Enlistment Nightmare

[motox813]

So here's my enlistment horror story:
I went to the recruiting station back at the beginning of august to enlist in the reserves. I took the pre-test did well so the next day I went to take my asvab. I scored a 72. So the next day I go to meps here in tampa do all my tests and what not everything was good to go so I go sit in the liasion and they did not get around to me. So that night I stayed in a hotel and went the next morning at 6am sat around till 6pm when my recruiter picked me up, I began to get frustrated. I then again stayed in a hotel and went in the morning to only do the same thing I did the day before. So AGAIN they put me in a hotel and I went AGAIN to meps in the morning this time they got around to me, only for me to find out I have an un-paid ticket for no proof of insurance. So I go pay it that day and show my proof of insurance and stay in the hotel again later that night. I show up again to meps at 6am sit around waiting until they finally got to me around 3pm only to find out I need to get waivers for my record (even though I was never convicted for anything)! At this point Im about to lose it. So I had to sit down with my recruiter type out what happend with each case and what the outcome was in the end and submit the papers to be reviewed. So a week goes by where they have me sitting in meps hoping my waiver will get approved so I can sign my papers. The next week the waiver finally comes back denied because according to the Army I had a case that was still open up to 5 years. I knew there was no way this was possible. So I told my recruiter I would get back to him with the prosecuting attorney. The day I go to the station my recruiter is on vacation for 2 weeks and no one at the station could help me or knew anything about what was going on. So I waited for him to come back and got everything sorted out. The case they considered open wasnt because they only had 120 days to prosecute me which had well been expired. So the waiver was resubmitted and denied again because the proper information was not included. So it was resubmitted again and I am still here months later waiting! and to make matters worse its been 2 weeks since the waiver has been resubmitted and my recruiter said it would take 24-48 hours. Right now I am about to lose it my recruiter cannot even call to give me an update and when I call he doesnt answer so I leave a polite message asking for a call back which he cannot even do!
I was SUPPOSE to have left oct.26th to missouri for BCT and AIT(31b) , but now who knows when I will be able to leave and what my bonus will be. I am staying with a family member right now becase I had everything set up to leave sold my bike,truck, and moved out of my apt. and was expecting to be gone by now. Stupid Me!
/rant
Jaime

[sprat]

i'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one that dealing with a recuiter that not getting back with me. I thought the army wants people to join but once you apply you discover that they don't. i had a case that was expunged and i revealed to the recuiter to show my honesty, even though the criminal history doesn't show that and I have been want for an waiver for three weeks after i received the first waiver. the recuiter want call you back, message after message. I dont understand why they are waiting so long. there is no criminal history just honesty and charcter and they trying to make something out of nothing.

[motox813]

Hopefully I get an answer today. I called last thursday and they said they would have an answer by late monday.:rolleyes:

[MSG Glenn]

That's too bad they gave you such a run-around, Motox. Taht had to give you a great, 1st impression of the Army!

My son had a dissapointing time the 1st time he went to MEPS. His recruiter knew very well what he wanted - Airborne Infantry (it's a family tradition) & ideally an Abn Option 40 (Ranger) contract. He came out with a 19D, Cavalry Scout contract! They told him "it's just like Infantry" & he'd be able to apply for Airborne School & Ranger in basic. He was livid when he came home & I told him that 19D was not a Ranger MOS & he probably would'nt get to Airborne School as at that time there were no 19Ds on Airborne status.. I called the recruiting 1SG & invoked the "Old Boy Network". The recruiter came to our house in a half hour all pissed off & tore up the 19D contract. To make a long story short he had to go to MEPS 3 times as there were no Infantry School slots available but the 3rd time was a charm. He not only got Infantry but Airborne School & an option 40 contract & a $10,000 bonus on top of that. After Ranger Indoctrination he got an additional $3000 & was assigned to the 3rd Ranger Battalion. In his Airborne class he polled a bunch of his fellow students & there weren't any 19Ds there.

I feel he would have been a good soldier no matter what MOS he went in as but I feel sorry for the guys getting out of MEPS with something they didn't really want. My son was fortunate in that he had a dad who knew the system & how to get around it. It also helped that the recruiting company 1SG was an Airborne Ranger & was sympathetic.

Don't leave MEPS without the exact contract you want, even if you have to wait for openings!

[Tacky]

You are a civilian .. if MEPS is wasting your time, get up and leave. Tell them they can call you when they're interested. There is always going to be a wait at MEPS, but three days just to talk to someone is ridiculous. Unless you are shipping, always drive yourself to MEPS. You have the control until you sign the papers. If your recruiter isn't doing his job for you ... find another one. It's like shopping for a new car. Not happy with the service one one dealership? Go to another.

