One Foot...

...equals 12 inches, right? I thought this was basic 2nd grade measurements. However, I guess in our great city schools, they must have taken this out of the curriculum. One of my office partners was helping out an applicant who had scored a 30 on the ASVAB, being one point shy, he wanted to see where he was weak at. During the course of going through the four main sections, it was found that he was hurting in word problems. So the recruiter gave him a sample problem that dealt with measurements. He asked the applicant, "How many inches in a foot?" The applicant said he did not know, nor how many feet where in a yard, but knew how many yards were in a football field. Now, keep in mind, this is a high school GRADUATE, that does not know simple measurements. I don't think this kid would get one answer right on the show Are you smarter than a fifth grader? He clearly is not. I wish we did not have to enlist people who are idiots. It does not mean they will not make good soldiers, but they obviously wont make great soldiers.

One more quick story...

I have a kid crying at the airport because he is stressed about his girl while he goes away for 7 weeks to AIT. he already did Basic last summer and did fine. Now he is talking about going AWOL because he is stressed. Stressed??? Some kids are such pansies, I told him I didn't think he would make a good CAV Scout anyways, they want MEN, not boys whop cry about their 16 yr old girlfriend. Did I mention he was 19? God give me strength and find real Americans to help our country and community. He did great in basic and was real motivated. Problem is, if he quits, there is no real recourse. They just discharge him, of course he gives up 44k in college money and 15k bonus and lots of GI bill money 309+200 X 36=$$$$$$. Lots. But if hes weak, then I don't want him in the Guard. Is that bad of me?

Third quarter is a bust

In recruiting its easy to go from hero to zero, and this time I am a zero. Second quarter I was 140% of mission for the quarter and over 100% for the year so far. As of yesterday I am 50% for third quarter (which just ended) and down one for the year. Go figure that one. I had such a bust rate at MEPS this quarter, people fessing up for stuff they didn't bother to tell me, even after scrutiny by office partners.

I am also still waiting on a waiver I submitted June 12, and for some reason still hasn't made it way to NGB. When I ask why, I get a bunch of excuses. But according to my NCOIC, its my fault for not making sure it got there. "Squeaky wheel gets the grease" he says. Well, I guess they must be out of grease, cuz I wasn't squeaking, it was more of a roar.

So anyways, my NCOIC are going to have a conversation about my production. Mind you, they took away 2 of my producing schools and my best zip code to recruit out of to give it to another NCOIC's area for a zip code that has a crappy school, 20% can pass the ASVAB, in a deal that we definitely got a short end of the stick, especially me. So I have 1/2 the area that I get auto leads from and only one school worth anything. I have 2 schools, one is a silver mine, not quite gold, and the other is an inner city school, where we tested 30 kids, and one passed, and she was 300 lbs with asthma and one leg. Now granted, I can achieve my mission, I plan on making 150% this quarter. I will have one this week, if this applicant would have enlisted last week I would not be in a hot seat. But she had drama at home. No drama this week, that makes one down, and 2 to go for July. One lined up as soon as he clears meps with his over 40 yr old stuff and a few more on on the fringe. I will once again be a hero soon enough. Hero means more time for golf in the morning and my NCOIC never visits me.

Wish me luck and good hunting.