18x issues

[beale2]

That is the question.

I'll give a little background on myself and my goals...



I'm only 18 years old, yet I see myself as a mature, determined, challenge-driven individual. I want to serve my country as an 18B if at all possible. My intenions are to enlist the the NG, finish college (I already have around 60 credits due to clep tests), along with gaining a commision through rotc, then going active. I've been talking with a local recruiter for a while, and he hasn't been too receptive to helping me with this goal. He wants me to enlist as a 13D, deploy next year with the local guard unit, then put in the paperwork for SF. I'm smart (99 asvab afqt score, 34 on ACT, etc), and I love challenges, and I keep myself in great physical and mental shape...I'm confident in my ability to complete the 18x sf canidate program.

My problem is... my recruiter is somehow against it. I've brought it up to him, and he responds with "Well, theres no way you could get that, its not for people who haven't been in the army" I know that the 18x program is for non-prior service only. He tells me the only way to get SF is to apply for it after I reach a certain rank. He's trying to lie to me to get me to go 13D to deploy with his unit, I think. So... what do I do? 18x is what I want. Should I seek out a different recruiter? Is there anything I could say or ask him about it without being disrespectful?

Also, is 18x really the best option for me? Should I simply take the route my recruiter is pushing me toward?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

-Michael

[B 2/75]

Go to another recruiter. Don't worry about being "disrespectful" if you're not demeaning to him. His not giving you what you want and qualify for is an example of his failure in customer service. Tell him so. Tell him he can get your business, or another recruiter can. His call.

Trust me you don't want to be a 13D gun bunny

[eltrane]

You Col. Beale's kid?

[Husker19D30]

That is the question.

I'll give a little background on myself and my goals...



I'm only 18 years old, yet I see myself as a mature, determined, challenge-driven individual. I want to serve my country as an 18B if at all possible. My intenions are to enlist the the NG, finish college (I already have around 60 credits due to clep tests), along with gaining a commision through rotc, then going active. I've been talking with a local recruiter for a while, and he hasn't been too receptive to helping me with this goal. He wants me to enlist as a 13D, deploy next year with the local guard unit, then put in the paperwork for SF. I'm smart (99 asvab afqt score, 34 on ACT, etc), and I love challenges, and I keep myself in great physical and mental shape...I'm confident in my ability to complete the 18x sf canidate program.

My problem is... my recruiter is somehow against it. I've brought it up to him, and he responds with "Well, theres no way you could get that, its not for people who haven't been in the army" I know that the 18x program is for non-prior service only. He tells me the only way to get SF is to apply for it after I reach a certain rank. He's trying to lie to me to get me to go 13D to deploy with his unit, I think. So... what do I do? 18x is what I want. Should I seek out a different recruiter? Is there anything I could say or ask him about it without being disrespectful?

Also, is 18x really the best option for me? Should I simply take the route my recruiter is pushing me toward?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

-Michael

If he's trying to enlist you in a local guard unit then he's not an active duty recruiter. Grab the yellow pages, and find the right one. National Guard recruiters cannot put you into the active duty Army.

Apologize for posting out of my lane, but this seemed so easy to fix that I couldn't ignore it.

[beale2]

You Col. Beale's kid?

No. I'm a grandson of a Major Rudolph W. Beale. He served in Korea and Vietnam.

If he's trying to enlist you in a local guard unit then he's not an active duty recruiter. Grab the yellow pages, and find the right one. National Guard recruiters cannot put you into the active duty Army.

Apologize for posting out of my lane, but this seemed so easy to fix that I couldn't ignore it.

Sorry for being unclear.. He is a guard recruiter for my local unit. This local unit is deploying next year. He is wanting me to get into his unit. I would rather go NG right now, in order to finsh college (There is a SF NG unit in my state)


So, is there any resource to locate another recruiter? Say, to get a phone number to call? Should I be dealing directly with the SF unit?

Thanks all for the advice, keep it coming!

[LRS Guy]

Contact the SF unit directly, would be my suggestion.

[18C4V]

Contact the SF unit directly, would be my suggestion.

Go to PS.com and look at the contacts there. I went to SF ANCOC with the 18Z whose running the REC at 2/19 there, he can put you into contact with a recruiter there in W.V. for NG SF.

