The start date perhaps was being pushed back by the recruiter because he may have been testing positive for drugs. He may have been trying to help him to await a clean test to start him, after that he would have no choice but to stay clean in the service and start living a healthier life style.
My nephew is a young Major in the Marines, he wanted his nephew (my great nephew) to get into the Marines. However he wouldn't stop smoking pot long enough to get a clean drug test. The recruiter was nice enough to give him a few chances, because he knew his Uncle (Semper Fi). His Major Uncle finally said I give up if you really wanted this you would stop smoking pot for 5 minutes and you won't. You had a lot of chances and now I am finished with you.
Recruiters try to help and save these kids and get them on the right track. My nephew that is a career man and a Major now, had spoken to a recruiter a couple times when he was in college. One weekend he got in a bar fight had a front tooth broke was jailed on a Friday and wouldn't go in front of the judge until Monday. He had a lot of time to think in that jail cell. He called his recruiter and said I am ready to go in the Marines. The recruiter came and met him and went in front of the Judge on Monday morning, and said he is joining the Marines and coming with me. My nephew is now a decorated Major. He has been on the cover of Time magazine, interviewed by Oliver North, he was in National Geographic's Leathernecks, has been written up in the New York Times, the list is endless.
My point being that Recruiter turned my nephews life around and my nephew was smart enough to know he was not going in a good direction. Because of that recruiter the Marines made a real man out of him. He has his Master's and he is a Major at 42 years old.