While learning his new recruiting trade at Fort Jackson, S.C., Staff Sgt. Dennis Moore wondered how long it would take him to write that important first contract. He admits to being confident, especially since he was returning to his hometown of Westminster, Mass., and covering the same high school he graduated from in 2003.
"I'm pretty motivated, so I knew it wouldn't take long," said Moore, "but even I didn't think it would be this quick."
Moore wrote his first contract Oct. 6, barely a week after reporting for duty, a worthy achievement, although Moore admits it helped that the applicant was his sister, Doreen. She was excited to enlist.
"Just about everyone in my family has served in the Army," said the 17-year-old high school senior. "My dad is a retired master sergeant, and I always knew I would join. But I'm really excited that my brother got to be my recruiter."
After graduating high school next year Moore will train as a 44C, financial management specialist, which she chose because she likes accounting. She also enlisted for the Partnership for Youth Success option, so following her service she will interview with Norwegian Cruise Lines and hopes to work in Hawaii.
Her older brother, a veteran of two tours in Iraq as an infantryman, admitted to some mixed emotions.
"I wouldn't really want her to see some of the things I've had to see," he said. "But the bottom line is that I've never been so proud of her in my life."
Although Staff Sgt. Moore has cleared one big psychological hurdle - getting that first contract - he knows he is not out of the woods yet. He said, "I won't really feel like a recruiter until I enlist someone I don't know. But I know I can do it, and I think that being a local guy helps me to relate." And if that fails he says he has a handful of nieces and nephews in the area. "The only problem is none of them are close to being 18."
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