[EATIII]

If he's trying to enlist you in a local guard unit then he's not an active duty recruiter. Grab the yellow pages, and find the right one. National Guard recruiters cannot put you into the active duty Army.

Apologize for posting out of my lane, but this seemed so easy to fix that I couldn't ignore it.

Yes we were able to, it was called Active first (4yr AD, then 2yr NG) the program is on hold because we did such a good job. It will be back.

Beal 2, any Recruiter can get you in SF but take the advise above and deal with the one that supports that unit. FYI 18 series is one of the only jobs left in the NG with a Bonus( there is like 4).

I hope it works out for you.

[beale2]

I know, I hate that the Active First is gone. Is there any chance that it will be back at the beginning of the year fiscal year?

I'm now emailing a recruiter at the Kenova, WV NG SF unit, hopefully he can help me.

[Ultralisk]

.......I want to serve my country as an 18B if at all possible. My intenions are to enlist the the NG, finish college (I already have around 60 credits due to clep tests), along with gaining a commision through rotc, then going active.......

-Michael

If I am reading this right, yout want to be an officer right? that leaves 18A as your only option within the series to pursue. Im just saying, since you specified 18B as the top of your wish list. Good luck with the recruiters :rolleyes:

[Hot Mess]

FYI 18 series is one of the only jobs left in the NG with a Bonus( there is like 4).

Really not worth signing up just for the bonus, $7,000 for three years $15,000 for six. It's money but nothing compared to the $30,000 active duty is getting. Just sayin'

[EATIII]

Really not worth signing up just for the bonus, $7,000 for three years $15,000 for six. It's money but nothing compared to the $30,000 active duty is getting. Just sayin'

I am with ya, I was just sayin also. FYI, that 7 and 15 is not the going rate anymore. Its 10 for 6, unless you can get a quick ship added.
I Dont even talk about the Bonuses any more (if the get one great).

The NG is more about education bennies and the ability to use them.
Example: about 6 guys in my unit are Perdue Grads and for that 1 weekend a month they made over a Grand with no Tuition at all, now add up all the Hooah schools, ADSW over the summer and so on they never needed another Job, made good money, and got a great education (both Mil and Civ) its a win-win.

Now granted they were on a 5 and 6 year program (or so) but look at the diffrence opposed to going Just straight Active. NOT A BAD DEAL For a 18yr old or for that matter anyone!

Yes Beal 2, they will bring it back, I dont know when but there a lot of factors involved (end strength to name one). If you need any help for questions or what ever just let me know and I will do my best to help.

[Tango Chaser]

Never put up with a recruiter that is full of shit. Find another one and find out who his company commander is and report him for lying. This is a violation of AR 600-210. If a recuiter tells you anything other than what's in the AR he's is subject to punishment under UCMJ.

Contacting the NG SF unit is the best advise already given.

[SF_BHT]

1st contact the SF Unit in your state. They will give you over to the SF Recruiter.

2nd you need to understand that going SF Enlisted first you are going to have to put College on hold for a year... for your training.

3rd quit listening to Non SF recruiters as in the NG side they are trying to just fill their open slots and being a gun-bunny will not be fun in the NG or AD.........

If you wish to really go SF talk to the real deals and they will point you in the right direction.

Good Luck. If you are in it for the money STOP right now and find something else to do. If you are in it for the mission and to serve the country Drive on.

Just my 2 cents .....

[EATIII]

1st contact the SF Unit in your state. They will give you over to the SF Recruiter.

2nd you need to understand that going SF Enlisted first you are going to have to put College on hold for a year... for your training.

3rd quit listening to Non SF recruiters as in the NG side they are trying to just fill their open slots and being a gun-bunny will not be fun in the NG or AD.........

If you wish to really go SF talk to the real deals and they will point you in the right direction.

Good Luck. If you are in it for the money STOP right now and find something else to do. If you are in it for the mission and to serve the country Drive on.

Just my 2 cents .....

Just to set the Record straight NG Recruiters and AD Recruiters have a whole diffrent way people are put in "SLOTS"! I'm a NG Recruiter and a LRS Team LDR, and I dont put anyone anywhere I want them to go, I put them where they want to go. I could go on and on about the Advantages of the Guard in this case but I will refrain. Puting off college for one year is not necessarily True. He will have Breaks and alot of them but it is like I posted before. SF BHT you are correct IMHO on why one should enlist and why one should not!

