Wolfpack NeWs Vol. 4, No. 1 U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion Milwaukee 1Q, 2012

Don’t Sweat the Budget Crunch

Photo By jorge gomezMaster Sgt. John Lowery, Reserve operations NCO; Master Sgt. Daniel Gore, operations noncommissioned officer-in-charge; and Master Sgt. Julio DeLeon, senior master trainer, discuss how the shortage of funds for advertising and exhibit space should have no affect on production.

by jorge gomezPublic Affairs Specialist

Funds for exhibit space and advertising have been shrinking the last few years. For recruiters who rely on the ready availability of money, this year’s reduced budget will present a challenge.

Three senior noncommissioned officers who have endured similar conditions in their recruiting careers explain how the situation could actually improve the quality of recruiting.

They contend some recruiters have been over relying on funds and neglecting networking responsibilities.

“One of the most important things that they (recruiters) don’t do is develop COIs,” said Master Sgt. Daniel Gore, battalion operations NCOIC. “The COI development has been missing because of the amount of money that we used to have.”

Winning over key people at job fairs or public events could help recruiters participate without cost to the government. A COI will want to help a recruiter not just because he supports Army recruiting but because he likes the recruiter.

“Developing trust and rapport with COIs needs to be re-emphasized,” Gore said.

In fiscal year 2011, the battalion monetarily supported 48 job fairs and exhibit space events altogether, costing an average of $309. That kind of support will not be duplicated this year.

“Recruiters now have to be a little smarter. Just because there’s little or no money doesn’t mean they can’t do these things on their own,” said Master Sgt. Julio DeLeon, battalion senior master trainer.

Recruiters should get to know their local Partnership for Youth Success firms, ROTC leaders, and Army Medical Department partners who actively recruit at job fairs or exhibit space events.

“Our recruiters can pair up and attend their (PaYS, ROTC, AMEDD) recruiting events if they have a good relationship with these partners,” said DeLeon.

Gore said he often teamed up with his AMEDD partners when he was recruiting.

“AMEDD goes to public events looking for physicians, but if interested people who are not physicians approach the table then a recruiter can talk with that prospect,” Gore said.

Master Sgt. John Lowery, battalion Reserve operations NCO, suggests collecting reports of how much money a

college received from Soldiers who use tuition assistance or veterans who use the GI Bill.

“If schools can see the long-term benefit of students joining the Army, then they might waive job fair fees for recruiters,” Lowery said.

Another functional area traditionally covered by APA funds are Total Army Involvement in Recruiting teams. The number of teams available this year will be significantly reduced but that does not preclude recruiters from leveraging local Reserve units.

Senior NCOs Share Old School Recruiting Wisdom

See BUDGET, Page 8

2 Wolfpack 1q, 2012

Wolfpack News is an authorized publication for members of the United States Army Recruiting Battalion Milwaukee.

Commander: Lt. Col. Frank P. O’DonnellChief, A&PA: Pat GrobschmidtEditor: Jorge Gomez Circulation of publication is 250.

Contents of Wolfpack News are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, or the Department of the Army.

The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion Milwaukee public affairs officer.

Mailing address:

U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion MilwaukeeAdvertising & Public Affairs 11100 W. Liberty Dr., Suite 200 Milwaukee, WI 53224

(414) 577-2521e-mail: 5jbn-apa@usarec.army.mil

by Lt. Col. Frank P. o’DonnellCommander

Happy Holidays! I hope you all enjoy the holiday season and your time with family, teammates and friends. This is the time of year we often reflect on the past and anticipate opportunities of the new year. My wife Megan and I want to take this opportunity to wish “Happy Holidays” to everyone in the Wolfpack Family.

I thank every Soldier, spouse, Family member, civilian, and contractor who contributes daily to the Wolfpack’s mission. Know that each of you is valued, and I greatly appreciate your service.

