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The Soldier Seeker

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A day in the life of an army recruiter based in New York City.
prichard1

21 responses // The Soldier Seeker

  • Is it true that the military intentionally sets up most recruiting centers in poor neighborhoods and then presents the military as "the only way out" for those people?
    barkway
  • Held my interest nicely throughout.
    The ending, however, was not satisfying; I'd like to see more, perhaps there could be a part 2.
    Good subject matter and fine overall work.
    5AM
    • 5AM
    • 6 months ago
  • This is a very well produced piece on an extremely interesting and relevant topic. This is definitely content that the youth of today needs to see and understand. Thank you for helping pave the way for media literacy.

    Would love to see a second short or perhaps longer piece on this issue.




    lrizzo65
  • I really don't like the army trying to sign people up off the street people know the option is there.
    NuRaveGeisha
  • This pod is so powerful to me. The verite style in which it is shot really helps make this a fairly objective view into the world of military recruitment.

    The access is incredible and the subject matter is fascinating.

    It really hits home to see just how young and impressionable soldier recruits and soldiers are.

    The quotas that have to be filled... etc. Great piece.

    "I don't roll like that."
    bgross
  • Flat out, from start to finish this was an EXCELLENT piece.

    Very very well produced -- you managed a serious access coup to take us very deep inside a recruiting center.

    I felt very connected to the main subject -- the recruiter from the beginning -- he seemed like a nice guy with good intentions. I would have liked a bit more information about him: why he joined up, if he had any reservations about trying to enlist soldiers during wartime, if he felt like it was a tough job, if it beat him up inside when people responded badly to his attempts to recruit etc.

    But nonetheless, I felt like you got us very deep inside in understanding that the military has recruiting goals (which make it seem like any other business) and you made me understand that a certain amount of their job is selling the Army as a good opportunity for young people.

    I also felt like you had really good access to the recruits and the camera was close enough to them that there was a connection to the recruits as regular people.

    The piece moved extremely well -- the recruiter in office, in his car driving around, speaking to people on the street etc. It truly felt like a day in the recruiters life.

    There was a really clear sense of several conflicts in the piece as well: the recruiter had goals he had to meet in order to bring his team success, the new recruits had to be good enough to pass the qualifying exams, and it was clear that it must be harder to recruit during wartime.

