Events-Based Recruiting
From the Recruiting and Retention Command
On Oct. 1, Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth announced the State's initiative to increase the strength of all units in the New Jersey Army National Guard. The Adjutant General’s Events-Based Recruiting Program establishes an unprecedented partnership between unit and recruiting personnel.
Unit personnel from across the state are attending
community based events such as parades, fairs, car
shows, airshows, high school football games, college
football games, concerts, and numerous other venues to
find citizens who want to be part of their unit. Unit members
explain what they do in the National Guard and where they
drill in the community, in an effort to generate leads for
the
recruiters. Sgt. Maj. Albert Zarro, of the Recruiting Command,
stated that the best leads we get are from Soldiers
who are happy with their unit and are able to speak first hand
with potential members. Recruiters strive to put new members
in units close to their home. The best spokesperson
for the Guard is a unit member.
The Recruiting Command Operations Section, under the leadership of Maj. William Heineman, gathers information from unit personnel, Recruiting personnel, newspapers, websites and the New Jersey Department of Tourism. Maj. Heineman stated, “I look for events with the most bang for the buck. Having unit personnel attend events allows us to expand our coverage across the state. The more people we talk to about the Guard the more recruits we get. It's that simple. "
Lt. Col. Dennis Devery, the Commander of the Recruiting and Retention force stated,” The Adjutant General’s Events based Recruiting program is increasing leads across the state and has directly contributed to the success we have seen in Recruiting in the past few months.”
"Unit members can sell the Guard better than my
Recruiters because they live and operate in that unit on a
day-to-day basis. I am confident that this partnership
between the great units and my great Recruiters is going to
allow us to increase strength in every unit of the New Jersey
Army National Guard this year!"
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Valenzuela-Bradley Wins Recruiting’s Top Awards
By Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA; Photo by Maj. Jerry Minchin,
RRC
Sgt. 1st Class Arthur J. Valenzuela-Bradley III received both the Chief’s 54 and the Recruiting Rookie of the Year Awards, Recruiting and Retention Command’s (RRC) two top awards, during a ceremony at the Joint Training and Training Development Center at Fort Dix on Oct. 12.
The Chief’s 54 Award recognizes
the Recruiting and Retention
NCO (RRNCO) whose
strength maintenance skills,
knowledge, abilities and soldiering
have resulted in being selected
as the top RRNCO for her
or his State/Territory/District. The
award consists of a Chief’s 54 ring and a plaque or trophy
presented at the Chief’s Strength Maintenance Award
Ceremony, which will be held in Washington, D.C. this
month. Valenzuela recruits in South Jersey on the Rowan
University Campus, and led the New Jersey Army National
Guard recruiting force in enlistments this year.