[Nightflyer]

I totally like your efforts. I do know it helps to have family members in the military to help your efforts along during times like this. That said. You have two of the very best giving you damn good advice. Msg Tacky and Msg Glenn are both no nonsence type of guys. Listen up. I belive that. If you keep trying and working at it your persistence will payoff. I've heard stories like this before.....and it all worked out. I like your attitude. See it through.....Good luck.


Nightflyer. Highspeed.
Army Aviation. Air Assualt.
Black berets forever.

[motox813]

So I leave 3 voicemails with my recruiter on the phone that is supplied to him by the army one at 10am,1pm,3pm. I received no call back! So at 5:30 I called the the recruiter that use to run the station who now works at battalion, he told me last thursday he would call me friday with an answer, I did not receive said call. So when I called at 5:30 he said that JAG still hasn't come to an answer that something doesnt sound right with what the prosecuting attorney here is telling them, and that they should reach an answer this week!:rolleyes: Ya its already been 2 weeks since it was re submitted the last time which they said would only take 24-48 hours!

Basically I was at a highschool party. A fight broke out, cops showed up asked for everyones Id's and apparently I had missed my courtdate which I had set for a ticket I had received on my dirtbike, so there was a warrant out for my arrest. So I was arrested on the spot. When I get out next thing I know cops are at my door asking for me. Apparently I was accused for a laptop that went missing that night. I told the cops that I went to jail that night, they did not want to listen to me so I was arrested again on the spot. Before I even get out of jail the computer was found!!!! So the person got theyre computer back and didn't want to press charges.

But here's the problem. They never showed up to court or signed a paper stating they didnt want to press charges. So the army said to me the first time my waiver was submitted that the case is open up to 5 years!!!!!!!! So I was like no way, Ill have them sign a paper then if that is what it takes! I contact the prosecuting attorney and she still rememberd the case and said that the case is closed after 120 days. So my waiver was resubmitted with her contact info and what she stated to me and JAG is in the process of deciding on whether or not she is correct.

It's so stupid that I need a waiver for something I wasnt even convicted of!!!!!


I just pray that everything works out this week! The only thing going good so far is I will be going in as an e3 if I ever get approval!

[BoostgasmTT]

God, that sounds like something that would hppen to me, hope it all works out for you.

[Exo1]

So I leave 3 voicemails with my recruiter on the phone that is supplied to him by the army one at 10am,1pm,3pm. I received no call back! So at 5:30 I called the the recruiter that use to run the station who now works at battalion, he told me last thursday he would call me friday with an answer, I did not receive said call. So when I called at 5:30 he said that JAG still hasn't come to an answer that something doesnt sound right with what the prosecuting attorney here is telling them, and that they should reach an answer this week!:rolleyes: Ya its already been 2 weeks since it was re submitted the last time which they said would only take 24-48 hours!

Basically I was at a highschool party. A fight broke out, cops showed up asked for everyones Id's and apparently I had missed my courtdate which I had set for a ticket I had received on my dirtbike, so there was a warrant out for my arrest. So I was arrested on the spot. When I get out next thing I know cops are at my door asking for me. Apparently I was accused for a laptop that went missing that night. I told the cops that I went to jail that night, they did not want to listen to me so I was arrested again on the spot. Before I even get out of jail the computer was found!!!! So the person got theyre computer back and didn't want to press charges.

But here's the problem. They never showed up to court or signed a paper stating they didnt want to press charges. So the army said to me the first time my waiver was submitted that the case is open up to 5 years!!!!!!!! So I was like no way, Ill have them sign a paper then if that is what it takes! I contact the prosecuting attorney and she still rememberd the case and said that the case is closed after 120 days. So my waiver was resubmitted with her contact info and what she stated to me and JAG is in the process of deciding on whether or not she is correct.

It's so stupid that I need a waiver for something I wasnt even convicted of!!!!!


I just pray that everything works out this week! The only thing going good so far is I will be going in as an e3 if I ever get approval!

Thats sux big time!!... I would go find someone whos actually interested in recruiting you.... As Tacky said, if you dont get what you need from one guy, go talk to someone else...

[d-boys66]

1st of all your recruiter should have run your background check before you went to the meps station!!!!!!! 2nd you would have never spent all the time in waiting status to find out what you already knew!!!!! 3rd To boot along with all the time away in a hotel as well as selling everything to prepare to leave. But it does sound like you will get the waiver just be patient