I recently inquired about joining the Coast Guard (Reserves). I like their mission, I like that they help domestically especially with things like disaster relief and environmental issues, and sea-worthy things are in my wheelhouse. I reached out in THREE ways online and never got a callback.

I called my local office. The recruiter I talked to seemed to generally not care at all, I drove 90% of the conversation. Couldn't tell me what "rates" (jobs) the CG has and what would be applicable to my background. I'm stunned, I'm thinking this is literally your job to know this kind of a thing. The recruiter told me that I should go look at the jobs/rates on their website. Yep - go look at their website - which was offline for about at least week (or maybe still offline - I stopped checking).

This recruiter didn't offer to follow up, which would have been difficult because they also didn't bother to get any of my contact information, or even ask my name. My military friends absolutely could not believe this.

Of course, it could have been this particular military recruiter. Although I was also ignored in other channels, too. I'm thinking -

1 - Your branch is in DIRE need of people, both active and reserve. TEN cutters are being pulled from service, and nearly 30 boat stations are being closed. 2 - If you're this incompetent during the recruiting processes, what would service in your branch actually look like?

Not a great experience/impression. I may try again later (find a different recruiting office), but if this is how recruiting is being done, it's no wonder why they can't find warm bodies.