You're Fired!

I was NOT fired, but a friend of mine had a problem at work. I work with recruiters and they have a saying, "Make mission, go fishin'". The recruiters I work with are required to put three new people into the service every month. So, after they get those three they can do anything they want, even if they want to go fishing and do nothing else. It sounds kind of easy, at at times it is. The problem is to get someone into the service they have to be found, then convinced, then they have to meet weight requirements, then they have to pass an aptitude test, then they have to be convinced again, then they have to actually get on the airplane that takes them to training. All this is done while juggling the requirements of being in the service themselves, they have to pass Physical Training tests, rifle qualification tests, attend meetings, give meetings, maintain their training. It can become burdensome and isn't always a success story. I have had my job for 4 years. When I first started I was trained by a sergeant that has been doing recruiting in the same are for 13 years. I really appreciated him helping me learn the job and being there when I needed to ask questions or just complain to someone. Last week I found out that the sergeant that had helped me when I started has been moved to another area. He hasn't been able to "go fishing" for more than a year. He hasn't met his quota and therefore they made him move to another area if he wanted to keep his job. Sometimes I think that if you have the same job for 13 years you must lose your "edge" and passion for your job. This sergeant has been successful in the past, that is how he was able to stay where he was for so long. Now he has moved to an area that he is unfamiliar with. (in fact it is the area I am this week) I called him tonight and made sure that he knew I would be available to help him the way he helped me when I started. I know the schools in his new area so when he gets settled and ready to start work I will visit him a few times to make sure he becomes comfortable with his new surroundings. It isn't often we get a chance in our lives to help the people that helped us, is almost the exact way! I look forward to paying back my debt!

Tonight I am in Tulare. The school I visit in the morning is a school I haven't been to for three years. It was one of my first schools and I look forward to being to help them much more that I could when I cam here a few years ago. If you look at the map on the previous posting I am at B, and tomorrow I will drive to C and then D.