Do we have a monthly Quota- Yes
Does it matter where I "slot them"-No

Is any Mos available to them - Yes, as long as there is an available Paragragh/ line open, Rank specfic. We are able to see these on Unit UMR's

[MeatLasagna]

Puting off college for one year is not necessarily True. He will have Breaks and alot of them but it is like I posted before. SF BHT you are correct IMHO on why one should enlist and why one should not!


He won't be able to go through the SF Q-course (and 11B OSUT + Airborne) and go to college at the same time - he will not have alot of breaks.

If he wants to be an officer, he should probably just go ROTC then go active duty Infantry then try to get selected for 18A when the time comes.

[EATIII]

He won't be able to go through the SF Q-course (and 11B OSUT + Airborne) and go to college at the same time - he will not have alot of breaks.

If he wants to be an officer, he should probably just go ROTC then go active duty Infantry then try to get selected for 18A when the time comes.

Samantics, He could enlist now do school ship next Aug-Break. Attend all above, go back and do a Semester-Break, Attend (what ever)- Break, Do A Deployment come back and do a semester or two (with Mil Schools) -Break,go on deployment, and on and on. That is what I was talking about.

By the way, what is wrong with going the Enlisted route getting a lot of Team time/ school (Mil and Civ) then go the O route?

[MeatLasagna]

Samantics, He could enlist now do school ship next Aug-Break. Attend all above, go back and do a Semester-Break, Attend (what ever)- Break, Do A Deployment come back and do a semester or two (with Mil Schools) -Break,go on deployment, and on and on. That is what I was talking about.

By the way, what is wrong with going the Enlisted route getting a lot of Team time/ school (Mil and Civ) then go the O route?

Not semantics. To "attend all above" it's going to take at least a year on AD - you said he wouldn't have to put off college for a year.

I didn't say anything was wrong with going the enlisted route, but if my goal was to be an officer, I'd try to knock out my degree as quickly as I could instead of pushing back my graduation and commission date due to training / deployments. Yes, the prior service experience might make you a better officer, but, people say the same thing about 18X's anyways.

He also said he wants to be an 18B so who knows what his goals actually are...

[EATIII]

Not semantics. To "attend all above" it's going to take at least a year on AD - you said he wouldn't have to put off college for a year.

I didn't say anything was wrong with going the enlisted route, but if my goal was to be an officer, I'd try to knock out my degree as quickly as I could instead of pushing back my graduation and commission date due to training / deployments. Yes, the prior service experience might make you a better officer, but, people say the same thing about 18X's anyways.

He also said he wants to be an 18B so who knows what his goals actually are...

I agree with who knows what his goals are, I was just pointing out options.

I think you missunderstod me, or I conveyed it wrong. If he enlisted NOW he could finish this year, then go AD for a 1 1/2 min (providing no recycle) then mabe pick up college in spurts, Hence the so many year plan.

[MeatLasagna]

Ok, gotcha. Also, he may need to wait to start training anyways - there was a requirement that was created in 2007 that stated you must be 20 years old by the time you graduated 11B OSUT anyways to get an 18X contract... not sure how that would affect a NG enlistment or even if that minimum age is still in effect.

[EATIII]

Ok, gotcha. Also, he may need to wait to start training anyways - there was a requirement that was created in 2007 that stated you must be 20 years old by the time you graduated 11B OSUT anyways to get an 18X contract... not sure how that would affect a NG enlistment or even if that minimum age is still in effect.

Right on, there are a lot of variables that are unknown. That is why he needs to talk to a Good recruiter, WV SF or a good one there at least.

Now if he wants to come us (LRS in Indiana) I can square him away:biggrin:


Note: or any Unit in Indy ;)

[beale2]

thanks for all the responses... To clarify on what I want... I can/will wait for college to get in. I also want to simply get into an 18 series job, and I'm not as worried about which it is... I will go where i'm needed, with 18B being my personal preference. I would go AD, but the NG in my state pays 100% tuition, and I need that.

About the commissioning thing.. Could I get 18B, go to college/rotc, then reclass to 18A?

Also, does anyone have the definite answer on the 20 year old age limit? I've heard that is true from some, and not from others.

I haven't heard from the SF recruiter yet, but I hope to tomorrow.