Building the Air Force: Recruiters show the way

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Phelps
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  What was the selling point that caused you to join the Air Force?

There are almost as many reasons for joining as there are people in the Air Force.

For some, it's a family tradition; for others, the benefits. Still others join for patriotic reasons, to serve their country.

Many times the one who put that final nail into place for people's decision was their recruiter.

Master Sgt. Lee Thomas, 337th Recruiting Squadron flight chief, was inspired to become a recruiter by his recruiter when he was enlisting.

"When I was there, I told him, 'One day I'm going to do your job,'" he recalled.

Sergeant Thomas has been recruiting since 1999 and described it as, "One of the best, most unique jobs you can get."

However, not just anyone can become a recruiter, said Maj. Anthony Williams, 337th Recruiting Squadron commander. It is a special duty assignment. They are required to exceed Air Force standards, go through a personality assessment, have a good record and be model Airmen.

"You've got to be sharp, because you are in the public eye," Sergeant Thomas added. "People join because they believe in the recruiter."

Major Williams said that the number one job of Air Force recruiters is to raise awareness of the Air Force. They will do this by holding different kinds of awareness events such as booths at NASCAR races, school career fairs and meeting with those who can influence young people, such as coaches and teachers.

Occasionally the 337th RS has held swear-ins at Carolina Panther games during halftime so people can see the oath of commitment and what it stands for, Sergeant Thomas said.

The recruiter reiterated that his job is to raise awareness, not try to recruit people at these events. They are not trained to be aggressive recruiters because that can be a deterrent to potential recruits. They are there to answer questions and can set up appointments.

"Air Force recruiting is very hands-off," Sergeant Thomas said. "We know we have a good thing."

Today more people are trying to join the Air Force then there are slots available, Sergeant Thomas said. Because of that, joining the Air Force has become very selective and extremely competitive.

"We've evolved," added Sergeant Thomas. "The recruits coming in are some of the brightest and sharpest we've seen. The way we accept them is almost based upon a resume style. Those with the better scores get in faster and get better jobs."

The recruiter also pointed out that with the decline in the economy, not as many Airmen are getting out, thus making fewer slots available for new Airmen. However, it does help to make for a better and brighter Air Force.

One of the challenges recruiters face is being stationed away from military installations, Major Williams said. They have to be self-supporting during their tour and are considered "deployed in place" and not eligible for regular deployments.

"As the commander, I do a lot of traveling to ensure the quality of life of the recruiters," he said.

The recruiting area of the 337th RS covers around 57,000 square miles through North and South Carolina and parts of Georgia.

"You would not be believe my travel schedule," he remarked. "In one week, I traveled between Charlotte, Raleigh and here (Shaw AFB). I was out of the office four days of the week."

While he is traveling, he takes care of the personal and the family needs of the recruiters. He also does physical fitness training with them to ensure they are up to Air Force standards.

Because of the deployment-in-place concept that recruiters fall under, about half of those who go into recruiting don't stay with it, said Sergeant Thomas.

There are several different reasons they don't stay, the sergeant added. Sometimes they just miss the mainstream Air Force, the camaraderie and the base infrastructure. Other times, their career fields need them more than they are needed in recruiting.

"We are geographically separated from the rest of the Air Force," stated the recruiter. "It takes a unique Airman to bleed blue and be separated."

For those that stick with recruiting, there is a career progression, said Sergeant Thomas. They don't have to put in their time and then go back to their regular jobs.

He said he began recruiting in Georgia, which was close to where he was originally from. They often try to stick the new recruiters close to their home because they can more easily relate to those people.

After being a direct recruiter, Sergeant Thomas was promoted to be an operations NCO in the same area, staying in Georgia for a total of six years. As the operations NCO, he was in charge of crunching numbers and taking care of squadron needs.

After being an operations NCO, Sergeant Thomas took a position in Hawaii as a military liaison supervisor for the military entrance processing station, he said. This was a unique opportunity for him since there are only a handful of overseas recruiting jobs.

He was essentially a gatekeeper for the Air Force as an MLS, Sergeant Thomas explained. An MLS is in charge of ensuring the quality of the recruits that come in and that everything is in order for them to ship off to basic training.

After being stationed in Hawaii, he came to South Carolina to be a flight chief in Columbia, said Sergeant Thomas. As a flight chief, he oversees between five to seven recruiters. His responsibility is to monitor their activities, ensure they comply with military standards, the mission and quality of life standards.

All of the different roles in the recruiting squadron work toward the primary focus of enlisted accessions, said Major Williams. They provide the opportunity for people to do great things.

Today the Air Force has become a first resort for people, rather than a last resort, said Sergeant Thomas. It's a privilege to serve in the Air Force.

"I would rather be an enlisted Airman in the Air Force than an officer in any other branch of the military," said Major Williams. "I consider myself a lucky guy to be able to wear the Air Force Blue, and luck is when preparation meets opportunity. The Air Force is all about opportunity. If I did not believe that, then I would not be doing this job."

For information about enlisted, officer and healthcare professional job opportunities, contact a local Air Force recruiter. Recruiter contact information is available by calling 800-423-USAF (8723) or by visiting the Recruiter Locator link on the official Air Force recruiting website at www.airforce.com.