View Full Version : Any Tips on Getting Referrals
0300poolee
12-05-04, 11:44 AM
I have been in the Delayed Entry Program for several months now and i am finding it very difficult to find Referrals. If anyone could help me with ways to interest quality people in the Corps I would appreciate it. Everyone who i've talked to has been interested to join but when it came down to signing the papers they chickened out.
I ship to Parris Island on 20050627
hrscowboy
12-05-04, 12:01 PM
Young man your going to find that as you grow older in life there well always be people that talk the talk but when it comes down to it they wont walk the walk. You sir have made a choice to do both, talk the talk and walk the walk and i commend you for that.
I wish you the best of luck on your journey to become one of the few the proud the Marines...
0300poolee
12-05-04, 12:25 PM
Thank you, and I am thankful to be a part of the finest organization on earth and to someday be one of those quality people who made it how it is today, such as yourself!
devildog4ever
12-05-04, 02:08 PM
well 0300poolee u are not the only one who is finding it hard 2 find referals
Underleft
12-05-04, 02:51 PM
Sometimes people...especially friends will just say they would join because they don't wan't to offend you or seem like they are afraid. There are hundreds of reasons why people do this. There wasn't anybody I knew that I even wanted to join the Marine Corps. I came in as a Pvt and I made all my rank time in grade until CPL. There are many ways to make rank besides refferal anyways.
MelloYello
12-05-04, 04:04 PM
Hmmm Referrals come and go. Right now I have one. Hopefully I will have 3 by Jan. I know two guys who are interested in the military but no branch. Also know a chick who might join the Marines but she is leaning towards the Army because of her brother(Ranger)
I mostly run into people at my school when I wear a USMC shirt. They say something about joining the military. Then I give them my recuriter's card and tell them to call him and let him talk to them.
I stopped one of my friends from joining the Army and went Marines. Then he turned right around and he is about to get his First Referral and he is only been in for like 2 weeks in the DEP. So I was impressed.
Dont look in your school. Look in others. Try to look only for seniors though answer everyones questions. If you can find someone out of highschool even better. Best way to ask them is Where is your life going? And where do you want it to go? Seriously right here... Ask them if they have any questions and if they say no keep on asking them. Make sure you have the answers. You should know alot now that youve been in for several months.
Pel
0300poolee
12-05-04, 05:00 PM
I tried to tell my friends that if they want to support our country the best way to do it is in the Marine Corps, but they all want to do the National Guard because they can be "weekend warriors" I tell them that if they go to Iraq (which they will) they won't just fight on the weekends. The part that I don't understand is that they say they dont want to go to Iraq. So I tell them that if they join they will deffinately be going over so why dont you join the Marines and fight with the best our country has! But they just shrug it off.
when i was in the DEP i got 3 referalls, and several more leads, and you know how i did that? i talked to people who didnt have a gameplan after highschool, not bad people or losers, just people who didnt think that college was for them, and wanted to do something different than the average highschool student. Dont lie to them about the Corps, just tell them straight up, that we are what we are for a reason, if everyone could do it we wouldnt be known as "The Few". When you get potential poolees like that, those are the people that wont back out when it comes time to go to MEPS....Good Luck, and Semper Fi
0300poolee
12-05-04, 05:16 PM
Hey Cole11 are you in SOI right now? If so how do they assign MOS's and what is yours?
Hey, i'm in dep too, I leave for pi 20050606. I have refered 2 people so far, yet none have come through. They seem so interested, but change their mind before they meet with the recruiter. There are other ways to get promoted before you enter, I have 14.5 college credits right now and will have 3 more by the end of this month, so I will be automatically promoted to PFC. You should have taken some college classes while you had the chance, or taken a few years of ROTC in high school. Best of luck to you and your advanced promotion.
P.S. A lot of people in ROTC are considering going into the service, even if your not part of rotc, you should try talking to them about the Marines, considering your still in high school. To bad if your not, sorry.
0300poolee
12-05-04, 06:24 PM
Thanks for the tip i'll look around. I still have 6 months of High School and then I'm off to PI. I have heard that during bootcamp you can get promoted to PFC by having high PFT scores and you can get promoted to Lance Corporal by being homor grad, assuming that you are alredy PFC. And after Boot Camp you can get Lance Corporal by recruiters assistance. But I would like to get PFC before or during BootCamp because the Dress Blues look so much better with that first chevron.
