This was done in direct response to requests to allow users more time to set up their first actions before the recruiting effort began to process (In HD 2.0, users complained they only had a very short 2 hour window to set up from the time they could do something to the time it actually processed).
If you look at your world schedule, you have 9 hours from the time recruiting opens to the time it begins processing the first recruiting actions and then every 6 hours afterwards until RS1 ends (RS2 is similar). You can check the player's recruiting history tab to see if those recruiting actions have been processed (it typically occurs a few minutes after the scheduled time) and then you can shift around AP if you so desire all the way up to a few minutes prior to the next processing time.
1/5/2017 2:02 PM (edited)