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Maybe this explains some of the recent news from Iraq . . .

Military recruiters prey on potential enlistees
Dozens disciplined last year for sexual misconduct

Updated: 8:36 a.m. ET Aug. 20, 2006

More than 100 young women who expressed interest in joining the military in the past year were preyed upon sexually by their recruiters. Women were raped on recruiting office couches, assaulted in government cars and groped en route to entrance exams.

A six-month Associated Press investigation found that more than 80 military recruiters were disciplined last year for sexual misconduct with potential enlistees. The cases occurred across all branches of the military and in all regions of the country.

At least 35 Army recruiters, 18 Marine Corps recruiters, 18 Navy recruiters and 12 Air Force recruiters were disciplined for sexual misconduct or other inappropriate behavior with potential enlistees in 2005, according to records obtained by the AP under dozens of Freedom of Information Act requests. That’s significantly more than the handful of cases disclosed in the past decade . . .

Male recruits also targeted.

Not all of the victims are young women. Former Navy recruiter Joseph Sampy, 27, of Jeanerette, La., is serving a 12-year sentence for molesting three male recruits.

“He did something wrong, something terrible to people who were the most vulnerable,” State District Judge Lori Landry said before handing down the sentence in July, 2005. “He took advantage of his authority.”

One of Sampy’s victims is suing him and the Navy for $1.25 million. The trial is scheduled for next spring . . .

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14434936/

flyboy55 wrote:Maybe this explains some of the recent news from Iraq . . .

Military recruiters prey on potential enlistees
Dozens disciplined last year for sexual misconduct

Updated: 8:36 a.m. ET Aug. 20, 2006

More than 100 young women who expressed interest in joining the military in the past year were preyed upon sexually by their recruiters. Women were raped on recruiting office couches, assaulted in government cars and groped en route to entrance exams.

A six-month Associated Press investigation found that more than 80 military recruiters were disciplined last year for sexual misconduct with potential enlistees. The cases occurred across all branches of the military and in all regions of the country.

At least 35 Army recruiters, 18 Marine Corps recruiters, 18 Navy recruiters and 12 Air Force recruiters were disciplined for sexual misconduct or other inappropriate behavior with potential enlistees in 2005, according to records obtained by the AP under dozens of Freedom of Information Act requests. That’s significantly more than the handful of cases disclosed in the past decade . . .

Male recruits also targeted.

Not all of the victims are young women. Former Navy recruiter Joseph Sampy, 27, of Jeanerette, La., is serving a 12-year sentence for molesting three male recruits.

“He did something wrong, something terrible to people who were the most vulnerable,” State District Judge Lori Landry said before handing down the sentence in July, 2005. “He took advantage of his authority.”

One of Sampy’s victims is suing him and the Navy for $1.25 million. The trial is scheduled for next spring . . .

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14434936/

I don't know that I would blame this. I would say that the combination of pressure on recruiters to "hit their numbers", and the reality that it's a quagmire without a clear exit is creating a pressure-cooker. That a bunch of bad-apples found the best way for them to find "targets of opportunity" is no different than child-molestors finding work as Scout Leaders and the like. Doesn't make them all bad, nor does it mean that their recruits are bottom of the barrel. There are a lot of other, external factors that are creating the mess in Iraq.

they called our PIA/cory last night about joining the reserves . . . she said 'no thanks'.

I clean up the messes left by military recruiters on a daily basis. I'm sure there are a few decent, honest ones out there, but I have yet to meet any of them. The ones I've dealt with, without exception, are spineless liars, willing to say anything to get the kid to sign on the dotted line. They're an embarassment to our military, and make used car salesmen look good.

I almost joined the Navy when I was 18, after a brief stint as a, um, dancer. All the recruiters came in to, um, see me.


My ex-cousin-in-law is a recruiter for the Navy (she's actually in charge of the recruiters), but I can't vouch for her decentness 'cause I've never seen her work. Her kids are the most spoiled brats I've ever met in my life though.

rednekkPH wrote:I clean up the messes left by military recruiters on a daily basis. I'm sure there are a few decent, honest ones out there, but I have yet to meet any of them. The ones I've dealt with, without exception, are spineless liars, willing to say anything to get the kid to sign on the dotted line. They're an embarassment to our military, and make used car salesmen look good.

wonder if you could make a correlation between Recruiter and Used Car Salesman hirings upon discharge?

My only regret in life is not joining Air Force or Navy ROTC. I wish my parents hadn't "protected" me from the evil recruiters.

I have a son who's pretty seriously considering Coast Guard. I don't trust recruiters though. Mr OC is army and had a terrible experience with his and knew he wasn't alone. Sister works for her state reps office and is helping a young man with a serious complaint against a recruiter. His mother actually videotaped every meeting with the recruiter therefore they are being forced to honor promises made.
My son concerns me because he is so confused about what he wants to do, is a bit naive but doesn't think he is, and if somebody promises him things that will get him out of school and his confusion he'll believe anything they say.

