Is my recruiter telling me the truth?

Question

Is my recruiter telling me the truth?

Answer 1

If you enlist with college credits you may qualify to enlist as E2-E4, depending on the number of hours you currently have already.



The amount of enlistment bonuses vary over time. Get it in writing on your contract, or you do not have it.



Jobs you are able to pick from depend on how well you score on the ASVAB. The job also has to have openings at the time you want to join. If there are no openings, you do not get the job at that time. When you sign the contract, make sure the job you chose is listed on the contract. If it is not there, you do not get it.



If you go in as enlisted, you are issued your uniforms, no charge. You will be given a uniform allowance, to maintain your uniforms, However, it is paid ANNUALLY on your enlistment month. It is not paid weekly.



The military will provide you with a place to live and a meal card to eat in the dining facility, if single. If married, the military will provide you with money for housing and money for food. Another option is to put in for housing on post/base. Even there, the military is phasing in that you pay for your utilities.



Healthcare is provided to you, and your immediate family (spouse/kids) in the military clinics & hospitals. It is up to you to pay for anything else you want or need. The military does not pay for your utilities off post/base. Civilian clothes for you, or your family, are your personal expense

Answer 2

alright, I guess we'll go through this one by one



Rank by credits - yes, if you have a 2 year degree you will be put in as an E-3. If you have a B.S. you can either be an officer or an E-4



College money - You get the college money for the GI Bill. It doesn't have any effect on your ASVAB. You can do some credits while you are in as well and the Army will pay for it



15 years - That sounds about right, but I'd have to go read the fine print of the GI Bill to tell you for sure. That time starts once you are out.



58 on Asvab - It's not the best by any stretch of the imagination, but it's not terrible.



jobs - You won't get your pick of jobs with a 58. You can get a list that you qualified for and that is available that you can choose from



guaranteed job - once it is in your contract, you will get that job unless you fail out of AIT or something voids your contract



uniforms - you do get an allowance for uniforms



expenses - you will get food, shelter, medical care, and anything you need to survive. Everything else is on your dime

Answer 3

I don't see anything wrong, with a few exceptions.



1. 24 Hours get you E-2 and 48 get you E-3.



2. Google the GI Bill.



3. Yes, if you use the Post-9/11 GI Bill you have up to 15 years to us it.



4. Sadly, I've seen a lot of people fail. You only need a 31 to enlist and 99 is the highest you can get.



5. That's true for the most part. Some jobs require a security clearance and if you don't qualify (horrible credit, too many law violations, etc.) it could limit that.



6. The Army guarantees your MOS in writing before you join, we don't do open contracts like other branches for enlisted. The only way you loose it is if you fail your job training.



7. You get a yearly allowance for uniforms, around $550 on your anniversary. That amount increases each year. During your first two years you get a smaller payments.



8. As a single Soldier you get free room and board. Married Soldiers loose the room and board but get allowances every month for food and rent.

Answer 4

I was an army recruiter, so this is going to be fun.



College credits - Here is the document that is used for reference when enlisting into the army - http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r601_210.pdf It is commonly referred to the "Recruiting Bible" Search for section 17 under chapter 2 (2-17) that will have the answer you're looking for. If you don't have enough credits, you can get promoted by getting someone else to sign his/her life over with you, or complete the Pre-Basic Training Task List.



The G.I. Bill has been changing a lot over the last few years, especially with the introduction of the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill. https://www.gibill2.va.gov/cgi-bin/vba.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=180&p_created=1040735973&p_sid=bY85og8k&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=521&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MTMyLDEzMiZwX3Byb2RzPTAmcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MSZwX3NlYXJjaF90ZXh0PTEwIHllYXJz&p_li=&p_topview=1 that link is from the gibill.va.gov website, and everywhere I can find only shows 10 years after you get out. That site could also answer your questions about how much money you'll get for 2 years plus training time.



To recruiters, literally anything over a 50 is great!!! Why? Because that puts you in the "A" (Alpha) category. This makes you worth more points on her rap sheet, and gives you a better chance to qualify for better bonuses and enlistment options when you enlist so you can be sold better if need be. As sad as it sounds, a 30 could actually be an average (although I think that number was just made up). Remember a lot of kids take the test, and a lot of people who drop out of school try to get into the military, and through my experience in recruiting, they bring the score down a lot. I talked to one kid who took the ASVAB twice and his higher score was a 6...SIX!!! He was waiting to take it a 3rd time. Essentially, as long as you get over a 50, that'll give you better benefits and options, but what will ultimately decide your training selection are your line scores.



