Quote:
Originally Posted by Rochard
I don't think this is the case any more.
(Please don't laugh but....) When I signed up I signed up as a cook. My buddy and I had it all planned out - We did two years of the culinary arts program at high school (the culinary arts program ran a full restaurant open to the public), and worked nights at a local restaurant as cooks, severs, catering, and then managers. Our goal was to do four years in the Marines as cooks, and then onto culinary college, and then we wanted to work in Vegas at the hotels there. I ended up in the Marines and was told in boot camp I was infantry, 0352, TOW Gunner. No complaints. My buddy too - He followed me into the Marines about three months later and also ended up in infantry.
I don't think they have "intense pressure" to hit recruiting goals. Our military is sizing down and has been for the past four years.... They are being a bit more selective now.
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Most of my experience came back in the late 1980's when I was in high school so a lot could have changed since then. What I know for certain is that, back then, I knew at least 10 people that joined various branches right out of high school and, If I remember correctly, only two of them actually ended up doing what they were "promised" as jobs.
As for pressure with recruiting, it likely comes and goes. I graduated high school in 1989 and it wasn't long after that we were involved in the Gulf War. A few of my friends were in combat there so they likely had pressure to ramp up. I know there was a lot of pressure in the early to mid 2000's with Iraq and Afghanistan. There was a story recently about recruiters committing fraud and giving bonuses to people that shouldn't have gotten them in order to meet heavy recruiting goals.