As we enter the new year we cannot lose momentum — especially with the Reserve mission. In the first quarter, the Wolfpack enlisted more Army Reserve Soldiers than any previous quarter — no simple accomplishment. This is a testament to our leaders maintaining the “Reserve First” focus and executing operations to accomplish the mission. We need to keep this Army Reserve focus and momentum in order to finish strong.

January starts a new semester for high schools. We need effective school plans that continue to develop long-term relationships with our educators and administrators. Educators are a key asset to counter our competitors’ recruiting efforts

and the key to long-term success in recruiting. There are many great examples of our Soldiers working with educators to foster relationships and who give back to the communities in which we live.

Next calendar year we will continue transformation and implement Small Unit Recruiting. This is an interim step to Pinnacle. We will consolidate some of our smaller facilities into larger centers and reorganize personnel and functions. Station commanders will adapt to their processes more efficiently in response to changing environments. SUR still embraces the team concept and leverages individual Soldier talents to accomplish the station’s mission.

As the winter continues, we must remain vigilant on conducting operations and personal activities safely. The Army’s “Take 5” safety campaign encourages the right decisions for safety. Take just five minutes to conduct a composite risk assessment every time you execute a recruiting operation, get into a government vehicle, or go out into the snow to have fun. This time can make a tremendous difference in preventing accidental death or injury. Make sure your plans are properly planned out so that careless, senseless acts do not put you or others at risk. Every member of the Wolfpack is important.

The Wolfpack Battalion continues to improve its performance for fiscal year 2012 and we will continue to adapt through a flexible and agile mindset. Our Army depends on us to do so. Thanks again for all you do. I will see you at the top!

Wolfpack!

Stay Army reserve Focus, Keep momentum

Wolfpack Battalion Ready for Transformationby Command Sgt. maj. Anthony BowersCommand Sergeant Major

As the holiday season approaches, I sit back and reflect on what has transpired within the Milwaukee Battalion over the past four months. Our ride has just begun but we have enjoyed the adventure thus far.

Lt. Col. O’Donnell and I have visited almost every recruiting station within the battalion footprint. We have enjoyed

meeting all of the great Soldiers and civilians that comprise this great battalion. We appreciate the hard work and dedication that everyone puts forth on a daily basis.

Summer and the end of the year always mark the time for Soldiers to depart an installation in search of a new adventure with their next assignment. Soldiers either move on to another battalion within USAREC or back amongst the mainstream Army formations. We will be saying so long to many outstanding Soldiers who have left a lasting impression on the battalion.

In addition to the Soldiers leaving we have had several civilians leave the Milwaukee Recruiting Battalion for either

career advancement or retirement. The battalion has said so long but not goodbye to Margaret Schulz, Andy Blaha and Gary Utterback. They were all an intricate part of the Milwaukee Recruiting Battalion’s success.

In 2012 we will begin our transformation into Small Unit Recruiting. This is similar to team recruiting but different in the composition of recruiting stations. Some common terms will also be different. Prospectors, counselors and processors will be replaced with engagement teams and recruiter support teams. USAREC is taking the concept of enlisting quality young men and women to the next level. Milwaukee Recruiting Battalion will be ready for the transformation into Small Unit Recruiting.

The battalion will also have an influx of Soldiers reporting to the battalion in January. Lt. Col. O’Donnell and I ask everyone to welcome these new Soldiers and their families. We need to let them know the Wolfpack Battalion takes care of its own.

Lt. Col. O’Donnell and I congratulate Sgts. 1st Class (P) Jason Provens, Michael Berry and Bryan Reynolds for their selection on the master sergeant promotion list. The Milwaukee Recruiting Battalion is proud of each one of you.

Enjoy the holiday season. Use caution when traveling. Lt. Col. O’Donnell and I extend a happy holiday and a happy new year to all of our Wolfpack Family.

Wolfpack 7.

1q, 2012 Wolfpack 3

Personal Involvement makes greater Impactby jorge gomezPublic Affairs Specialist

A Soldier asked the battalion Advertising & Public Affairs office whether his recruiting station could assist a school’s charity drive. The assistance was in the form of raising awareness through fliers and in collecting items on behalf of the drive by becoming a drop-off location.