Your line scores are a collection of each test on the ASVAB, and getting a 58 will not guarantee your job. She was extremely wrong in stating that to you. Your line scores will determine your job selection, as long as your moral position (law violations), and your medical exam. The smallest things they can find in the medical exam can disqualify you from enlistment or certain jobs. Also, if you let your recruiter talk you into lying on answering the medical questionaire, you might be able to get out of some of the medical disqualifiers.



I just answered another question as far as whether or not you get the job you get trained in - https://answersrip.com/question/index?qid=20100824062935AAb56rH&show=7#profile-info-nCp4lK87aa - essentially, you are guaranteed your job training, but you are not guaranteed the position. One of my best friends on my first deployment was pulled from my platoon (an infantryman) and sent to battalion headquarters to work as the battalion mailman. He didn't want to do this, of course, but he really had no choice.



Your uniforms are issued to you, but as far as a weekly fund? What?!? You get a yearly allowance which goes up every year, but I have never heard of any weekly or monthly payments. I know you can break your monthly paycheck into two checks or just one check a month, but I have never heard of a weekly or any other break up of your yearly clothing allowance. Honestly, I doubt the government/army would be able to do anything that complicated. They have enough trouble trying to get the single-monthly payment right (I know two people that wanted that and both had issues getting it), not to mention the great amounts of soldiers who have trouble getting correct payments on their bonuses.



Your housing and food are either given to you or, if you live off base, you'll be given housing and sustinence allowances.



I'd also like to point out that because you sign up for 2 years, doesn't mean you'll be done after 2 years. I signed up for four years and ended up doing six. I was even out of the army for a year and they pulled me back in for 13 months.



Hopefully this straightens some things out. Thanks for posting this - gave me some more ideas to put up on my army awareness page, which is in the source if you'd like to check it out (especially the Recruiting and the Army section)

Answer 5

For once on this website I must say that a majority of the things your recruiter told you were NOT BS!! Starting at the top

1. If you have college you can come in automatically as an e-2 to e-4 depending on how much college you have. You will still have to wait for your time in service before promoting to the next rank however. (IE if you come is as an E-3 like I did, you will have to wait 18 months until you are eligible for your next promotion).

2. The Army College fund will pay between 30,000 and 80,000 depending on how well you do on the ASVAB. You also have the option of taking the montgomery GI bill as well as 100 percent tuition assistance for up to 4500 dollars a year while in the military.( www.goarmyed.com)

3. My wife was authorized ten years to use her college fund, however that year amount may have increased to 15.

4. 58 is actually a very good score on the practice exam. Most score higher on the actual test. With about a 60 though you should qualify for most jobs. For MI you may need a 70 or higher. I was offered every job and I scored a 78.

5. Yes you can pick any job you want as long as you qualify (IE for military intelligence you may need to get a security clearance)

6. Your job will be guaranteed once you get is, as long as you pass the job training. You will attend school for your job for between 8 weeks and a year depending on the job.

7. RED FLAG BS. Your initial issue of uniforms and all equipment is free. You recieve a clothing allowance once a year after your second year in the military to cover replacement of uniforms. Gives you enough to buy a couple uniforms and a pair of boots. While deployed you will get monthly furnishing of uniforms.

8. As long as you live in the barracks(single) or on post(married) the military does pay for all your basic needs. Single you live rent free in the barracks mostly in two person rooms all utilities are paid for. Married you get a home based on your rank and family size(IE wife and 2 kids=3 BR townhouse). Some are nice but you usually have to live in a Demo for about a year before you get a new one. You also get a food stipend, but if you live in the barracks they give you a meal card which lets you eat at the dining facility(DFAC) on post.



Congratulations on getting a REALLY good recruiter, there are a lot that will say anything to get you in but yours is credible. Any other questions feel free to ask. And no I am not a recruiter!

Answer 6

I would be able to move up in rank automatically by just having 24 or 48 college credit hours.

*** You can move up in rank before joining in a few different ways as well. I know college credit helps as well. I came in as an E-3 with no college but I did the other things to move up.



If I signed up for 2 years plus training, I would get $39,996 for college or $45,396 if I did well on the ASVAB test.

***A military contract is an 8-year commitment. Most come in on a 4x4 contract. Meaning, 4 years of Active service time, 4 years Individual Ready Reserve. IRR is when you get out of the military, you get placed in a bucket list basically. They can call you back in on a as needed basis within those four years. But you are done with your active federal service time.



Once I'm done with my time, I have up to 15 years to use their college funding.

***I want to say it is still 10 years to use your GI Bill benefits. The great thing about the new Post 9/11 GI Bill is you can transfer its benefits to your children. Most people leave the military with some kind of degree without ever touching their GI Bill. 100% TA means your classes are paid for as long as you are active.



