Unmotivated recruiter???

caliotter3 · Jun 25, 2010

The recruiter could be affected by other factors or pressures in her life. And with the comment about other applicants, it sounds as if she is being selective about where to place her efforts. However, that does not make her behavior very professional. She should show the same enthusiasm for each applicant and only discourage those who really are marginal or below par to make the cut.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 25, 2010

Traumaowl, it is more competitive now ... do you have your CEN? If not, I'd work on it -- it's apparently the gold standard! :) Please don't get discouraged. Your packet won't be submitted until October (new fiscal year), and you might need to get your letters of recommendation refreshed -- I think they're good for a year. Good luck!!

traumaowl · Jun 25, 2010

I do have my CEN. My recruiter had told me last year that my physical was good for 2 years so I assumed that letters of recommendation were too. I think that she's just REALLY busy. I can't even leave a message on her office phone b/c the mailbox is full. However, I would like a shot at this even if it's gotten more selective. This has been my dream since I was in nursing school but I was more timid then.

I do have about 30 lbs of pregnancy weight to lose to meet weight. She told me that I had to meet that by the end of September. I'm wondering if she thinks there's no way for me to meet that goal, but I've already made some good progress and I KNOW I can make it.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 25, 2010

You should be competitive with the CEN, I would imagine. When did you last hear from her?

Trauma Columnist · Jun 25, 2010

I'm gathering you are NOT a single parent - that can often be a stumbling block too.

traumaowl · Jun 25, 2010

I talked to her a little over a week ago on the phone and there was a form she wanted me to submit that she needed to e-mail to me. She still hadn't e-mailed it to me by around tue/wed this week so I e-mailed her to remind her to send to me. Still no reply.

I am single in the fact that I am not married. My fiance is 100% on board and ready to relocate wherever I am stationed so I am very lucky. Without his support there is no way I could do this and that is part of the reason I put last year's application on hold was to give me a little time to adjust to motherhood and make sure he felt the same.

Even if I wasn't that competitive, my packet is almost done provided I get to my weight which I am very motivated. I would at least want to be considered. I don't know if I have to work exclusively with her in that recruiting office or a different recruiter. She told me that the Army is only excepting nurses once a year now and that November is that time so I would like to make sure that everything is all ready for that.

fitRNpic · Jun 26, 2010

Traumaowl, it is more competitive now ... do you have your CEN? If not, I'd work on it -- it's apparently the gold standard! :) Please don't get discouraged. Your packet won't be submitted until October (new fiscal year), and you might need to get your letters of recommendation refreshed -- I think they're good for a year. Good luck!!

For AF, the recommendation letters are only good for 6 months. I have to have my letters re-done because it has been over 6 months!!

I too have dealt with a lot of crap from recruiters over the last year or so, and I am prior service. I am now on my 4th recruiter. The first one I had went back to her old job and the guy who took her place didn't seem to care about getting my application packet done. He seemed to be too pre-occupied with all of the new grad nurses he had. So, he pushed my stuff to the side and eventually passed my application packet on to another recruiter in a different state! Because the other recruiter had screwed around with my stuff for so long, I missed my chance last year. Now, I have a different recruiter in the same office as the last one. But I have raised such hell with them that the recruiter's boss is doing most of my stuff (not like their is much to do)!! So, hopefully we will get this done ASAP, get my interview done, and hopefully get selected this year!!! I have been ready to go for 2 years now!! Also, I have been putting off having another child until I get in and get COT done. My son will be 7 next month!! Best advice is to keep on them if you are really serious. If you can't get through to them, go to their boss!

fitRNpic · Jun 26, 2010

i talked to her a little over a week ago on the phone and there was a form she wanted me to submit that she needed to e-mail to me. she still hadn't e-mailed it to me by around tue/wed this week so i e-mailed her to remind her to send to me. still no reply. keep on her. sometimes, yes they do get busy. but all too often, they are trying to get around getting things done for certain people. if she doesn't get back to you, call and ask for their boss and explain the situation and what you want.
i am single in the fact that i am not married. my fiance is 100% on board and ready to relocate wherever i am stationed so i am very lucky. without his support there is no way i could do this and that is part of the reason i put last year's application on hold was to give me a little time to adjust to motherhood and make sure he felt the same. this is a major stumbling block. i almost bet that they will not do anything with your application until you are married! there is a lot of paperwork to do when you are single with children. also, he can not live on base with you or receive any of the benefits of the military unless you are married! when i was going to go active duty many years ago, i was told that they would not process any of my paperwork or anything until we were officially married. if your man is 100% sure, elope! you can always have a big family wedding later.
even if i wasn't that competitive, my packet is almost done provided i get to my weight which i am very motivated. i would at least want to be considered. i don't know if i have to work exclusively with her in that recruiting office or a different recruiter. she told me that the army is only excepting nurses once a year now and that november is that time so i would like to make sure that everything is all ready for that.

good luck!

e_ham · Jun 30, 2010

i am single in the fact that i am not married. my fiance is 100% on board and ready to relocate wherever i am stationed so i am very lucky. without his support there is no way i could do this and that is part of the reason i put last year's application on hold was to give me a little time to adjust to motherhood and make sure he felt the same.

this is a major stumbling block. i almost bet that they will not do anything with your application until you are married! there is a lot of paperwork to do when you are single with children. also, he can not live on base with you or receive any of the benefits of the military unless you are married! when i was going to go active duty many years ago, i was told that they would not process any of my paperwork or anything until we were officially married. if your man is 100% sure, elope! you can always have a big family wedding later.

as rnpic stated, i can almost guarantee this will stop your processing. i was a standard (non-healthcare) active army recruiter for a little while before becoming a reservist and nursing student. a single parent waiver (and alot of other waivers) are nearly impossible to get approved nowadays because of the rapid increase of enlistments due to the economy. if this is your only delay in processing and you are truly committed to your relationship, then take rnpic's advice.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2010

i talked to her a little over a week ago on the phone and there was a form she wanted me to submit that she needed to e-mail to me. she still hadn't e-mailed it to me by around tue/wed this week so i e-mailed her to remind her to send to me. still no reply.
i am single in the fact that i am not married. my fiance is 100% on board and ready to relocate wherever i am stationed so i am very lucky. without his support there is no way i could do this and that is part of the reason i put last year's application on hold was to give me a little time to adjust to motherhood and make sure he felt the same.
even if i wasn't that competitive, my packet is almost done provided i get to my weight which i am very motivated. this could also be a reason why she is not very motivated, until you get your weight to standards you will not pass your meps physical. i would at least want to be considered. i don't know if i have to work exclusively with her in that recruiting office or a different recruiter. she told me that the army is only excepting nurses once a year now and that november is that time so i would like to make sure that everything is all ready for that.

do not know if the army is only looking at nurses in november or not. if they are and you still do not meet the weight standards and need a waiver your recruiter is going to spend her time on someone who has a better chance of getting in. this is because the recruiter still has to put in her number of nurses.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2010

I went to COT with a single mother with three kids. They're down here at Lackland now. I also know a single mom with FIVE KIDS who just graduated from the last COT class (I know she exists because my husband is a realtor and he helped her get her house). Mid went to class with her. And mid herself has spoken of her son here on this board.

I have a friend who is an ex-enlisted recruiter, and those waivers are now impossible to get approved, mainly due to the pay grade and the pay rate that most enlisteds enter at (it's a bit woeful, I can assure you). It also has something to do with the typical age of an enlisted troop (generally they're younger - much younger - than officer accessions). It is still completely different for officers (Air Force wise, that is).