The Soldier said this would help recruiters build rapport with faculty and gain greater access to students.

The intent of the Soldier to support a charity run by a local high school is well. Providing that kind of support could result in a better relationship with the school. So what is the problem?

Two-fold. First, the assistance selectively

benefits one group over others like it. The recruiting station, which is publicly funded, must be willing to provide equal support to comparable events, according to Army Regulation 360-1, Chapter 3-2.

“We cannot be seen as asking the public for donations or money since we are paid/funded through the federal government budget,” said Capt. Brendan Cronin, 3rd Recruiting Brigade judge advocate.

Secondly, the group in question is running a charity and the Army cannot endorse or appear to endorse any fundraising activity, according to the same regulation cited.

Soldier cannot participate in fundraising activities in an official capacity nor use government property for the same purpose. But regulations do not prevent Soldiers from such activities in their private capacity or with their personal resources.

“They just can’t appear in uniform or use their position as a Soldier to influence people to donate,” Cronin said.

Voluntary service is one of the best things a Soldier can do to make a difference and earn the respect of the community, said 1st Sgt. Anthony Richter, Iron Mountain Recruiting Company.

He suggests serving at hospitals,

churches, or civic organizations in addition to schools. Soldiers can volunteer as referees, hold positions in a PTA, mentor kids as big brothers or big sisters, even cut wood for disabled people.

In his personal capacity, Richter has involved his children at charitable events to help serve breakfast and wash dishes.

“Word eventually leaks out to the community about what you are doing. People will see you are making a personal sacrifice to help others. This is how you make yourself known in a community,” Richter said.

What he advises Soldiers may sound like a paradox but he insists his experience shows it is practical.

“Do something with no expectation and you will get more in return,” he said.

Volunteer service should not be performed in uniform because people might question the integrity of such service.

“Don’t be concerned about announcing that you an Army recruiter. Your community service may get dismissed as a form of public relations. As long as your work is genuine, you will make a difference and that makes your job as a recruiter easier in the long run,” Richter said.

Many organizations that help people are tightening budgets and laying off personnel. That leads to a greater demand for volunteers.

“Opportunities abound for Soldiers who wish to make an impact in their community because people are the most valuable resource,” Richter said.

Soldiers are also leaders with exceptional life experiences.

“They can offer to talk to college freshman about setting goals and

achieving success,” Richter said. A college instructor in Iron Mountain

invited the first sergeant to have that talk with freshman in October. Richter’s goal was to establish himself as a source of knowledge and expertise, given his experience in the Army.

At the time, Bay West College was considered a hard to penetrate school. Now they have built new and promising relationships due to a willingness to help a freshman class with no expectation in return, Richter said.

Every Soldier will encounter a different challenge as he tries to make a personal impact in his community. Richter insists that regardless of the recruiting environment his principle applies.

“Getting involved in a personal capacity resonates with the community in a deeper way than anything comparable to official Army support,” Richter said. “My experience has shown me how people value a well-meaning individual who gives selflessly.”

In the case of the Soldier who wondered whether his station could support a school drive, the response from APA was that they should direct their supporting efforts in a personal capacity off duty and out of uniform. Personal involvement lends greater credibility and that has a better chance of making a community difference.

Grace Richter, daughter of 1st Sgt. Anthony Richter, Iron Mountain Recruiting Company, volunteers at an Iron Mountain community breakfast event with her father in October.

