Author Description

This study was conducted through a structured mail survey to 1000 recruiters in the US Army in order to obtain information on how they were selected for recruiting and how this selection process affects their job motivation and well - being. The study presents the current recruitment situation and describes considerations as to the size of the youth population, educational implications, the level of unemployment, and future military requirements. These factors will affect military recruitment to a large degree and point toward an increased future competition in the recruitment arena. The study demonstrates the importance of personal communication as far exceeding any other medium of communication and emphasizes that the recruiters own attitudes and emotional well-being are essential to his effectiveness as a communicator and a recruiter. Among the conclusions which are drawn from this study there is one that the present selection process of screening and selecting recruiters based on their performance is a valid approach. However, a significant improvement could be made if this impersonal selection process was complemented by personal information through the chain of command. The study also shows declining level of qualitative information of recruiting duties among Army units and the necessity to create a more positive attitude for this kind of assignment. How recruiters feel about their participation in the selection process and how they receive the local information about their recruiting assignment have significant Impact on how they will later feel about being recruiters and, in turn, what information they will provide to potential recruiters.