Are military recruiters honest?

Author

Jessica Burns

Published Feb 22, 2026

Are military recruiters honest?

While the vast majority of military recruiters are hard-working, honest, and dedicated professionals, there are some rare recruiters who are tempted to bend the truth, and/or downright lie, and/or blatantly cheat in order to sign up a recruit.

Likewise, how much do military recruiters make?

Military Recruiter Salaries

Job Title	Salary
US Army Military Recruiter salaries - 15 salaries reported	$70,779/yr
US Navy Military Recruiter salaries - 14 salaries reported	$70,592/yr
US Air Force Military Recruiter salaries - 9 salaries reported	$60,471/yr

Also, why do military recruiters tell you to lie? Unfortunately, some (perhaps even many) recruiters do lie. Obviously it's a detestable thing to give misleading information just to help your sales numbers, especially when it's a substantial stretch of a recruit's life that may result in him or her in a combat environment.

Secondly, what do you say to a military recruiter?

It is important that you are honest with your recruiter. Don't hesitate to ask questions. You should work to get the job you want, but understand that your role as a servicemember comes first. Be honest with yourself; serving in the military is not like a regular job.

Do recruiters tell you to lie at MEPS?

Recruiters need to enlist people to keep their job and career. Do not lie to MEPS. As a former military recruiter, I can tell you that your recruiter wants you to lie, because admitting to depression might disqualify you. Recruiters need to enlist people to keep their job and career.

Why are military recruiters so pushy?

Salesmen are pushy and forceful because they must convince people to something they might not be disposed to do. Military Recruiters have particular quotas (like most salesmen) that they must meet to do their job. Some recruiters barely get 3 hours of sleep because they're busy trying to meet their quotas.

Can Army recruiters lie to you?

In many cases, what are reported as lies told by a recruiter are actually cases of selective listening by recruits. A recruiter may say, "Many of our bases now have single rooms for most people," and the applicant may hear, "You are definitely not going to have a roommate." Most recruiters are honest.

What rank are Army recruiters?

Army. Army recruiters must hold a rank of sergeant, staff sergeant or sergeant first class -- designated E-5 through E-7 -- and have at least four years in the service, as well as having completed at least one term of enlistment.

Do military recruiters get paid per recruit?

While Army recruiters do go through special training and gain extra pay for their work, they in-fact DO NOT get a commission based on individual recruits. Army recruiters are granted special duty pay on their bi-weekly paychecks to compensate them for their extra work and training.

What happens if you lie to a military recruiter?

You would be the person who could be dismissed from the military for a fraudulent enlistment and possibly be convicted of a felony. If your recruiter encourages you to lie, please ask if there are waivers for the issue at hand. Some recruiters may tell you not to bother with a waiver because it may not be approved.

Can you talk to multiple military recruiters?

Absolutely, you can. There is only one reason for a recruiter to stall, assuming you are fully qualified to join and issue-free, and that has to do with quotas. If so, you might find that the issue persists at other recruiting stations, since they are likely in the same unit.

Can a military recruiter blacklist you?

No. He can note your file that other army recruiters can see. And any army recruiter that isn't a moron would ask you about it and you could easily explain that jerk was trying to coerce you to join. No.

How long is Army recruiter school?

47 days

What should I not tell my military recruiter?

Eight things your military recruiter will never tell you

1: Free housing and healthcare isn't really.
2: When you get out, the VA sucks.
3: You're not going to do all the things you saw in the commercials, and if you do, you're gonna pay for it.
3: Spoiler Alert: POGs win in the end.
4: Your time is not your own, even when it is.

What will military recruiters ask me?

The first thing the recruiter is going to do is to pre-qualify you. The recruiter will ask you a bunch of questions to see if you qualify for military service. The recruiter may weigh you, and ask to see personal paperwork (birth certificate, high school diploma, social security card, etc.).

What questions do military recruiters ask you?

Questions to Ask Your Recruiter

Are the rumors true?
What are the benefits?
Should I enlist in the Reserves or go Active Duty?
What are the disqualifiers?
Does the military fit my ambitions?
Will I have to go to war?
Where can I do more research?

Can military recruiters come to your house?

Recruiters are NOT supposed to come to your home without first calling. It DOES NOT make any difference the service they are with, it is supposed to be the same for all of them.

How do you impress a recruiter?

Know your experience.
Know the impact that your experience has had.
Discover Your Unique Strengths.
Apply your past experience to the job you're interviewing for.
Have a conversation.
Ask the right questions.
Talk about the organization's culture, and how you fit.
Send a thoughtful follow-up note after your interview.

Can you just walk into a military recruiter office?