Photo By 1St Sgt. Anthony rIChter

4 Wolfpack 1q, 2012

milwaukee County Communities Sign Covenant

Photo By jorge gomez

Mayor Tom Taylor, City of Franklin, signs the Intergovernmental Cooperation Council of Milwaukee County Community Covenant Nov. 14, 2011. Taylor leads the 20-member council of community heads in showing their support of service members and their families. Village President Robert Ruesch, Village of Hales Corners, follows Taylor. Mayor Anthony Day, City of Cudahy; and Mayor Michael Neitzke, City of Greenfield; standby to sign the document. Mayor Jill Didier, City of Wauwatosa, also prepares to show support of the program.

by jorge gomezPublic Affairs Specialist

Support from local governing bodies for service mem-bers continues to spread through the Army’s com-munity covenant program. The Intergovernmental

Cooperation Council for Milwaukee County signed the docu-ment of support along with leaders of the Milwaukee Recruit-ing Battalion Nov. 14 in Franklin.

The 20-member council of community heads voted in favor of the program and immediately followed through signing the document.

Mayor Michael Neitzke, City of Greenfield, suggested the idea of a community covenant with the ICC after signing one on behalf of Greenfield in June.

“I was so moved by the experience and all the folks who showed up during the Greenfield Community Covenant ceremony. This is a good thing to do, especially on the heels

of Veterans Day, to support the good work these (service members) do,” said Neitzke.

Retired Maj. Gen. Paul E. Lima, the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Wisconsin, informed the council of the need for communities to support the families of service members in the absence of a military installation.

“Our Soldiers are making great sacrifices as they serve our nation and defend our freedom. But they need your commitment to improve the quality of life for their families,” said Lima during a council session.

Similar community covenants have been signed by the City and County of Milwaukee, Waukesha County, Cities of Fond du Lac and Greenfield, the state of Wisconsin, and the Kiwanis/Key Club.

The Army program was launched on April 17, 2008, with a signing ceremony in Columbus, Ga., with the Fort Benning community. Since then, more than 700 community covenants have been signed by community members in all 50 states.

1q, 2012 Wolfpack 5

Students Break Away to Fall In

Staff Sgt. Paul Goodyear, a Milwaukee Company recruiter, marches students who form a military club at Milwaukee’s Bradley Tech High School. Goodyear meets with the club every Wednesday to discuss military life, set goals, or learn drill and ceremony.

by jorge gomezPublic Affairs Specialist

Some students at Milwaukee’s Bradley Tech High School are so eager to learn more about the Army they give up their personal lunch time every Wednesday.

Staff Sgt. Paul Goodyear, a Milwaukee Company recruiter, leads a military club at the school where he meets with these curious seekers. He aims to instill in them a sense of purpose for finishing school while educating them on the U.S. Army.

When he’s not teaching them how to march outdoors, he introduces basic military topics like the phonetic alphabet or rank structure.

He fields questions about the Army, deployments and training, but he also raises their awareness on the importance of education. He helps them set goals and outline plans to achieve them. Frequently, he reminds them to stay out of trouble.

“These youth need a real positive influence. They need direction,” Goodyear said. “I know that I can make a difference because I’ve seen it happen.”

At the end of the 2010-11 school year, Goodyear enlisted four Bradley Tech graduates who were members of the club. During that school year, he only met with the club twice a month. Now he’s increased meetings to every week.

Club membership has grown by 75 percent from the previous year. On average he engages 25 students during the lunch hour meetings. They each come with their own set of questions about the Army or military life and they all share a notion that being a Soldier can potentially improve their lives and futures.

Jonas Vance, a senior, is attending the club for a second year. He originally wanted to get a job in welding after high school but now he’s set on becoming an infantryman in the Army.

“I like the school benefits that come with (being in) the Army. I like the uniform and traveling the world,” Vance said.

When Vance started attending the club in September 2010, he didn’t know the Army requires a high school diploma for eligibility. Now his motivation to complete high school has doubled since an Army career is at stake.

In 2010, Bradley Tech reported a graduation rate of 74.8 percent, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. That’s less than the state’s average of 85.7 percent.

But Goodyear said he is not discouraged by the low graduation rates.

“I think that if I can give a few students reasons to finish high school, then they will change their attitude toward school and make better decisions,” Goodyear said.

