So the Monitors came yesterday. Think of them as recruiters for active duty personell. Of course, they brought computers. Of course, we had to hook them up and make sure everything was good. In the midst of running around, the monitor for my MOS stops me, and asks me to sit down. Great. He asks me if I have a duty station preference. I said I’m not staying in the Corps. Then it began.
What followed was childish barking, basically letting me know that I cannot succeed outside of the Marine Corps., coming from 3 MSgts. It started off “Well what’s your plan when you get out? And don’t say you’re going to school.” Why can’t I say that? Isn’t that what half of the armed forces are made up of? People who want to do their time and get the college money out of it? Is that so bad of an idea? Especially since that’s the main selling point when the recruiter talks to you. He focuses on the Montgomery G.I Bill, and rightfully so.
But these gentlemen were obviously afraid. They knew there was nothing they could do. In the past half hour, they had seen me work on their computers, fixing their simple problems, doing things so fast they had to tell me to slow down and stay away from the coffee. They knew that we had marketable skills. And that made them scared. It went against everything they stood for. So they resorted to scare tactics.
“If you don’t re-enlist now, you won’t be able to get back in! The Corps. has almost met its Quota!”
Great. I wasn’t planning on coming back to the Marine Corps. Perhaps Navy after a while, but not probable.
“Once you get out, you’re gonna end right back up here in the sand! You’re gonna get recalled, and I’m going to be standing there at the gate saying I Told You So. You won’t get the duty station you want, or a bonus!”
Yeah but I’ll get one LONG vacation before I get recalled, IF I even do. And why would I get recalled if the Corps. has almost met it’s quota?
“Well I saw a DATA guy in the barbershop awhile back and he said he’d just been recalled, so don’t think it won’t happen!”
That little story would have been more effective if it weren’t so vague AND if I didn’t hear you use it on someone else about an hour ago.
I guess it just annoys me is all. These people are telling me I cannot succeed in the real world because THEY cannot succeed in the real world. And these are the people I’m supposed to look up to, to emulate? Sheesh.