Welcome to "Recruiting Land" and final docking for Operation ARC. This is a site of suggestions and information to help lessen the stress of the tour.
Mission Box is what is wanted. Volume is accepted. However, any effort should be rewarded. Bake a goody for the station.
If you learn anything, learn the basics ... what certain terms mean, what the monthly mission is, how many possibles are in the system. Knowing what the mission is and what is in the system decreases stress. If you know at the beginning of the quarter (when most monthly missions are set), that the station needs 2 grads, 1 senior and an Other and all that is in the system is 6 Others there are going to be a lot of late nights that month.
Ask your soldier about his/her day. Do not expect a full blown discussion. However, allowing yourself to act as a sounding board for your soldier helps him/her to open up.
Remember, recruiting is a team effort. Carry some of your soldier's business cards with you when you go out. If you live in his/her recruiting zone, share information about new stores that are opening or places that have not been posted.
Do NOT make any plans for the last Saturday and Monday of the month. (with the variations of December due to when Christmas falls and May due to when Memorial Day falls). This particular Saturday is normally a processing Saturday and used to help make mission and/or for DEP functions. The last Monday of the month is "Mission Monday" and it could be a LONG day.
Do not EVER speak negatively about the Army in public or to strangers. Each negative thrown out makes it all the harder for your soldier to do the job.
If it is important to you or your children, make it important to your soldier. All soldiers are issued a planning guide for daily use. One of the best pieces of advice given by members of all ranks (1SG through COL) is to become familiar with your soldier's planning guide. If it is important, YOU put it in the planning guide.
Recently in a family newsletter included this quote: "If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem." Recruiting is only as good or bad as YOU make it.
*No company FRG, start one. There are most likely other spouses who miss the FRG benefits and will gladly help. Your SFAPM can help get you started.
*No AFTB instructors, become one. Contact your SFAPM about getting certified as an instructor.
*Want more time with your soldier, take it. A popular idea used by "seasoned" spouses is a "Mission Monday Picnic/Buffet". The spouses set up a potluck and hold it at the station. The recruiters have to eat. This gives family time on a regular basis.
A soldier's child/children is/are not permitted to travel in the government vehicles assigned to the recruiting station. Spouses may only travel in the GOV when attending training with the soldier ... ATC, Newcomer's Orientation, Marriage Retreat.
Purchase a cell phone for yourself. Multiple cell phones work well, and many cell service companies have "family plans" (i.e AT&T Wireless Shared Advantage). Government issued cell phones are limited on time per month (approx. 1000 minutes) and for official business. A soldier may be responsible for any charged resulting from exceeding the time limit.
Do not expect your spouse to call your throughout the day to "chat". Do not call your spouse to "chat". S/he will be prospecting, conducting appointments and completing paperwork while on duty.
Do not expect in depth conversations when your spouse arrives home at night. The human brain can only process so many words in a given amount of time. Recruiters normally reach that limit before his/her duty day ends.
Pick your battles. Time spent together can be minimal at times. Overlook the shoes left in the wrong spot so that you may have quality time as a family.
Saturdays are NOT an automatic day off. The norm is to work 6 days a week. There are "Saturday Processings" during the school year. Also, DEP functions are normally held on a Saturday.
Recruiting is NOT a "9-5" job. There WILL BE late nights. Average "duty day" is 0800 to 2000 (not including PT time). There will be early morning (2AM; 3AM) trips to take an applicant to MEPS. There will be early morning (5AM; 6AM) calls concerning paperwork or something else to do with the enlisting process.
There will be some Sunday workdays. These occur when an applicant needs to be at MEPS early on Monday morning to join. Also, any enlistee who is shipping out on Monday will be taken to MEPS on Sunday.
Tell your spouse to get to work when you know s/he is stalling. Remember, less time wasted can mean a shorter work day. For example, if your spouse calls you every hour or so to check on a sick child, tell him you will call if anything changes.
Current CG policy forbids recruiters from having a personal webpage for recruiting purposes.
Do not create a personal webpage or mailing list for a specific recruiting company/battalion WITHOUT checking with Advertising and Public Affairs (A&PA) FIRST.
Even if you are away from a military installation, utilize the benefits still available to you. If a installation is within driving distance (an hour or so), go to the commissary once a month for non-perishables. Shop AAFES online or use the biannual catelogs. Use the Armed Forces Saving Network for inexpensive family vacations.
Leave time is limited. Average is one week of leave at a time. Sometimes two weeks can be taken. However, more than that is not a likely occurance. Recommendation is for a recruiter to take at least one week off each quarter (every 3 months) to avoid "burn out". FORCE your spouse to take this time off. Recruiters, especially successful recruiters, easily develop "tunnel vision" and fail to see anything else but the mission goal.
Attend any function open to families. The obvious ones are the ATC, newcomer's orientation and FRG functions. However, if the station is marching in a parade, go to the parade. Setting up a table at a baseball game, make it a family outing. You may not get a lot of one on one time with your recruiter; however, you (and your children) will get to see first hand what s/he does in the hours on duty.
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If you would like to volunteer to help other spouses or would like to have a sponsor spouse, please click on the angel to email the webmaster.
Visitors since 23 April 2002
Last updated 21 May 2002
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE IS PRIVATELY OWNED AND OPERATED. INFORMATION AND OPINIONS PRESENTED IN NON-MILITARY LINKS IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY OR THE UNITED STATES ARMY RECRUITING COMMAND.
