Be all you want to be new US Army recruiting advertisement
by Stuart Stuebing, reporter

    Training and personal development are the main reasons to join the Army, a local recruiter said recently.

   Staff Sgt. Stephen A. McCourt Jr., a recruiter for the US Army, said in an interview that men and women who join the Army travel the world, earn a free education and learn many skills that involve high tech training.

   “If you join, you will get training in a field that matches your interest, and the Army will pay for that valuable training,” he said.

   McCourt joined the Army in September 1991 and is proud to serve his country. His primary job in the Army is a tank mechanic, but currently he is detailed as a recruiter and works to enlist men and women in the Dallas Fort Worth area.

   McCourt has attended formal leadership training schools and at one time served as a nuclear biological chemical warfare specialist.

   “The Army has more than 200 ways you can be a soldier,” he said.

   McCourt stressed training and education and their importance to Army life.

   “Education is taken seriously in our Army, whether you are qualifying on a new million dollar piece of equipment or continuing education in your spare time, you can qualify to earn up to $50,000 for your future education,” he said.

   One option available to potential soldiers is College First, a program designed so students can go to school for two years before joining the Army. When finished, participants can enlist as specialists.

   In the College First program, recruits can also qualify for their pick of jobs, bonuses and a loan repayment program.

   McCourt believes the Army has advantages over the Air Force and Marine Corps.

   “The Army is the only branch of the Armed Services that will guarantee you a specific job before you join, and we will put it in writing before you join,” he said.

   Partnership for Youth Success Program is another option that enables one to enlist in the Army for a specific skill and select a post where an Army civilian employer who needs an employee with that skill.

   “When you get out of the Army, you’ll have priority job placement with that employer,” he said.

   Some of the companies that participate include Boeing, Pepsi, Coca Cola and IBM.

   Employers often prefer employees with military experiences, McCourt said.

   “Military people have discipline. They do not need a supervisor standing over their backs. In today’s society, major corporations are hiring ex-military personnel because they know that ex-military are responsible individuals.”

   McCourt pointed out that the Army no longer follows the general selection of “Uncle Sam Wants You.”

   “The Army is no longer looking for just anybody to serve. Join the Army or go to jail no longer applies. Today’s Army is comprised of professional men and women who want to serve their country and get an edge on life,” he said.

   McCourt said that he often asks people why they do not want to join, and they often respond that they do not know.

   “The Army is basically like civilian life because when you are off duty, you can travel, go to school or just hang out with your friends,” he said.

   Not everybody in the military goes to war, and there are several jobs in the Army that are not combat type jobs, McCourt said.

   McCourt is proud when he meets with recruits after they come back from basic training because they have changed and are ready for anything they may face in life.

   “Since 9-11, a lot more people want to join, but people think if they join, they will go right to war. This is simply not the case,” he said.

   McCourt said anyone serious about joining the Army must take the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Test and complete a medical screening.

   Both tests are designed to determine the recruits’ physical and mental capabilities. The Army pays for both of these tests.

   To score well on the ASVAB, one needs to be proficient in college algebra. A recruit must also have a clean background although some offenses can be waived by the Army. All cases are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

   McCourt said the Army offers many opportunities; he has been stationed in Germany and Korea. He has traveled the world, and at age 26, he was personally responsible for equipment worth millions of dollars and was directly responsible for 60 men.

   “No other job in the world would offer that level of responsibility to someone who is only 26 years old,” he said.

   For information, contact McCourt at 817-735-4493 or visit the Army web site at goarmy.com.