Recruiters have all sorts of tactics they might use in securing the services of an employee. But when it comes to military service — a contract that’s difficult to break without punishment — one would expect recruiters to act especially ethically.
In at least one case, that hasn’t happened — at least if you ask TikToker Itzel Hernandez. She says she was tricked by a recruiter into signing up for military service.
Signing up for the military isn’t something to be taken lightly.
Most jobs are simple enough to quit if you don’t like them. But military service typically entails a commitment of four years , and there can be punishments for those who break the contract — including a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of pay, and even a five-year prison sentence.
This TikToker realizes that she made a huge mistake.
Itzel Hernandez, who you can find under her TikTok username @itzelhernandez___ , recently signed up for military service. She explains in the comments section of one video that the recruiter told her some things that simply weren’t true.
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Itzel alleges the recruiter downplayed the commitment.
According to Itzel, the recruiter told her she’d “never deploy and only do field exercises once or twice a year.”
The reality of the situation? Itzel’s doing field exercises every month and is scheduled to deploy to Iraq next year.
She calls it the “worst decision of [her] life.”
While Itzel’s description of being hoodwinked into joining the military is unfortunate, there’s still the fact that she, y’know, joined the military. Those who want occasional training with little chance of actually deploying are better advised to join the Army Reserve.
Attrition rate in the military is high.
The rate of attrition — essentially the percentage of Army recruits who are not able to complete their first contract — hovers around 30 percent for the U.S. Army. This shows us that it’s a difficult job, and there are many others like Itzel who feel like they’ve made a mistake.
Commenters were split.
While some commenters pointed out that Itzel signed up for army service and is now upset that she’s involved in army service, others expressed sympathy for a person who’s found themselves in a bad situation. It’s certainly possible to see both sides of this one.
Recruiters can be particularly aggressive.
Itzel hasn’t offered many specifics on how she was tricked, but this old video from a Michael Moore doc shows us just how ruthless military recruiters can be. They have a quota to fill, and won’t easily take no for an answer.
For now, Itzel’s stuck.
Itzel’s military service is providing some great content for her TikTok account, but it’s also her life now. Based on her numerous videos about life as a recruit, she still isn’t warming up to the idea of deploying to Iraq.
What do you think?
It’s easy to feel sympathy for Itzel. It’s also easy to feel like she should have known what she was getting herself into. Let us know what you think of Itzel’s story in the comments — and if you’re current or ex-military, tell us about your experiences!
