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Don't waste your time trying to find the recruiter near you. Let us do the work.
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One Marine Does It All
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Story by Sgt. Maj. of the Army
Kenneth Preston y
Army News Service
August 4, 2004
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WASHINGTON -- On a recent visit to the
U.S. Army Accessions Command, I learned about the great strides being
undertaken by young corporals in the Corporal Recruiter Program. During
the trip, I had the opportunity to meet several of these outstanding young
Soldiers who have answered the challenge and have helped make our Army
better.
The Corporal Recruiter Program began in 1999 on a trial basis, and has
since allowed more than 300 privates first class and specialists to serve
one-year recruiting tours.
The program goal is to bring young, spirited Soldiers into recruiting
to tell the Army story to their civilian peers. The professional corporal
recruiter has become an important combat multiplier to the recruiting
force. Corporal recruiters stand toe to toe with other detailed recruiters
in exceeding standards of excellence.
Serving as a recruiter is a real-world mission that gives the recruiters
a sense of self satisfaction and achievement knowing they are part of
the Army's success.
Many of the corporal recruiters have only recently left their hometowns
and going back has provided many Soldiers opportunities they never imagined.
One of these Soldiers is 23-year-old Scott Thomas Davis from Houston,
Texas. Cpl. Davis is a UH-60 mechanic and is taking this experience as
a chance to give something back to his hometown. He is assigned to the
Houston Gulfgate Station.
He said that he wanted the chance to come back to his hometown and make
a difference in his community. He thought the Army had given him a chance
to succeed and wanted to share that possibility with his friends.
He stated the most rewarding part of being a corporal recruiter are the
expressions he gets from peers and parents. He is nearly the same age
as a lot of the people joining today.
"The parents see how mature and successful I am, and would like to see
their son or daughter be the same," Davis said.
Davis also appreciated being surrounded by professional noncommissioned
officers and leaders from many different career fields.
"I had no idea how or what to expect [from recruiting]. But I didn't think
it would set me up as well as it has for being successful in my military
future. Even though I won't spend the rest of my military career recruiting,
what I have learned here will carry me through the rest of my life," Davis
added.
Another great example is Cpl. Joelle Alvarado, 21, currently assigned
to Elizabeth, N.J., Recruiting Station is normally working in her primary
military occupational specialty of 31U as a Signal Support Systems Specialist.
Alvarado said she wanted to be a recruiter because it has an instant impact
in today's Army and in the defense of this Nation.
"One of the most rewarding things about recruiting is that you get to
meet all kinds of people and share the Army story with them; the pay is
not bad either. I've gained a lot from this experience, but the one that
sticks out the most is the ability to represent the Army in my community,"
she said.
These sentiments and more were echoed by Cpl. Michael Smith, of the Baltimore
Recruiting Battalion, Alexandria office.
"The recruiting course and my NCO's taught me everything I needed to be
successful in helping the Army recruit Americans who want to serve their
country and make themselves a career. Many people do not know how much
the Army has to offer or the type of individual you have to be to serve
as a Soldier. Just by telling the people in my home town about Army life
lets them know what to expect and how life really is as a Soldier," he
said.
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The experiences these young NCOs are gaining
go hand-in-hand with the impact they're making to fill the ranks of our
great Army. They'll not only return to the inventory better and more experienced
leaders, they'll have replenished the ranks with qualified, eager future
warriors.
To participate or volunteer for the Corporal Recruiter Program, Soldiers
must be in their first term of enlistment, meet the basic recruiter qualifications
and be single with no dependents.
There is a second program though for married specialists and corporals,
which gives them the opportunity to join the recruiting force. The Corporal
Detailed Recruiter Program is designed to allow specialists and corporals
who are married with no more than two dependents to serve a two-year tour
in recruiting. As with the Corporal Recruiter Program, Soldiers interested
in the Corporal Detailed Recruiter Program must also meet the basic recruiter
qualifications.
I urge leaders at every level to identify exceptional privates first class
and specialists and counsel them on the great aspects of the Corporal
Recruiter Program and the Corporal Detailed Recruiter Program. We do ourselves,
and our Army, a tremendous service when we send these young Soldiers out
to the civilian population to represent us and identify those who would
wear the uniform of an American Soldier. Especially identifiable would
be Soldiers returning from Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom rotations
who can help tell the Army story. We need these young warriors to tell
of their experiences in combat and specifically, talk about the good things
Soldiers are accomplishing in the Global War on Terrorism.
The volunteer Corporal Recruiting Program and Corporal Detailed Recruiter
Program are open to interested privates first class and specialists who
meet recruiter qualifications as outlined in Army Regulation 601-1. The
qualification criteria can be accessed via the Internet at the USAPA Web
page.
The U.S. Army Human Resources Command will make the final selections.
Once selected, applicants will be scheduled for a six-week recruiting
course at Fort Jackson, S.C.
Corporal recruiters are assigned to recruiting areas near their hometowns.
Other incentives include 38 promotion points for completing the recruiting
course, $450 a month in special-duty pay and the opportunity to select
their next overseas assignment or assignment to any U.S.-based installation
with a corps or division.
Those interested in applying for either the Corporal Recruiter or Corporal
Detailed Recruiter Program should contact their Retention NCO or call
Sgt. 1st Class Sammy Payne at DSN 221-5818 or commercial (703) 325-5818
at Human Resources Command, Alexandria, Va.
Let's really emphasize this program. I'm counting on NCOs at every level
to support and grow the Corporal Recruiter Program to new levels of success.
Our initial success is a direct result of your involvement in picking
the best young Soldiers we have to represent our Army.
© 2004 Army News Service. All opinions
expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily reflect
those of Military.com.
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