Recruiters are busy people, they do a lot of office time in order to take care of walk-ins, but would really appreciate your being considerate of their time by making the appointment. Now, with all of that having been said, they'll happily take care of you as a walk-in. An appointment isn't required.

Should I tell my recruiter everything?

1. Never tell your recruiter that you have no other current job opportunities. If they ask you which other companies you're talking with, tell them "As you can understand, that's confidential. Never tell the recruiter that you really, really want the job or that the job meets all of your needs.

Can you just show up at a recruiter?

Recruiters are busy people, they do a lot of office time in order to take care of walk-ins, but would really appreciate your being considerate of their time by making the appointment. Now, with all of that having been said, they'll happily take care of you as a walk-in. An appointment isn't required.

What do military recruiters look for?

Bravery, courage, hard work, and selflessness are just some character traits that you can expect military recruiters to look for when they are assessing whether or not you'll make the cut.

Which branch of military is the hardest?

Although all branches of the United States military are difficult, the hardest military branch is likely the USN or U.S. Marines. Several military reports have data showing that Marine training is the toughest among the military disciplines.

What is the easiest military boot camp?

But airmen agree the Air Force probably has the easiest basic training. “I think it's Marine Corps, Army, Navy and then Air Force,” said Tech.

Is joining the military a mistake?

Joining the army is a mistake unless it's something you have dreamt of doing and want to be able to say you did.

Which Reserve branch deploys the least?

When one examines the numbers by branch and component, those with the lowest average numbers of deployments were the Coast Guard and Marine Corps reserves (1.22 and 1.29, respectively) and those in the regular Coast Guard (1.28).

Can you back out of the military before boot camp?

Yes, per DoD Directive 1332.14, even if you're in the Delayed Entry Program, you can legally get out before you ship out. If you tell your recruiter you may be counselled and they will try to convince you to stay, etc. It's up to you whether or not you're gonna stay.

Should I lie at MEPS?

It's honestly best not to lie because you'll end up getting discharged from the DEP if you make it past meps the first time. A lot of wasted time and energy for you and all the personnel who assisted you. So most recruiters will tell recruits what to put on their paperwork.

Do recruiters have a quota?

Yes, they do have quotas. Unlike in the civilian world, they do not make more money when they exceed their quotas. The only thing they get are various recruiting awards as recognition. However, there are times when recruiters are put under extreme pressure to make their goals.

Should I go active or reserve?

Active duty is a better option for those looking for a complete change, and a secure full-time job with numerous benefits. Alternatively, reserve duty is a better option for those wishing to add adventure, learn new skills, and make extra money, without disrupting their current lives.

Which branch of service is the best?

The US Marine Corps Is The Best Military Branch, According To Glassdoor

Marine Corps: 4.2 stars.
Air Force: 4.1 stars.
Navy: 4.0 stars.
Coast Guard: 4.0 stars.
Army: 3.9 stars.

Can MEPS send you to jail?

Probably not. It will depend on how big the lie is. The government in general, and the military specifically, has a certain responsibility to the tax-payers. It would not be prudent to throw you in jail for lying about sleep-walking, as an example.

What military branch is the hardest to get into?

However, in terms of educational requirements and overall Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery (AFVAB) scores, the Air Force (tied with the Coast Guard) is the hardest service to get into.

What is the hardest boot camp?

Which has the least? Without question the Marines have the harshest initial entry training, also known as recruit training and colloquially known as boot camp. Marine recruits have no off base liberty (time off) during recruit training.

What branch of military travels the most?

Marine Corps. Strictly speaking, it's the Navy, because many classes of ships that don't carry Marines stop in places that classes of ships that do carry Marines don't stop.

Can you lie to a recruiter?

Most recruiters are good, honest people and will not tell you to lie about your background, but there are always stories of those that encourage recruits to leave out negative medical history or drug use. There is no chance of them letting you off the hook because your recruiter told you to lie.

Which military branch deploys the most?

Soldiers on active duty in the Army deploy more than any other branch, with the possible exception of the Navy (although most Navy deployments are on ships at sea).

What will disqualify you from MEPS?

There are many specific medical conditions that may disqualify you from joining the U.S. Military. These include conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, heart issues, Asperger's, and PTSD. They can provide more specifics regarding the condition, and whether or not you'll pass your medical exam at MEPS.

Can you lie about asthma in the military?

It can get you kicked out of the military. If you lie, you will probably get away with it, but not forever. If you go to a doctor, on base, in 3 years, and they notice you have asthma, the doctor may or may not make an issue of it.

Does the military check your mental health records?

You're going to get a urinalysis as part of your enlistment, so they'll find anything you're taking if you're still taking it. If your job doesn't require a security clearance, then you're probably free and clear, unless you mention it at the wrong time, or your depression recurs.

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