seen Army and Marine tents at many of the larger festivals I have been to this summer (Rhythm and Booms fireworks in Madison, Summerfest in Milwaukee and Taste of Chicago) trying to attract young people. My mom is in the hospital, so I have been in the Chicago area for the last 10 days (and will be here for probably another week) and I almost drove off the road when I heard a recruiting ad on the radio for the Illinois National Guard. They said outright in the ad that recruits would STAY in Illinois. What a bunch of lying sacks of you-know-what!

Anyway ... there should be a way to opt out of getting calls at home but that won't stop them from waylaying the kids elsewhere.

 

[CPT Tripss]

The requirement for schools to give recruiters names and phone numbers is part of No Child Left Behind. Prior to that, many schools just complied with a request from a military recruiter for that info. There are lots of other ways for recruiters to get that info . . .

Goofy! - you might want to read https://aclu-wi.org/wisconsin/rights_of_youth/q and a.pdf

 

[CPT Tripss]

I got calls from all branches after I took the ASVAB in high school (graduated 1984). I scored high in all areas except for one (mechanical aptitude, I think, and even that wasn't too low), so I'm sure that made me an attractive candidate.

ETA: Everyone else that was called -- did any of you NOT take the ASVAB? Of course, I'm sure they could have gotten a list of potential recruits from those who took the SATs and ACTs.

Did you take the ASVAB in school? Was it required?

 

[jaycat]

When I was a senior I got lots of phone calls from the Navy...

 

[KyraS]

We are another family with a Senior who has been called OVER AND OVER AND OVER by the same person and told very nicely that he already has his future planned, his college planned and he is not interested.

He got so annoyed with them that now when the man calls he gives the phone to his 2 year old sister. Seems like they have stopped calling so much

 

[Rora]

They called me when I was a senior in High School (I almost laughed when they asked me if I were interested in joining.. I certainly wouldn't be the best solider. Think Goldie Hawn from Private Benjamin ) and they also called my DFiance.

A lot of people from my senior class got these calls.

 

[shirleyb]

DS has gotten several calls from the marines and they have stopped by twice. Oldest DS is proudly serving in the US Navy.

 

[MushyMushy]

My son did very well on his ASVAB, especially in one particular area, so he was being courted heavily by the marines. Oh hell no, you do NOT want to put a weapon in that kid's hands. (totally kidding - don't get all worked up. Although I do not want him signing up in this political climate, I would have supported his decision had he chosen to do so.)

They called him, they called me, and they also called our neighbor. Our neighbor had enlisted with the marines, so the recruiter thought he could help convince my son. That went a little far, IMO.

 

[Kathi OD]

I guess I just don't see the problem with saying No thanks and hanging up

As far as sales calls go I'd be A ok with this one rather than that annoying carpet cleaning service

My nephew ships out (Navy recruit) in a few weeks and I'm very proud of him accepting this call of duty

The problem is that they don't take no for an answer and keep calling back. After awhile, it becomes quite annoying. DS graduated HS in 1995 and did not take the ASVAB at school. A recruiter (the same person) called frequently (at the time it seemed like it was weekly) starting the summer between his juinior and senior years. They were told no over and over again that he was not interested and was planning on going to college. The calls continued well into his freshman year of college, even after the recruiter(s) were told he was away at school.

For the PP who suggested just not answering when they call, not all of us have caller ID. If you call and I ask you to not call again, that should be the end of it. To continue to call after being asked not to, is not only rude, but harrassment. IMO, once you tell a recruiter that you are not interested, the calls should stop.

The weird thing about our situation is that prior to the recruiter calls starting, we (DH, myself, his gradparents, aunts & uncles) had already been encouraging DS to join the Navy or Coast Guard. All of us really thought it would be a good fit for him. At first he was somewhat receptive, but it wasn't long before he was totally against it. I really think the constant harrassment by the recruiter was what made him so adamant about not joining.

God bless your nephew, and all others, who answer the call to duty. However, military life is not for everyone. Whatever a person's decision is, it should be respected.

 

[Jynohn]

I can completely understand being annoyed by frequent calls after saying you're not interested, but I'm puzzled when parents get upset that their kids are approached at all. The military is a great profession, and a way to see the world, learn a job skill and get an education while serving your country. It's not for everyone, but for many kids, it's an excellent opportunity, and for some, the best chance they have at creating a solid future.

As in any area, there are shady and less than honest recruiters out there. But you wouldn't believe the abuse that these guys take. DH was a recruiter for a while, and he was subject to constant tirades from protesters, angry parents, and the worst, from punk kids who thought nothing of swearing and yelling at a war veteran instead of politely telling him, "no thanks." It's the worst and most stressful job he's ever had. So I hope that those who are annoyed or offended by recruiters will realize that they're just doing a job under very stressful circumstances, and that they're providing a service to our country.

 

[Dis_Dreamin]

I got a lot of calls from the Marines in '94 and repeatedly told them no thanks. They wouldn't take no for an answer. I grew up in a military family (Dad was retired Captain from Airforce and National Guard), so I knew what to expect and knew it wasn't for me. I respect that others want to join and appreciate their service. The only way we got the calls to stop was to have my dad answer and let them know that under no uncertain terms to never call back or he would be talking to their Commanding Officer about harrassment. Surprise, the calls stopped coming.