I've been getting serious "too good to be true" vibe lately. Lemme know what ya'll think.
Background.
Joined the Army in '86, got out in '92 as an E5/Infantry. Used my GI Bill to go to school (AA) and the benefit ran out in 2002. Been thinking, seriously, about going back to college and getting a real degree. Have also been flirting with re up in either the NG or USAR. My contacts with those recruiters have been far less than satisfying. They all want me to re up as 11 series or some other combat arm. I ain't down with that, if I'm going back under the big green thumb I want small arms (45 series) repair.
So, I get a cold call (he says he saw my resume online, very possible) from a USAR recruiter, Ken.
Ken sez that he can get me back in (USAR) will pay for 2 more years of college (get a BS) and I will ROTC (some form of it) in as an officer. Best yet, "it'll have to an officer in a technical field." And get this, I can enlist, under the USAR "Try One" program for
one year. Hmm, I just realized that I won't be an officer during the time I'm in skool, maybe that's the catch.
Anyway, so Ken is real "can do" about this enlistment. My Article 15 doesn't matter, my 4th Degree Assault doesn't matter, the missing credits towards my AA don't matter. Nah, "we can do it."
Me? I can't believe, refuse to believe, that Sam is this hard up for officers.
Ken says I'm exactly what they're looking for, right age, prior service, combat time yadda yadda.
I don't trust recruiters. I'm wating for the bait and switch "well, you don't qualify for that one but we've got door number two over here."
I just got back from taking the ASVAB, my physical is next week then we go tour some of the units to "pick one".
I wanted to take the ASVAB again to see if I got better or worse than in '86. My ACTs improved between high school and college so this is a check. I need a physical too so I'm going along to get along right now. We'll see if MEPS catches my high blood pressure. It's just a lark, I like my cushy civilian life.
So, what's the catch with this deal? I've got a REAL bad feeling about it.
A feeling only made worse by some fat Navy puke E4 (CPO3?) at MEPS telling me to remove my earring because I was "in a federal building." He had to tell me twice and then Ken had to step in. It took every ounce of self control to keep from wrapping my hands around his fleshy swabby neck.
Later, Ken told me that the earring thing was "because of the gang bangers".
Bad enough I made it through their dumbas magnometer with a Leatherman II prominently (Kydex half sheath) displayed on my belt and my Collins folding "letter opener" clipped to the inside of my jacket. Said jacket went through the magnometer AND the X Ray.
Homeland Security my as.
Just not real sure I want to be a member after being exposed again today. I got the full hurry up and wait treatment tho. My total experience with Ken prior to this morning has been one phone conversation last week and one today. He called today at 1100, asked what my schedule was and I told him that it being my day off, I was open. He asked if I could meet him at the local Army post (70 minutes away) at 1330 and from there he could drive me to MEPS to take the ASVAB. Short notice but I could do it. We get to MEPS around 1500 and I wind up standing around until 1630 waiting for the "night ASVAB" to begin. Ah, the good old days.