Do military recruiters sometimes lie?

Question

I have answered many question with asertions that many do just that, and often get reported for it. Now comes this;

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/8/6/army_recruiter_suspended_for_threatening_high

Answer 1

yes sometimes they lie but more often than that they just dont tell the whole truth they just tell part of it so depending on how you look at that yes they lie.

Answer 2

You mean "career counselors"?  They sure do.

Answer 3

Once in a while they do.....

Answer 4

You take a large enough group of people, and you will find a few bad apples.  I think most recruiters for the services are generally honest, but that doesn't make good press.  If a call with an honest recruiter is recorded, there won't be a news report about it.

I'm a Coast Guard recruiter.  I don't lie to my applicants, I won't lie to get them in, and I don't want them to lie to me.  HONOR, RESPECT, DEVOTION TO DUTY!  

I think most people that claim their recruiter lied, were using selective listenting, or didn't ask the right questions.  I can't read your mind, and I can't talk non-stop for 72 hours trying to cover everything you might concievably be interested in.  For instance, I would think that the number one question people would want to know is how much they will make, but only about 5-10 percent of the people that I talk to even bring it up.

Answer 5

Sometimes recruiters will lie to get you to enlist. They will tell you what you want to hear. Not all recruiters lie though.

Answer 6

My husband must have gotten one of the "bad apples", because his recruiter lied straight through his teeth about pretty much everything. Most of the stuff, we could have done more research and figured out that he was giving him false information, but we were naive at the time and didn't realize what was going on. We actually trusted the Army (and the recruiter) at that point...

He lied about some major stuff, like the transferability of the GI Bill ("Oh, you can transfer it to your spouse as soon as you get to your first duty station"... WRONG, it takes ten years in active before he can transfer it! I had no idea that was the case then, I actually trusted him.), he told my husband he would "Never have go to Iraq or Afghanistan unless he REALLY wanted to, because there are plenty of crazy rednecks who are dying to go over there first." We very well knew he was lying on that one, but it still ruined my trust in him.

He lied about some really stupid things too. For example, he told me that it was an absolute guarantee that I could drive my husband to AIT after his basic training graduation. After booking the flights, rental car, and the hotel, I find out one week before graduation that his recruiter lied about it... BLAH, I'm still kind of bitter over it. We wasted A LOT of money because of him. It was the most asinine thing to ever lie about that I never even thought for a secong that he would be lying about it. Seriously, who lies about something so trivial?

I wish I could say that he had a wonderful and honest recruiter, but this guy was a serious c**p bag. I can't speak for the rest of them, I really hope there are some honest ones out there!

Answer 7

Most of them NO, they just tell you what you want to hear.  It's Called "Needs Satisfaction" selling.   If they can satisfy your needs and "Hot Button" issue(s), you should be sold and Join.

There are some recruiters (every branch of the military is guilty) who will make threats or comments to make an applicant feel guilty or even scare that person.

The following is from Air Force Instruction 36-2001, Recruiting Manual.  Each branch of the military service has similar/identical recruiter codes.

1.2. Malpractice. Malpractice is defined as:

1.2.1. Concealing, advising an applicant or other person to conceal, or conspiring with an applicant or other person to conceal disqualifying factors.

1.2.2. Any action to qualify an ineligible applicant in violation of directives.

1.2.3. Any intentional action to mislead or misinform a prospect or applicant regarding any aspect of recruiting policy, procedures, entitlements, or benefits.

1.2.4. Any intentional misinformation designed to induce an applicant to apply for or accept enlistment, commissioning, or appointment.

1.3. Misconduct. Misconduct is defined as any willful or intentional conduct contrary to this instruction or any other applicable publication that is prejudicial to the good order and discipline of the Armed Forces, or of a nature that could bring discredit upon the Air Force.

1.3.2. Applicants who enlist in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) or take a commissioning oath in the Air Force Reserve will not be ordered or otherwise forced to report for active duty (AD) or extended active duty (EAD). Recruiting personnel will not make statements that imply the Air Force will take legal action against an applicant who refuses to go AD or EAD.

1.3.4. Recruiting personnel will maintain high standards of conduct and be totally professional in their relationships with applicants. Inappropriate conduct and unprofessional relationships include, but are not limited to, the following:

1.3.4.5. Engaging in any verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.

1.4. Irregularity. Irregularity is defined as any other recruiting infraction not covered under the purview of malpractice or misconduct. This includes an unintentional action that causes a prospect or applicant to be misinformed about any aspect of the recruiting or enlistment process, policies, procedures, entitlements, and benefits.

Additional Information:  I did mention that Recruiters will only tell you what you want to hear....... Well, most candidates have selective hearing so... they will only remember what they want to hear.  So... you cannot always blame the recruiter.

Answer 8

In general recruiter's do not lie because to the majority of the recruiters.... the kids they're trying to get to enlist are not worth them losing their job and/or being dishonorably discharged. However, if a potential applicant fails to ask a question then the recruiter doesn't have to include that information unless it is pertinent.