DeNichilo 0300
12-05-04, 07:50 PM
lol im having a real tough time with referalls, my recruiter took all the names and numbers in my cell phone.......got nothing , during a college fair in my school i helped out and so far nothing, there are many more ways i tried but everyone is scared. The sad part is not that ppl dont want to join the Marines , its just that they are ignorgant and dont want to talk to my recruiter cause they think they well get tricked or something like taht into the Corps. The best part is that everyone thinks the Marine Corps only has infantry and all they do is goto war, they dont bother listening to all the other non-combat arms the Marine Corps offers.
I am ashamed a bit to associate with some of my friends, no patriotism . Even if you dont want to join, at least have respect for all the branches and USA.
America Love it or Leave it !
0300poolee
12-06-04, 08:29 AM
It seems like some other Poolees are having the same problem as me with getting referrals and tired of the unpatriotic teens in their areas. Yet some kids seem like they want to join but actually have no intentions of enlisting. This just burns up my time and the time that the recruiters spend on trying to enlist you, so if you really want to join then do it but if you don't then please dont waste our time. Hey do any of you other poolees have problems with kids in school trying to start crap with you and talkin crap on the Corps?
yellowwing
12-06-04, 09:05 AM
Don't take it personally, that will only get you down. We've pretty much covered that it takes an extraordinary person even to dare step on our yellow foot prints.
Every "No" that you get is bringing you closer to that one in a hundred ballsy MF that will say, "Hell Yes! Where do I sign?"
Keep at it!
DeNichilo 0300
12-06-04, 11:02 AM
o0h yea all the time 0300poolee, i like it cause i know when i come out of bootcamp they wILL be scared of me. lol , yea well im not giving up on my referalls just keep trying till i leave to MCRD.
0300poolee... they try'd to start **** but Id already learned some pretty cool mcmap stuff when that came around, I love joint manipulation. mmhmm 5'8 140 pound me took this 6'2 220 pound giant to the ground and had him crying OOHRAH
Pel
my MOS is 1142, Electronic Repair Specialist, my MOS was originally 0811, Field Artillery Cannoneer, but my family moved while I was at boot camp, so i had to change Reserve Sites, hence had to change my MOS.
What's joint manipulation? I really want to know, I have a few I would like to practice it on.
And responding to a previous question, I do have people who bad-mouth the Corps. My f***en father criticizes the Corps so much, and me for joining. My brother makes fun because he always wanted to join the service, but is chickening out and doesn't want me to think I'm better than him, so he bad-mouths the Marines. People at school, especially in ROTC, they are Army ROTC. They were cracking jokes left and right about the Marines my first day of class, and that was before they knew I joined. The 1st Sergeant (instructor) said that the only reason the Navy was created was so that the Marines would have someone to dance with. Once they found out I've joined, there is a lot more respect for the Marines in that class, but the 1st Sergeant still talks, like he'll call on me to read in class, and say, "let's see if a Marine can read". They say I'm going to go to the dark place. So, your not alone, there is a bunch of other incidents I have not mentioned, but at least you get the idea. :marine:
0300poolee
12-06-04, 08:27 PM
I dont want to seem like a complainer but i am tired of that "anti-Corps" crap too. Not only the students, but my High School Faculty is in on it. They wont let my recruiter come into school and set up Marine posters and pamphlets and that stuff. One time he came in and they allowed him to see me for 3 f'ing minutes before he had to leave. But later that week they let an Army National Guard walk around the school for what seemed to be the whole damn day. He is the second recruiter to go to my school the other one got kicked out because he had the same problem with my principal. Does it seem right to you that one Military branch is allowed uninhibited access to my school but my own recruiter is barely allowed to walk in the door. If you knew my recruiter he would tell you the same thing. Yeah i live in Liberty Pennsylvania the most Liberally run Republican town in Pa.
yellowwing
12-06-04, 09:17 PM
Well, the PTA has a lot of pull in such situations. If the local PTA is Liberal, then you have and uphill battle. If your PTA is full of Nam Vets and Family Members, do what you can top give them a voice.
Check with the Mayor and City Councillors, to see of they are Veterans. Hell, your Chief of Police may have been at Khe Sahn, you don't know of you don't ask.
That's not right, it was the Marines who fought for the freedom of this country, and they're not even allowed to walk on your school's campus.
greensideout
12-06-04, 09:48 PM
Originally posted by eicyak
What's joint manipulation? I really want to know, I have a few I would like to practice it on.
