(Replacement thread for the other one which went AWOL, and updatable)

So, you want to consider the Army/Guard or Reserve, do you? Good choice!

Here's what this is about. The Army has a referral/mentoring program in place, whereby someone who refers a potential soldier to a recruiter, and then mentors that soldier through the recruiting and training process, gets a nice cash bonus. Very handy, both for the referrer and also for the recruit. It's called "G-RAP" or "ESAR" in its various forms. The purpose of this thread is to link up potential recruits with an applicable ArfCom mentor. If the potential recruit goes straight to the recruiter himself, this opportunity is lost.

So, couple of questions up front:
1) "Do I get a taste of the cash?": No. That's why you get a nice enlistment bonus. This is for the mentor.
2) "Then what's in it for me?": A mentor to help you through the recruiting/soldierising process, the satisfaction of helping out a fellow ArfCommer, and if this ArfCom 'program' works out, once in you can sign on as a mentor yourself and gain the fiscal benefits that way in the future.
3) "Does it cost me anything?" No. These are funds set aside for G-RAP. If you don't have anyone refer you, the money stays in the Federal bank account in DC. There is no benefit to you for not being G-RAPed/ESARed
4) "Do I have to pick an ArfCommer?": No. Chances are the first person you want to consider is a soldier or retiree whom you personally know and like in "real life." However, if you've got nobody better in mind, why not pick one of us?

So, with those questions out of the way, here's how this works.

Feel free to start a thread asking for opinions/advice, much as everyone has been doing up until now. Make up your mind if you wish to talk to a recruiter. If you do decide that you wish to talk to a recruiter (no commitment, just talk for information gathering), stop. If you wish to have someone in the real world GRAP/ESAR you, go find them and talk to them.

If you are satisfied with the concept of having an ArfCommer as your mentor, look at the list below for the most suitable person. I would personally suggest by geographic region, but that's not mandatory. Guardsmen can refer Active Army recruits and vice versa. PM that individual and let them know you're interested in talking to a recruiter. That person will then PM or email you back requesting some basic information about you, which he will then forward in through the system and the recruiter will contact you soon enough.

Again, there is no commitment required at this point. The recruiter will pitch his sale. If you decide to walk away at this point, no harm done. You'd be wrong to join the Navy, but we won't stop you. If you do decide to join up, then congratulations. Don't forget to tell your mentor!

At this point, your mentor should be a point of contact for advice, help, and general moral support over the forthcoming months of misery which await you. If you think you're out of shape, and you're geographically close enough, your mentor should do PT with you! He'll probably write you letters during Basic to keep your spirits up. Before going to Basic, give you training on stripping/assembly of the M-16...no, wait.. This is ArfCom. You know how to do that already. Basically his job is to get you through the system to come out the other end as a qualified soldier.

Once you're done, feel free to give feedback on your mentor. I will have no compunctions against removing persons from this list if they fail their obligations. Don't forget to have yourself added to the list as well!

So, here's the list, in no particular order except as posted in the 'mentor recruiting' thread.

If you wish to be added to this list, reply to this thread.. Please, don't fill up this one. I do promise to check regularly.

List of Mentors

Manic_Moran
Northern California, Northern Nevada. National Guard, Armor/Cavalry.

LPDtactical
West Central Ohio. National Guard, Air Defense Artillery

BadDog38
Ft Worth Area, Texas. Army Reserve, Civil Affairs.

Fnkystuf
Mansfield, North-East Ohio. Air National Guard. Airlift.

_RAGNAR_
Washington State/Pacific NW. National Guard, Infantry/Special Forces/Airborne.

Stryker_11A
Eastern Pennsylvania. National Guard, Infantry. (Strykers)

FightingHellfish
Central Arizona, Phoenix. National Guard, Infantry.

VTInfantrySgt
Southern Vermont, New Hampshire. National Guard, Infantry.

steveamy
Iowa, National Guard. Infantry/Cavalry

foogoo
Southern California, National Guard.

madmathew
Connecticut & Michigan. National Guard, Aviation.

Garand_Shooter
Carolinas, Eastern Tennessee, SouthWestern Virginia. Army Reserve.

zdorf23
Wisconsin, National Guard. Infantry/Cavalry

cookhj
San Antonio Area, Texas. Aviation Mechanic

TrOoPeRcHiN_
Vermont. Guard/ROTC SMP, Military Police.

JackBurton
Michigan. Guard. Field Artillery, Military Police. Also works for recruiters. (eek!)

shootsenmeister
Currently in Iraq. Active Duty. Ordnance. Former drill sergeant. (eek!)

sms5183
Missouri/Illinois/Idaho. Army Reserve. Combat Engineer.

Depidy_Dawg
Wyoming. Air Guard/Army Guard. AF Security Forces/Army Engineer.

testedone
Illinois. Guard. Old Geezer.

Sylvan
Alaska, also Oregon and Texas (!). Guard.

Castillo
New York State. Guard. Combat Engineer, Airborne.

FREEFALLE7
Georgia (I think) Active Army, Infantry, Airborne, Master Parachutist. Drill Sergeant.

WWCND
Nebraska, National Guard. Infantry, Transportation.

Sixgun_Symphony
Seattle area, National Guard. Construction Engineer. (Plumbing, carpentry, electrician, that sort of thing)

Tested
New Mexico. National Guard Infantry, formerly Army Reserve Medic, Engineer.

Sgt_Gold
New York. National Guard. Signals, Infantry, MP.

Lokt
Michigan, National Guard. Engineer, Officer/Warrant Officer Accessions.

jchewie
Michigan National Guard. Heavy Equipment Operator, Engineer.

21BoomCBTENGR
Virginia, Richmond/Hampton Roads area. Construction/Combat engineer.

(Continues)

Anyone in IL near chicago?

you can add me to the list of Mentors, the link you posted didnt bring me anywhere
Iowa Army National Guard

thought about going back into the Army after being out for 5 years. I got out with 10% disability so I got a separation code of JFS and a re code of 3. I talked to a recruiter who said I would need to go reserve for 6-8 months and then request to go active. He also suggested I think about going commissioned in the reserve since I now have a college degree. My major question is do they run a credit check for the application process for commission? and how clean does my credit need to be? and any other advice would be helpful. Thanks.

Hi, I just joined the site. I saw the other thread is archived.

You can add me to the list. USNR, Electronics Technician