Antonio Ugarte, another Bradley Tech senior, has also been attending the club since 2010. He has progressed from squad leader to platoon guide. He now takes charge of a formation and marches the students during drill and ceremony instruction.

Ugarte said he’s always wanted to be a police officer but now he wants the experience that comes with being in the Army. He’s just not sure when or how he intends to serve.

“There’s a lot about the Army that I didn’t know (before joining the club) and I’m still learning,” Ugarte said.

Antoinette York, a junior, is also learning about what it means to be in the military. Her sister is serving in the military and would like to follow the example.

“Right now I’m just exploring. I know joining the military is hard work but it is something that can change you as a person and make you better,” York said.

Goodyear said the last 14 months have shown him there are students who want to do something meaningful with their lives but they don’t know how.

“One of the things I do for them is help them focus. I try to build them up and give them hope,” Goodyear said.

Goodyear makes no secret of the fact he wants to see students join the Army. But he stands in contrast to other military recruiters who pop in and out of the school building. He makes himself available to students.

Regardless of whether club members join the Army or not, the students will know that a Soldier was there pushing them to finish school, and rooting for them.

Photo By jorge gomez

6 Wolfpack 1q, 2012army.mil NeWs

by C. todd LopezArmy News Service

With the Army leaving Iraq by the end of December and large drawdowns coming in Afghanistan, officials said the service may shrink by 50,000 over the next few years.

Cutting that many Soldiers from the Army may mean some will be asked to leave before they planned. Others may need to transfer to a new military occupational specialty, said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III.

“Right now we are at a crossroads in our Army,” Chandler said at a blogger’s roundtable Wednesday. “We have continuing responsibilities overseas with our war in Iraq and Afghanistan and other places around the globe, and at the same time we are wrestling with reduced budgets and what that impact will be on our Army; and the drawdown in the force, and how we are going to manage that transition over the next several years.”

Chandler said the Army will use four tools to cut the force by 50,000. First, the Army will recruit fewer people. At the height of conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army recruited as many as 80,000 a year. This year, the recruitment goal is about 58,000, Chandler said.

Second, Chandler said, the Army will retain fewer Soldiers. That means it may be tougher for some Soldiers to re-enlist, and for those that want to re-enlist, they may have to do something different.

“The retention piece is the one that is going to affect a lot of folks in our Army,” Chandler said. “Everybody will be touched in some capacity. But for our Soldiers that are eligible to re-enlist, the standard is going to be excellence. We are looking for the best and the brightest in our Army, (to) offer the privilege of service. And it is really a two-part decision.”

The first part of that decision to retain a Soldier will include the Soldier’s own commitment to serve. The second part of that decision will include putting Soldiers where the Army needs them.

Force Cuts May Affect Retention Standards

“You have to be committed to serve the Army in the capacity that we need you,” Chandler said. “There are going to be some Soldiers that are going to be afforded the privilege to stay in service, but they may have to choose a different MOS (military occupational specialty). And for some folks that may not be palatable.”

Chandler said “finding the best folks” to stay in the Army will include some of the same tools used to decide promotion: military education, civilian education, duty performance, and a Soldier’s own “desire to seek greater responsibility and other skills.”

“[It’s] all going to be part of that equation that commanders will make to decide whether or not somebody will be able to stay,” Chandler said.

A third tool to cut the force will be adjustment of retention control points for sergeants and staff sergeants. The RCP is a cap on the number of years a Soldier may be in service without attaining the next higher rank.

With planned changes to the Army’s RCPs, Chandler said, “probably anywhere from 1,500 to 1,800 sergeants and staff sergeants will end up leaving the Army earlier than they may have anticipated.”

He said the change is not because of the drawdown, but rather because of adjustments made in leader development strategies about when people would get promoted.

“We had to make some adjustments, and some folks, unfortunately, will have to leave,” Chandler said.

Also a tool to reduce the force will be selective early retirements, “probably starting next fiscal year,” Chandler said. The Army will conduct selective early retirement boards for sergeants first class, master sergeants, and sergeants major.