And responding to a previous question, I do have people who bad-mouth the Corps. My f***en father criticizes the Corps so much, and me for joining. My brother makes fun because he always wanted to join the service, but is chickening out and doesn't want me to think I'm better than him, so he bad-mouths the Marines. People at school, especially in ROTC, they are Army ROTC. They were cracking jokes left and right about the Marines my first day of class, and that was before they knew I joined. The 1st Sergeant (instructor) said that the only reason the Navy was created was so that the Marines would have someone to dance with. Once they found out I've joined, there is a lot more respect for the Marines in that class, but the 1st Sergeant still talks, like he'll call on me to read in class, and say, "let's see if a Marine can read". They say I'm going to go to the dark place. So, your not alone, there is a bunch of other incidents I have not mentioned, but at least you get the idea. :marine:
Laugh it off and let them have their fun. :)
"How do you kill a Marine? Glue sand on the wall and tell them to hit the deck." You will hear a lot of this kind ribbing because EVERYONE wants to think that somehow they are as good as a Marine but deep down in their mind they know better and hold a high respect for the Marines, what they have done to earn the title and the service that they have performed.
Just grin at 'em and say, "When I become a Marine, let's talk about this again. I'll be back." :marine:
GSO
Will do, always do, all the time.
I plan to return to my high school after basic, and I plan to meet with all of these who ever bad-mouthed the Corps. There going to have more respect for the Marines when they see just how much better a Marine is to their sorry ass. And the Army instructors will have more respect for the Corps. I'll show them.
:marine:
greensideout
12-06-04, 10:23 PM
Originally posted by eicyak
Will do, always do, all the time.
I plan to return to my high school after basic, and I plan to meet with all of these who ever bad-mouthed the Corps. There going to have more respect for the Marines when they see just how much better a Marine is to their sorry ass. And the Army instructors will have more respect for the Corps. I'll show them.
:marine:
No, YOU won't show them---what the Marine Corps made of you will show them.
When you become a Marine you will represent all of us, all that have served in the United States Marine Corps.
Until you become a Marine, I hope that thought makes you very humble considering the history of the Marine Corps and the men who have served.
LivinSoFree
12-06-04, 10:47 PM
The Corps will make you into something greater than yourself. Even me, as a self-admitted (though reluctant) weekend warrior, carries the legacy of the Corps in me. The individuals who I meet who ask, "are you in the military," recieve the reply, " I am a Marine," and that's all that they ask about. They are not impressed by me, they are impressed by my Corps, and by its exploits which have been carried out across the globe by Marines with a far greater part in our legacy than I.
IF you walk off that Depot a Marine (and I say "IF" because inevitably, someone will not make it), I hope that you will take time to try to understand what an awesome responsibility that you will then carry on your shoulders. The Legacy of Our Corps is 229 years of blood, sweat, and tears, and heroism the depths of which I cannot even begin to fathom. We are older than the Nation which we now defend, and our pride runs to depths that match.
Never forget: "For the strength of the Corps is the Marine and the strength of the Marine is the Corps."- Gen. James L. Jones, 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps. Understand that, carry it with you, and you will begin to see things our way.
I know this is coming from a fellow poolee and everything but really go after your friends and push them and talk to them about the options and all that. I have 1 and I am working on another so hopefully I will be a PFC coming from basic, Jus keep working man all you need is a little bit of encouragement and everything will be ok so dont work and keep working hard! we'll both be fellow marines soon :-)
FullMetalJacket
12-07-04, 01:02 PM
I live in Ct, this state is democratic, and it is basically a ghost town to find referrals in my town and other towns around.
0300poolee
12-07-04, 02:39 PM
I have a friend in my class who is already enlisted but i didnt get his referral due to the fact that i needed a waiver and he actually got enlisted before me, but we are leaving one day apart so it is possible that we will be in the same platoon. Who else leaves 20050627 (2005 June 27) to Parris Island. Oh yeah i now have a possible refferal, my recruiter told me to take him up to the Poolee Meeting this Saturday in the Arnot Mall NY. So i might be one step closer to PFC.
Bah...I have 0 referrals. They're so darn hard to get. Its a lot easier to talk someone into joining the Air National Guard or something than the Marines...which promises 13 weeks in hell and a free guaranteed trip to the sandbox which could end up being a one way ticket.
How am I gettingt promoted? I'm at MOS school right now for Motor T, we're over halfway done with training and I'm by far the leader for graduating #1 in the class, which would earn me meritorious LCpl...(so says the instructors)
Ooorah !
0300poolee
12-07-04, 08:55 PM
how many marines get meritoriously promoted in mos training, one per squad or one per platoon or just anyone who performs well?
The scribe, The Guide, Prac Recruit, Top Ten Percent are likely, And Sqaud Leaders? or no?
odc25 basic is the army. Boot Camp is the Marines.