I took the practice ASVAB and scored a 58 and she told me that was really good because on average people only score 30. Which doesn't make sense to me cause the test seemed really easy.

**I didn't take a practice ASVAB, so I am not sure on the average score. But recruiters for the most part can see your lines scores and see if you would do well on the real exam.



If I did really well on the ASVAB I could basically pick any job I want. (I'm wanting to go into Military Police or some form of Intelligence).

*** If you score high, you pretty much have whatever you want. You have to match the line scores that are required for that job, but if you score high enough you are pretty much guaranteed to meet those limits.



Once I pick a job I want, I will get it guaranteed.

** Best part about the Army. The other branched lump you into a career field. The Army you pick your job.

All my uniforms are free. And they give you a weekly fund for your clothes, just in case they get ruin.

***Not a weekly. You get a yearly clothing allowance. Your first sets of Uniforms are free. After that, you get a yearly clothing allowance to buy new ones.

The Army pays all of my expenses, expect for things I want (like video games or music).

*** If you are single, they give you a place to live free of charge. You still have to buy your own cleaning supplies, hygiene stuff, and any other products your choose. They will give you three meals a day. But if you choose to go to Taco Bell instead it comes out of your pocket. Gas money comes out of your pocket.



Doesn't seem like your recruiter lied to you. Some of the stuff seems like you may have misinterpreted some things as it is a lot of the times. It isn't a bad job though. I've been active duty since September 12th, 2002. And I am still enjoying my time in.

Answer 7

Lets go down the list.



Yes you can get an extra pay grade or two for having taken college classes - however this just gives you a little more money, not any real increased status.



The college funds will require that you put money aside yourself and the higher amounts are for the more difficult jobs that it is hard to find people for.



I am not surprised that most people score 30 ont he practice ASVAB. A lot of people cannot join the military simply because they cannot pass the test.



You will be guranteed the chance to train for the job you pick. However it is up to you to pass the training (the Army will do everything they can to help you). If you flunk out of your technical school - you will be offered a list of less challenging jobs.



Your initial set of uniforms is free. After that you will be expected to maintain them on your own. To assist you in this you will be given a yearly allowance to cover the costs of maintaining your uniforms.



The Army will give you free room, board and medical care. You will be given transportation to the places the Army needs you to go. However most young soldiers blow their pay on partying, stereo systems and cars they cannot afford.

Answer 8

1. I don't know the exact numbers, but yeah, with no credit you enter as an E-1 and it goes up to E-4 for a bachelor's degree.



2. I don't know the numbers for the GI Bill, especially since the post-9/11 Bill is based on in-state tuition, but I think it'll get you through state school.



3. I thought it was ten, but like I said, I don't know the numbers.



4. I don't know what the average score among applicants today is, but the AFQT is a percentile based on the results of a cohort of high school seniors some years ago. Assuming a normal distribution, an average score would be 50. I think. Statistics aren't my strong suit.



5. Yeah, you can basically pick any job you want, depending on job availability, your ability to get the necessary clearance, and whether or not you match the physical requirements. If the job you want isn't available, you can wait for it to open up. They will pressure you to take some other job, but you are under no obligation to do that. Don't sign anything until you get exactly what you want.



6. The job you pick is written into your contract. It is guaranteed that you will start the training pipeline for that job. After that it's up to you. If you can't hack MP or MI school, they will reclass you to something else according to the needs of the Army.



7. Uniforms are free, clothing allowance is annual.



8. They pay for or provide housing, food, health care, and education (up to a point). They have to keep you alive and healthy, and they want you to be educated. Doesn't mean you'll like the housing, food, and health care they offer you, but it's there.

Answer 9

im not sure about the schooling part but the college credits and ranking up she has right.... the clothing allowance is pretty right...and i would say you did pretty good on the practice test... What i would do is study just any problem areas you might have... you shouldn't have a problem getting MP if you get a score like that on your ASVAB...you need a ST line score of 95...just take the test and u will do fine.

Answer 10

I really doubt a recruiter that has character and understand the importance of his/her job said she is paid to lie to people. After all we kick recruiters out of the Army for lying. But it sounds like everything you have listed here is right or close to right. You have to understand that most complaints about recruiters lying boil down to the enlistee heard what he wanted to hear and he didn't listen to the sound advice of GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING. How hard is it to understand that you are signing a contract that lists everything you should expect to receive. Now to cover some of your items.



You can enter the Army at a higher rank for having certain numbers of college credit. I believe if you have a four year degree you may enter as an E-4.