OceanCityGirl wrote:I have a son who's pretty seriously considering Coast Guard. I don't trust recruiters though. Mr OC is army and had a terrible experience with his and knew he wasn't alone. Sister works for her state reps office and is helping a young man with a serious complaint against a recruiter. His mother actually videotaped every meeting with the recruiter therefore they are being forced to honor promises made.
My son concerns me because he is so confused about what he wants to do, is a bit naive but doesn't think he is, and if somebody promises him things that will get him out of school and his confusion he'll believe anything they say.

The Coast Guard is probably a bit more ethical in their promises. Other than drug-interdiction, the worst thing you have to face is an idiot with more boat than skill or sense combined.

there are currently 700 CG in the gulf guarding our oil tankers. At the height of the conflict there were 1800 so that's a slim possibility. That said we'll be meeting with a recruiter if he ever gets a day off from work.

RinglingRingling wrote:

OceanCityGirl wrote:I have a son who's pretty seriously considering Coast Guard. I don't trust recruiters though. Mr OC is army and had a terrible experience with his and knew he wasn't alone. Sister works for her state reps office and is helping a young man with a serious complaint against a recruiter. His mother actually videotaped every meeting with the recruiter therefore they are being forced to honor promises made.
My son concerns me because he is so confused about what he wants to do, is a bit naive but doesn't think he is, and if somebody promises him things that will get him out of school and his confusion he'll believe anything they say.

The Coast Guard is probably a bit more ethical in their promises. Other than drug-interdiction, the worst thing you have to face is an idiot with more boat than skill or sense combined.

Not true. The Coast Guard provides port security... including ports in foreign countries where US ships tie up. I worked with many Coast Guardsmen while deployed to the Middle East.

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:

RinglingRingling wrote:

OceanCityGirl wrote:I have a son who's pretty seriously considering Coast Guard. I don't trust recruiters though. Mr OC is army and had a terrible experience with his and knew he wasn't alone. Sister works for her state reps office and is helping a young man with a serious complaint against a recruiter. His mother actually videotaped every meeting with the recruiter therefore they are being forced to honor promises made.
My son concerns me because he is so confused about what he wants to do, is a bit naive but doesn't think he is, and if somebody promises him things that will get him out of school and his confusion he'll believe anything they say.

The Coast Guard is probably a bit more ethical in their promises. Other than drug-interdiction, the worst thing you have to face is an idiot with more boat than skill or sense combined.

Not true. The Coast Guard provides port security... including ports in foreign countries where US ships tie up. I worked with many Coast Guardsmen while deployed to the Middle East.

fair enough. but if you were gambling on whether or not you'd be in a dangerous assignment, I think the USCG is a distant 5th to the main 4 combat services in the odds of a shot fired in anger at you.

and they've already told my son you'll never end up there. Clearly not true if they had 1800 cg's there a couple years ago. That's what i keep telling him. It's alright if you end up in the gulf as long as you know it's a possibility. I imagine that in the CG you have a greater risk to your safety doing roof rescues in La. during a bad hurricane then military conflict.

OceanCityGirl wrote:and they've already told my son you'll never end up there. Clearly not true if they had 1800 cg's there a couple years ago. That's what i keep telling him. It's alright if you end up in the gulf as long as you know it's a possibility. I imagine that in the CG you have a greater risk to your safety doing roof rescues in La. during a bad hurricane then military conflict.

and they won't send you to try rescues in the bar at the mouth of the Columbia right away either...

tikitatas wrote:they called our PIA/cory last night about joining the reserves . . . she said 'no thanks'.

then the guy kept asking me questions....

he asked me if i was "scared" to join....

and that i could be drafted in the future anyways....and then he told me since im not scared that he would put me on the top of the draft list.... how rude....

PIA wrote:

tikitatas wrote:they called our PIA/cory last night about joining the reserves . . . she said 'no thanks'.

then the guy kept asking me questions....

he asked me if i was "scared" to join....

and that i could be drafted in the future anyways....and then he told me since im not scared that he would put me on the top of the draft list.... how rude....

Cory, I'd like you to PM me his name, phone number, what recruiting office he called from, what service, and any other info you can give me. Really. Recruiters like this give the military a bad name.

I like the videotaping idea. A lot. And if the promises made by the recruiter aren't written into the contract, they are non-existent.

If a recruiter tells you or your kid that you will "never" have to deploy or leave home, it's BS, pure and simple.

I guess this recruiter is also unaware that, at present, females aren't eligible for the draft....

incoming...

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:I guess this recruiter is also unaware that, at present, females aren't eligible for the draft....

Not to mention even if they were eligible, there hasn't been a draft in 20 years. Maybe longer.

PIA wrote:

tikitatas wrote:they called our PIA/cory last night about joining the reserves . . . she said 'no thanks'.

then the guy kept asking me questions....

he asked me if i was "scared" to join....

and that i could be drafted in the future anyways....and then he told me since im not scared that he would put me on the top of the draft list.... how rude....

"Thank you for calling. Please put my # on your do-not-call list. I have recorded this request, and any further attempts to contact me regarding this matter will be turned over to the appropriate authorities as I have neither requested nor responded to a prior solicitation by your organization. Have a nice day."