It was intended. The "recruited general" trait only appears for the initial turn after recruiting the general. Within this turn, you must decide whether the general will be either an allied governor ("client ruler") or a combat general ("Allied General"). You make the choice by moving the character out of the settlement during his "recruited general" turn.

Depending on your choice, he will develop significantly differently as the game goes on. For example, my allied general easily achieved 10 stars and has an all star ancillary cast exclusively composed of combat-related aides (veteran officers, centurions, runners, etc.). Moreover, he has developed combat-related traits very easily as well (he is already an infantry command genius and he is 39).