“We will look at whether or not Soldiers in that rank have any future potential and whether or not their MOS or career management field may be over strength and we’ll tell them that it is time to retire now instead of waiting until their mandatory retirement date,” he said.

Chandler said he has spent nine months traveling around the Army talking to Soldiers and families.

“I see myself as a scout, where I go out and find our Soldiers and hear what their concerns are and bring that information back to General Odierno, and share what they have to say,” Chandler said.

Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler recognizes Soldiers of the 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Afghanistan earlier this year. With drawdowns coming in theater, he said retention standards will tighten and some Soldiers may need to change occupational specialties.

CourteSy Photo

1q, 2012 Wolfpack 7 familypack NeWs

Walgreens will no longer participate as a member of the Express Scripts retail pharmacy network. Any TRICARE patient who fills a prescription at Walgreens on or after Jan. 1, 2012, will have to pay 100 percent of the cost. Patients will then need to file a paper claim for out-of-network benefit reimbursement.

For a list of participating TRICARE network pharmacies, visit www.express-scripts.com.

Are you new to the U.S. Army Recruiting Command? For guidance and family assistance, review USAREC Pamphlet 608-5, Guide for Soldier and Family Assistance Programs. Also USAREC Pamphlet 608-2, Family Orientation Guide.

These pamphlets are available online at www.usarec.army.mil/im/formpub/Pubs.htm.

Tutor.com is an online tutoring program that offers free online tutoring and homework help for everything from elementary school concepts to advanced high school coursework. Students work with a professional tutor in a secure online classroom where they can chat, draw on a shared whiteboard, and view the web together.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that adults engage in a minimum of two and a half hours of moderate-intensity exercise every week. Whenever possible, work out regiments should include both aerobic activity and strength training. This breaks down to just over 20 minutes of elevated heart rate every day or 50 minutes three times per week.

Army spouses need portable jobs that are flexible and can withstand relocations, deployments, and other challenges that go hand in hand with the military lifestyle. The Military Spouse Employment Partnership is helping spouses locate jobs and build careers by connecting them with companies that understand their needs and the skills, loyalty, and integrity they bring to a job.

MSEP connects military spouses who are seeking long-term career opportunities with Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, small businesses, and other organizations that are looking for talented employees with 21st century workforce skills. The online job search site can connect you with opportunities in a wide range of career fields including education, health care, information and technology, legal affairs, office and administrative support, and more. The positions range from entry-level to senior management, so there is something there to match almost any career goal.

Use MSEP to locate a job that meets your particular needs and interests. Visit www.msepjobs.com to create an account. For career counseling and assistance with resumé writing and interview techniques, call Military OneSource at (800) 342-9647.

The TRICARE Young Adult Prime option is now available for purchase, with coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2012. TYA Prime will offer young adult beneficiaries TRICARE Prime coverage for monthly premiums of $201.

To purchase TYA Prime, dependents must be under age 26, unmarried and not eligible for their own employer-sponsored health care coverage.

Soldiers’ dependents may qualify to purchase TYA Prime if they live in a designated Prime Service Area and their sponsor’s status makes them eligible for Prime coverage.

In addition to TYA Prime, young adult dependents may also be eligible for TYA Standard. With monthly premiums of $186, Standard offers eligible dependents the flexibility to see TRICARE-authorized network and non-network providers of their choice, wherever they live or travel. The Standard monthly premium is dropping to $176 on Jan. 1, 2012.

Complete information and application forms are available at www.tricare.mil/tya. Sponsors and their adult dependents are encouraged to explore both commercial and military health care plan options and costs.

Walgreens Off TRICARE

New to Recruiting?

Free Online Tutoring

Season of Overindulgence

Army Spouse Employment

Manage a Mid-Year Move

TRICARE for Young Adults

Relocating is part of the military lifestyle. For parents, it can be hectic - packing up the house, looking for a new place to live, and managing the cost of a move. For children it can be a lot tougher. If you are moving during the school year, your children may be uprooted from school, friends, and their favorite activities.

