Expert: Matt - 10/14/2009

Question
Hello, my son cannot seem to get a straight answer from his marine recruiter and neither can I.  It has been over 3 months since my son went in to enlist.  During a 3 month period in the early part of 2009, when he was 18, he managed to get 2 reckless driving charges and a possession of marijuana.  The recruiter told him that he was submitting a waiver request and it would only take 3 days.  That was 3 months ago.  Now, every time he calls, he is told that the recruiter hasn't heard anything.  My son's life is being kept on hold, he won't enroll in school and he can't seem to move forward pending an answer.  This recruiter still has his Social Security card, birth certificate and high school diploma.  After speaking with this recruiter, I feel that he only says what he thinks I want to hear and isn't telling me the truth.  I don't feel like I can trust anything he says anymore because nothing he has said has turned out to be true.  Is there someone else we can talk to about my son?  Can we contact the CO?  There are only two recruiters in that office and half the time they aren't there.  We just would like a definitive answer, good or bad so my son can move on with his life.  Thanks for any advice you can give.

Answer
Honestly, it sounds to me like since your son got those reckless driving charges and possession charge the recruiters arent interested any longer. and in my opinion, rightfully so. However, that doesnt excuse their ambiguous behavior. First of all, go in there in person and demand the birth cert, social card and diploma, there is no reason for them to have those any longer. Those are important documents and they belong to you and your son so dont leave there until you get them; also in the future Id reccommend making copies and only  handing over copies, not the originals...recruiters can misplace things just like the rest of us. Second of all, ask them for their regional CO's phone number to get a straight answer. If they still dont give you a straight answer or dont want to give their CO's number demand it, politely inform them that you  have the right to his number. If they still wont budge then google search it...Im sure it will be on the internet. Just get his name. Hope this helps. I would recommend that you advise your son to enroll in school and move on.