PFCDombrowski
12-08-04, 02:35 PM
I have found it very hard to refer some people. Most of the people in my school are babies and wont join the Marines because "they dont want to die" or "its too hard". All of the other kids that I have accually gotten into the recruiters didnt sign up because there parents wont let them. Its hard to find people that are dedicated enough to join the Marines, let alone the military.
Pel
Member
Offline
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 119
The scribe, The Guide, Prac Recruit, Top Ten Percent are likely, And Sqaud Leaders? or no?
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From my experience:
In boot camp - Guide, Squad Leaders and 1 or 2 exceptional recruits are promoted.
In MCT - Company Honorman is promoted to PFC if he's a Private
In MOS School - Top 2 graduates are promoted to LCpl.
I was guide in boot camp, but I got fired. I was squad leader/scribe at MCT, and I got fired. But right now it seems as if I'll be the honor grad at MOS school, which means I would graduate LCpl.
sunman but the scribe does doesnt he? atleast thats what I had heard.
Hey Sunman, I'm from Holland, just a hop skip and jump away from you. Do you know if the recruiter in the area is any good, I've met only with the GySgt at the college I'm leaving this Thursday and want to meet with someone locally to talk some more about enlistment and all of that.
DEPJon... holland MI? I think your closer to me there.
I live on the north side of Holland, graduated from West Ottawa in 03 and will be leaving GVSU after this year for service. Do poolees get together to train at all? A friend of mine in GR was a water survival instructor in the USMC before he became a paramedic, I'll be training with him some this year but would be all about hooking up with some others as well.
DEPJon are you dep'ed in? I know it says it in your name but if you are and went through RSS grand rapids I dont know how you wouldnt know that we get together on tuesdays and wensday nights. RSS Grand Rapids poolees are the best prepaired going into boot camp I think we were ranked number one in the nation. Top 5 for sure. Stop by the rss sometime on 54th street and 131...
I'm actually at school in NC right now and have been workign with a recruiter in Wilkesboro, but I'm coming home Thursday and plan to work out the details with the local recruiter when I get there. Where is 54th street at- up towards the ballpark??
no... other direction. start downtown hop on the 131 towards 28th street just keep on going out past it to 54 street get off the free way turn right... first light turn right... and youll see the military recruit station after like 100 feet.
pel
0300poolee
06-13-05, 08:40 PM
i ship out in two weeks and i just got my second refferal and picked up PFC!!!
USMC200518
06-13-05, 10:36 PM
I Just keep looking at my friends potentials, some have great potential. thats how i got 3 people. Try looking at friends's of friends.
Either way, i am not doing it for the rank or the money, im doing it to keep the Marine Corps the way it is. Kickass. I dont know how it is, because i havent been in it. But im saying its kickass because the people i know love it.
-Zach
iowasurfer2
06-14-05, 09:46 PM
The best thing you can do to get referrals is to get those people in front of your recruiter. Don't try to sell the Marine Corps to your friends. You only have 2nd hand knowledge of the product. Recruiters to 7 weeks of professional sales training and have a greater knowledge of the product they're selling than anyone else out there. Let them work for you. When I was recruiting just a couple years back, I told of my poolees to just put 2 bodies in my chair each week, and I promise they will ship PFC. It worked everytime. Ask your recruiter what his (true) closing ratio is. That will tell you how many people you need to put in his chair in order to get 1 referral. If his ratio is 4 to 1, that means he needs to perform 4 interviews to write 1 contract. What this means to you is that if you can get 8 people to just sit down and listen to him, you should get promoted. It's all in the numbers, and numbers don't lie! The people don't have to be committed to being a Marine to come in the office, just open to listening to what the Corps can offer for 20 minutes. That's when we work our magic. It's what we get payed for, let us earn our paychecks. You get what I'm sayin?
Kaziganthi
06-14-05, 09:55 PM
welcome to the club buddy... It is hard to find those people. My recruiter and I went AC'ing in several places and were successful in this place; A nursery (THE PLANT GROWING ONE)! There is always a high school or college age guy working there and so far my recruiter got a card filled everytime he goes there. It all depends on your sparking their interest.
0300poolee
06-14-05, 11:58 PM
at RS Buffalo, and RSS Horsheads the recruiters are having a relatively easy time in recruiting, i beleve that they have been making mission without much problem, my recruiter gets done with his recruiting duty soon and he is getting a Navy Acheivement medal (if i'm not mistaken). The CO of RS Buffalo is Major Landon and he was given some sort of plaque last fall/winter because that station is one of the top in the country.