After having 40 plus days off of work and school, Brandon had to check into his Recruiting Station (RS Springfield) on Friday. After speaking with his boss a few days prior, Brandon was to check in at 3:00pm on Friday. So Friday comes, Brandon gets all dressed in his blues, gets his paperwork in order and heads to the RS...where he was greeted by 1 other Sergeant, who basically had no idea Brandon was even coming to check in. Everyone else was at a training.
What a bust! On his first day, they are supposed to take your picture, complete your travel claim, etc. Brandon didn't get any of that done on Friday! I was so mad...we need to get the rest of our travel money! The guy just wrote down on a piece of paper that Brandon showed up, in order to keep Brandon from being UA.
He came back like an hour later, a little upset that nothing got done and he basically got dressed up for nothing. I don't blame him. Those blues are complicated and uncomfortable.
But he sure looks handsome in them.
He got a hold of his boss later Friday night and his boss told him to come to a poolee (someone who has signed a contract and set to go to bootcamp) function on Saturday. On Saturday, Brandon met his boss, fellow recruiters and poolees and they went to the nearby Air Force Base to workout. When he came home, 7 hours later, he had really nice things to say about the people he met.
He said his boss is really cool and so was the Sgt. Major. They were saying "man" and "dude" and Brandon can really appreciate that in a person.
Some of the poolees he met were from Pittsfield (where we are going to be at) and gave Brandon some tips on the area. One kid called it "Shitsfield" which I find a little disheartening.
Thanks kid!
Brandon also learned some tragic news. The Marine Recruiter that was stationed in Pittsfield, before Brandon was assigned that area, had committed suicide.
So sad. Really sad.
When we were in Pittsfield a few weeks ago, we had gotten the number for the Recruiter's cell phone off the door of the office and we called him two different times and it went to voicemail each time. We thought that was so strange because I am pretty sure they have to have their cell phones on all the time.
Well, now we know why he didn't answer.
I have been googling about his passing since I learned about it.
He was a 26 year old Sgt. From what Brandon learned, his wife had left him and they believe that played a huge factor in his decision to take his life. But this is not fact, just what we have heard.
I just can't believe it. I saw his picture online and it just insane that this smiley, handsome young Marine would feel like he has no other options but to end it all.
Tragic.
Brandon also had to go in to work on Monday (Columbus Day and our Anniversary) but only for a few hours. He watched some of the poolees leave for boot camp. Two girls left and 1 boy was supposed to go, but admitted to using drugs a week prior, so he was automatically disqualified for going to boot camp or becoming a Marine ever.
Brandon was only gone a few hours, which was nice.
But then Tuesday came and he had to really check-in at 8:30am. He got dressed in his blues again and went to the RS. He did his travel claim (crossing my fingers our money comes sooner than later) and got some other things squared away. He said the Sgt. Major called him in his office and let him know that there is a lady in Pittsfield that loves the Marine Recruiters there. She brings them dinner, drops by the office, etc. He said he didn't think anything happened between her and recruiters, but just to be aware of her.
Great. Awesome.
Anyways, Brandon then came home from the RS and changed and went to real work at the RSS (Recruiting Sub-Station).
He basically watched the other recruiters all day, but in the evening he had to make cold calls from a list of kids from the high school. Brandon did not like this at all. He said the numbers were mostly home numbers so he had to talk to parents first, then the kids. Lots of parents said no, my kid is going to college or playing baseball or whatever. But then some parents were like yeah, he's not doing anything, here's his cell phone number.
Brandon noted one kid in particular. His Aunt had given Brandon his cell phone number. She had said he wasn't working steadily, already out of high school and not really doing anything. When Brandon called him, he was not interested at all. He said he was working at a retirement home. Brandon asked if that is what he wanted to career to be, or if he was going to go into healthcare, etc. No. The kid said no and he didn't really know what he was going to do, but he didn't want to join the military. Brandon just couldn't understand why he wouldn't want to join. I think mostly because the Marine Corps saved Brandon, and he can't imagine why anyone who wasn't doing anything or going anywhere wouldn't want to join.
Anyways, he ended up not coming home until 8:45pm. :(
Welcome to Recruiting Duty!
I asked if they kept him that late just because it was his first day and said no, I think this is normal.
And he said when he left, another recruiter was still there.
Ugh. I better get used to it now!
He is spending the rest of this week at the RSS shadowing the other recruiters and then next week, he will have a full week of formal training. Then we will finally head to our new town of Pittsfield or Shitsfield.
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