    Overall, this piece was EXCELLENT. Very well shot, composed and executed.
    masoncohn
  • Recruit else where not in my mall if i wanted a uniform to pick up chicks i'd be wearing it but no i am dressed in AE with a hat that says 420 do i look like i wanna join the army and this is wear they would say its sad u go to the mall to pick up chicks, Reply its sad your trying to pick up kids when they know what number to call, so now they come up to me and i just give it to them straight, im bi polar and i have a more likely chance of just shooting somebody out of anger then actually fighting an "Enemy", this is where a recruiting officer steps over the point of duty "DO you have a number i can reach u on so we can discuss helping?" in shock in disbelief this is where I ask "Would you put a gun in my hand right now in this mall knowing your making my day shitty with your constant persistence in something such as war which some people can't even deal with, let alone violence, and waking up every morning with out some kind of drug to sedate them from possibly hurting one self or others?" i barely sleep as is in my condition why would i wanna go to war, recruiting has gone to a new level such as offering cash for signing on friends, these antics sicken me post an ad in the newspaper a magazine hell we all know there is a million different tv commercials but as for me stay the hell outta my way when i am trying to get to pac sun in mall
    Runesof2012
  • Runesof2012: Just tell them you're gay. They'll leave you alone. Small ego price to pay for the peace of being left alone. You can't argue with them....they're like the Jehovah's Witness people that show up at your door Sunday after Sunday even when you've asked them nicely 1000 times to not come back.
    barkway
  • What a different way of looking at things: we see the conflict of the army recruiter from the inside looking out rather than the conflict of military recruitment from the outside looking in. A really engaging piece that offers a real look at the subject. At a time where recruitment for the military is understandably particularly difficult, we see this guy, his history in the military, the requirements of his job (going out on the street, even), and then, at the end, the superiors that are breathing down his neck to meet the goal. I also love the interaction with the recruits, the small talk, almost as if he's still recruiting the future soldier as she walks toward her military career. Only thing I'd say is that the black screen introducing Carolyn at the beginning after the intro is a little jarring and, for a second, made me wonder if we should be paying particular attention to her other than as a recruit. Overall, though, a really well done piece.
    cbritain
  • I wanted to answer the question about the military putting recruitment stations in poor areas. There are stations in lower income neighborhoods however the majority of stations are placed in middle class neighborhoods. Most of the stations that I know about are in the suburbs. The military does not care whether or not you have money. If you want to serve your country what difference does it make if you are poor or rich? Come on. I haved served for 6 years and have met a wide variety of people from all groups of people. Though I do agree that those with less income have I higher propensity to want to enlist, it doesnt mean that the military is focused on them. As long as you meet morale, educational, and medical requirements being poor or rich or middle class has nothing to do with it. By the way I came from from a middle class family and so did my brother and we both enlisted. Thanks
    larryh30
  • Great Pod! Very laughable that it's harder to recruit people for multiple unconstitutional wars.
    sc0ttb4rt0n
  • This pod doesnt show that its harder to recruit, it merely shows what a recruiter goes through on a daily effort. Your political views about the war have nothing to do with this. The military had a 180% re enlistment last year. Its not hard to find someone to join, its hard to find someone who is qualified to enlist. It is easier to get into college then the military. You can be a felon and go to school. You can be a drug addict or an alcoholic, received less then satisfactory grades, heck some colleges you dont have to even speak English. Even illegal aliens can go to school here on the taxpayers dime. Do you think thats constitutional? Show me in the constitution where it states that this war is unconstitutional. I dont agree with the war either but I would rather fight terrorism on their land then have them come here and kill my family or yours. By the way Ive done that already.
    larryh30
  • This was great. The ending was sort of abrupt, but nonetheless, it held my attention the whole time. What made it work even more was the fact that I've never seen how a military recruiter works, and it was very cool to see it.
    TomBaker
  • http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080306/ts_nm/explosion_new...
    Image...
    Military recruiting stations have long been the target of vandalism and protests. A small explosion damaged a U.S. military recruiting station but caused no injuries in New York's Times Square before dawn on Thursday.
    Fhay_A
  • I live right next to a recruitment office and have never seen inside the life of a soldier seeker before.
    cwood
  • I hate the way the army recruits kids now, but I thought this pod was great. It really shows how the army recruiter just does his job and it's not really his fault the government employs such terrible techniques to recruit. If anything, the soldier is just doing his job.
    jcmoisan
  • The fact that these guys are wearing military fatigues in an office in New York City goes a long way to telling how the recruitment process is all about image, not about facts. I'd love to walk in there and ask them, "What are you camoflaging? The truth?"
    Julie_Soller
  • Hey Julie, No offense but what you said was one of the stupidest things I have heard yet. Recruiters are required and bound by regulations that they wear uniforms. They are military members after all. Dont you think that wearing civilian clothing all the time would be a little worse considering that you wouldnt know they were recruiters untill they told you? I bet your are one of those people that clapped their hands in rejoice when their station was bombed. They have a job to do. Do they want you if your not interested? Hell no. They want to spend their time on people who want to enlist. Go in and talk to them. You will find out that they are more honest then you think. They are wives, husbands, fathers mothers and so on. They work twice as long as you do but still manage to do their job. Quit being so judgemental. My recruiter was a great man. Not once did he ever lie to me. I am still in the Army and have served in Iraq in some of the worst fighting. If I hated it so much do you think I would have allowed my wife to enlist? We love what we do. I wouldnt give it up for anything. Get off your high horse and go talk to them. You might have a different opinion.
    larryh30
  • You're awesome Larry! I wish there were more people like you. Less Julies.
    TomBaker
  • for a moment when my brother was recruited i absolutely hated the recruiter. then a few days before my brother finished basic training, i realised thats its not the recruiters fault that he enlisted. hes just a regular person trying to earn a living. he didnt purposely set out to "get" my brother (as i thought lol). he was simply doing his job. so honestly, whoever wants to enlist wil go to them. the recruiters dont make the people sign up. the people go to them when they are ready. and theres no point being mad at them because its their job. like larry said there regular people. DOING THEIR JOB....
    cerci_girl
  • Blacks ESPECIALLY have NO business fighting these racist, imperialist wars!
    Cynic2

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