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Portrait of a Recruiting Office

By Belia Mayeno-Choy

Intro: So September 11th may not have young people flocking to the military in droves, but some national recruiters expect they will eventually see an increase in the number of enlisted soldiers. One recruiter told us, for instance, that at least for the most elite branch of the military -- the marines -- the last time they exceeded their recruitment quota was back in 1991. The economy was slowing...and the US was at war in the Persian Gulf. Sound familiar? But for now, the Marines aren't changing their pitch...they don't think they have to. They're pretty proud of the one they've got. We sent Youth Radio's Belia Mayeno-Choy inside a northern California Marines recruiting center to see what it's all about.

Script:
Belia: The pitch begins as soon as you pick up the phone to call the Marines recruiting center in Hayward, California.

(Answering machine) There's two things that keep a person from becoming a Marine. First and foremost it's called fear. Second, procrastination. But at the tone, we will find out what you have…

Belia: All the Marines are looking for is a high school diploma and the right attitude. Their recruiters will do the rest. If they think you have the drive to be a Marine, they become your new best friends. They'll give you a ride to the recruiting station, check up on you at school and at home, and they may even chaperone your prom. They even tried to recruit ME.

(Fowler) Now YOU are in the hot seat! (Belia laugh) But, but…(Fowler) But means maybe…

Belia: The first thing I'd do as a recruit would be to answer some questions for Staff Sergeant Eric Johnston. Lots of questions.

(Johnston) Have you ever been arrested? In custody? Temporarily detained for any reason? Have you ever been in a legal probation status. Have you ever received a traffic ticket, parking ticket? Have you ever experimented with marijuana, LSD, crack, anything.

Belia: I can safely answer that I've never done time or tried crack, so the tag-team recruiting continued. Staff Sergeant Greg Monroe, a guy who looks more suited to a career as an offensive lineman than an army recruiter, gave me a stack of colored plastic cards, so I could arrange my life goals according to priority.

(Monroe) ... basically discipline, financial security, physical fitness, education, pride of belonging, jobs and stuff.

Belia: And coincidentally, if I joined the Marines, Monroe told me they'd help me achieve each one of these goals. Their biggest selling point is you can have almost any profession from inside the Marines, as long as you're willing to give up your dreams of being a nude performance artist or prima ballerina. They'll foot the bill for your college tuition or pay you a starting salary of more than 12 thousand dollars plus housing and expenses. What they don't emphasize is fighting a war in Afghanistan. These recruiters are the ultimate salesmen, they are experts at convincing an interested civilian that the military tailors itself just to meet the recruit's needs.

(Monroe) The good thing about the financial security in the Marine corps you don't have to pay for rent, none of that stuff. The only thing you got to do is your job. And they'll take care of everything else
(Fowler) We give you the tools necessary to put you above your peers or to give you a life that you're comfortable in your surroundings…
(Monroe) Basically you're finally standing up on your own two feet, relying on you. (cut to) And not relying on your Mom, Dad or anyone else. Are you ready to do that? Are you sure? So are you ready to be a Marine or what?

Belia: Well in my case, no. I'm a civilian for life. Despite Staff Sergeant Fowler's pitch...

(Fowler) And as long as you have that desire, that burning desire, to do something that you know is right that is something that you know is necessary for you to obtain the goals that you set for your self. It's nothing that can stop you.

In Hayward, California, I'm Belia Mayeno-Choy for Marketplace.