School Liaison Officers can help when it comes to navigating a new school system. An SLO can address issues like school registration problems, special education paperwork and placement, high school graduation requirements and more. To contact an SLO, visit www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil or call Military OneSource at (800) 342-9647.

Military Youth on the Move is a website designed for military children who are coping with issues that arise in the face of a move, like transitioning to a new school, saying goodbye to friends, and finding ways to get involved in a new location. The articles are easy to read and filled with advice for children of all ages. The site also includes a section designed for parents to help you support your children through a move, a deployment, or additional issues that your children may face.

Visit the Office of Strategic Outreach at mhf.dod.mil. The Military Youth on the Move Web site is listed on the left column along with other relevant sites.

8 Wolfpack 1q, 2012BUDGET, From Page 1

For example, the Pathway to Success campaign at Rockford, Ill., in September benefitted from two Reserve units willing to help the recruiting mission. Teams of drill sergeants and combat medics supported the event without cost to the battalion.

But recruiters cannot assume a good working relationship exists by default.

“That’s where a company commander can help out a recruiter,” DeLeon said. “Company commanders should improve their relationship with their local (Troop Program Unit) commander.”

Lowery recounted how he once hand-receipted a dog tag machine to a TPU when the unit conducted an annual Soldier Readiness Program.

“Dog tags are a big issue during an SRP because of the paperwork and time involved. But if a recruiter provides a dog tag machine and a TPU commander sees a recruiter there, then he is going to give that recruiter what he needs for his mission,” Lowery said. “My station got anything we wanted from that TPU from lending that one dog tag machine.”

Whether recruiters have ready access to a dog tag machine is not nearly as important as recruiters finding ways to make a difference to their TPUs. Showing initiative and cultivating a relationship is what counts, Lowery said.

In spite of the limited funds, Gore said he does not think it will hurt the recruiters ability to make mission.

“If a Soldier is out there hustling doing his job, making his phone calls, conducting appointments, using COIs, combining efforts with AMEDD and ROTC, then recruiters do not have to worry about a lack of advertising,” Gore said.

A Soldier who makes his presence known and builds relationships with key people is the best form of advertising, said Gore.

When Gore was a recruiter he took a donated holiday tree to a school every year. Lowery had recruiters volunteer to receive tickets at high school football games or work the concession stands wearing an Army polo. Those activities resulted in raising Army awareness and building relationships that could be leveraged to gain school access.

“Word of mouth goes a lot further than a billboard. In my opinion, it is the attitude of a recruiter that determines his success,” Gore said.

Leaders Synchronize Efforts for Recruiting MissionMembers and invited guests to the Army Community Advisory Board meet Dec. 8 in Waukesha to continue to build relationships among Army entities. Retired Maj. Gen. Paul E. Lima, board chairman; Jerry Sorrow, former Civilian to the Secretary of the Army; Air Force Maj. Gen. Donald Dunbar, the adjutant general for the Wisconsin National Guard; and retired Brig. Gen. Robert Cocroft, discuss ways to collaborate for the Army’s recruiting mission. Photo By PAt ADeLmAnn

S t a t i o n s E x c e l l e n c eo f The Station of Excellence program continues in Fiscal

Year 2012. The program recognizes top stations at the end of each quarter based on three categories for a total of 23 criteria.

Examples of criteria include achievement of gross mission, active Facebook page, have an average physical fitness test score of greater than 250, conduct at least one Future Soldier team building event, be compliant with leader development policy, adhere to time off policy, and submit NCOERs on time.

For a complete listing of criteria, see memorandum dated Nov. 18, 2011, USAREC Annual Awards Recognition Categories and Criteria.

Appleton Recruiting StationSgt. 1st Class Kelly Bennett

Rockford Recruiting StationSgt. 1st Class Jeremy Hetrick

Sheboygan Recruiting StationSgt. 1st Class Somnuk Songserm