When you leave the service with the new Post 9/11 GI Bill you do have 15 years in which to use it. This is a change from the old GI Bill which allowed you ten years.



I can't judge if a 58 is a good score or not because I don't recall what the limits are and I don't know the average. But I do know that a good percentage of HS students fail to meet the Army standard and can't even enlist. And while you and I may consider the ASVAB easy, you have to recognize that only 70% of American will even receive a HS diploma and you know some of those graduates are functionally illiterate.



With a high enough score and no problems in other areas such as security related issues, you can pick any job you want. You might have to wait a while for some jobs to become available, but that is on you. Don't let a recruiter convince you to take a job you don't want. Most especially don't do this and complain later that a recruiter lied to you.



The Army does guarantee you your job choice in your contract. You still have to pass the school and be eligible to hold that job, but that is also on you. If you get an intel job and the Army later learns you like chopping up cats, you will likely lose your security clearance and your ability to hold an intel job. (chopping up cats would likely get you kicked out entirely! Don't kill cats!)



You do get all your uniforms issued to you and you receive an annual allowance to replace uniforms. There is no way your recruiter told you a weekly allowance. See, you may have heard what you wanted to hear. Perhaps she said "weakly"? Just a joke. You are also issued certain work uniforms that you can turn in such as mechanics' coveralls.



And lastly the Army does pay for your room and board or if you are married they give you a housing allowance and a subsistence allowance. It is up to you to spend it wisely.



Hope this helps and I hope you find a job you enjoy! Good luck and get it all in writing!!

Answer 11

1: yes. 24 credits gets you E2, 48 E3.



2: there are no more 2 year contrcats.. most will eb at least 4 AD. the new GI Bill covers UP TO $65k but you must serve 36 months AD in order to get it.



3: correct. the post 9/11 Bill id good for 15 years after you leave the military.



4: its.. decent. not terrific/outstanding, but it dioesn' t suck either. the national average hovers around 38 currently. you'd be surprised at the number of people who get below that.



5: not precisely. your ASVAB line scores deternmine what you are eligible to get. what you are OFFERED will depend on what's open the day you sit down to choose.



6: not precisely. you are guarnteed the opportunity to TRAIN for the job. not that you will pass or otherwise remain qualified. also Jobs do get eliminated or changed.



7: nope. your inital uniform issue is covered but the replacement allowance is Yearly, not weekly and it will NOT cover all the expenses.. as it is not meant to cover optional uniform items nor basics like socks and undies. and they expect that som,e items last more than a year so you only get the full replacement amount every couple of years or so.



8: no it does not. it provides the basics.. food and shelter. that's about it. howver it IS possibel to have no or nearly no expenses if you do not have a car, do not wear civilian clothes ever, do not ever leave base and buy a Big Mac or a beer and don't paly WoW. and those basics means a barracks room with a roommate or 2, and plain and bland food.. or MREs

Answer 12

He is and isn't telling you the truth. Depending on your job in the military, you most likely will have plenty of time in the evenings to take classes, or online if you want. Some jobs work longer hours, others are constantly deployed, preparing to be deployed, or returning from a deployment. For the most part units are willing to work with you so you can go to school as long as you are a good soldier, but you will still have to do field time, and all the other crap that comes from wearing the uniform. If it starts to interfere with your job performance then there may be some problems. I would look into a technical MOS such as PATRIOT/THAAD missiles, computer support systems, or something like that. Since these are more technical in nature the units are more supportive of soldiers continuing their education, and they tend not to deploy as much as say field artillery or infantry units.

Answer 13

You become a specialist(e-4) with a certain amount of credits. i thought it was 48, so maybe you become e-3 with 24. you need a certain amount of active duty time for the GI BILL, because you pay into it. I think as long as you do 2/3 you get that amount.

You do have 15 yrs to use it

With a 58 you should be able to qualify for bonuses if they are being offered. I believe though if you get 85 you qualify for anything. check out the MOS's and see what you want to do. If you asvab is not good enough retake it. dont accept that the mos isnt open. They have quotas to fill certain MOS's when the one you want might be open but they dont want you to be in that one. do soemthing you think you might like. also i thought a higher score was needed for MP and military intelligence, but that i am not sure.

for your job, once you sign your contract they cant take it back

your uniforms are paid for through the army if you are enlisted

the army doesnt pay for you to get video games. you get your monthly salary and you can buy them yourself. living in the barracks, single no bills but a cell phone on E-4 pay isnt bad pay. u just work your *** off for it typically.

Answer 14

I am gonna go ahead and throw the BS flag on all that... ASVAB score goes to 99