When I got there I was a bit taken aback to see that two Army recruiters were occupying the table right next to mine. That’s been the only restriction in our tabling at D214 schools; they don’t want us there on the same day as the military recruiters.
I asked the guy (young Hispanic male) how was business. He responded “So So”. I then went on to ask him about the recent changes in policy to allow people with some mental illnesses and drug use into the Army. He was unaware of these changes. He told me that his regulations had not changed. He said they still screen for t hose things. I got his card and intend to forward the articles. One came out of Military Times. (I’ve posted them on our Facebook page). We talked a little bit about Erik Prince's proposal to the top military brass to outsource the Afghanistan conflict to his company. Part of his pitch is that it will pay for itself because they US will be able to extract all these precious metals like lithium. He agreed it didn't seem like it was such a good idea.
I was also amazed by how extraordinarily ignorant this guy was. He had not heard of the guy that killed 26 people in Texas; the guy that had been kicked out of the Air Force. I brought that up because they guy had a history of mental illness and violent behavior. It just happened in November; not like it was years ago.
A little later they started giving out water bottles and lanyards for kids that would do 25 pushups. I briefly toyed with the idea of dropping and doing 25 myself but I didn’t. (Assuming I could do 25!) That’s the first time I’ve actually witnessed this practice although I know it happens. I did not, thankfully, see the recruiter take down anyone’s contact information. He gave out his card but he had no sign up sheet. That surprised me a little.
Around noon my contact at the school wandered by and that was the end of it. She discovered they were supposed to come on Wednesday; not Tuesday. She told them they could stay since they were already there, but they packed up and left.
One young woman I talked to said she thought about joining the military but couldn't because she has bipolar disorder and PTSD. Didn't have the heart to tell her that it seems the Army has lifted that restriction.
Libby