military girls rushing?

There's a military brat in the 2014 AXO pledge class

It will definitely be impressive and memorable that you're so well travelled! But that will not cover up for the fact that you don't have recs. I know that comes off as super harsh, but recs are basically just a preliminary thing and if you don't have them, you will more than likely be cut because when there are 2500 girls going through recruitment, the easiest ways to sort through them is by eliminating those that don't have recs or meet the grade requirements. Not trying to be rude, but there are also lots of other girls who don't have a lot of ways to get recs either and there's no way we can make excuses for all of you so you either have to suck it up and try to find them or don't and just don't have recs. I'm not saying you will get cut by every single house, but you will not have a good chance of receiving a bid. Have you asked your family friend if she will ask her other friends at Vanderbilt to help you find recs? I'm sure she has friends that were in other houses. Just start asking around--ask your friends' moms or your parents coworkers.

So one of my best friends was panhel at Vanderbilt and their rush process is so much less intense. Like, I'm glad your friend sold you on the southern sorority woman thing, but there if you maximize your options every time you're garanteed to get into a house, and there are less than 600 girls rushing any given year. Also, most houses dont really care about recs. Just be prepared for a very intense process here where you really need recs tbh.

You need to put on your Facebook that you are going to be rushing at Alabama and that you are trying to secure recs. Cast a very wide net. You will be surprised how many military women and military spouses are sorority women. Also your current and former teachers, if American school, may also be able to help.

Have your mom and/or dad put the same post on their Facebook. They will have more adults in their friend list, and likely some from when they were in college or living in the US.

The above poster is correct that without recs you face stiff cuts. However, do not let that scare you into not rushing. Just start working any and all connections that you have. Once you find a few women who will write for you let them know that you are still working to find others sororities. They may be able to help you too. I have seen Facebook posts work really well, and really fast.

This is possible, you are just going to have to work harder than girls from Mountain Brook. The hard work will pay off, though.

it may be easier for you to rush as a sophomore, that way you can secure recs over the summer and will already know girls in the houses. this is the best way to maximize your options

Does your Vandy friend have friends in other sororities. She may be able to advocate for you and ask her friends to help you out. Have you asked her to write a rec for you? Some sororities allow their collegiate members to write recs, some allow the collegians with an alum signature, and in others only alums. can write them. No matter how you get them, you need recs. Have you gone to the Greekchat website? Those ladies might know alums in Europe (if that's where you are living).

Thanks for the advice y'all! Sorry if I wasn't clear - I by no means had any notion of just walzing in to recruitment with no recs, hoping that sororities would love me enough to bid me. My family friend was kind enough to write a rec for me and put me in touch with strong alumnae at her sorority and a couple of others. I've been able to secure recs from some expat families who know me and my family, but by no means will that cover all the sororities. My family back home in the states has asked on my behalf, but the alums who agreed to write are friends of my grandma/aunts/cousins, not me. I'm at the point where I am asking strangers if they could write recs for me, and I guess I'm worried because these rec writers don't know me personally and somehow they'll be worthless.

You could skype with the ladies so they can get a feel for you? No matter what, a rec, even if not personal is better than none.

Military brat from overseas, and did not have recs for every house. What I did do for houses I did not have recs for, I sent a copy of my resume, head shots and a letter explaining why I was unable to secure a rec for their chapter. I had a full schedule the whole week, and got my number one choice.
I know Alpha Chi has an alum chapter that is for military spouses you could get in contact with, I'm not sure about other sororities though, but if that was one you don't have, I'd check that out. Best of luck to you!