Courtesy Photo | North Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers Capt. Jaime Stephan (left) and Sgt. Maj....... read more read more
By the North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Office
FRANKFORT, KY. - The Guard Recruiting Assistance Program, or G-RAP - the Army National Guard's innovative and highly successful recruiting campaign - marks its third anniversary this month. Two North Dakota Soldiers took part in an event in Frankfort, Ky., earlier this week to celebrate the achievement.
Sgt. Maj. Brad Heim, with the North Dakota Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Battalion, joined with the nation's highest-ranking Army National Guardsman, Lt. Gen. Clyde A. Vaughn, along with Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and generals representing four other states. North Dakota is one of five states that launched the inaugural program three years ago. Since then, G-RAP has expanded nationwide and been responsible for more than 80,000 enlistments - boosting the overall strength of the Army Guard to more than 361,500 Soldiers.
"We date our history back to 1636 - 372 years we've been doing this - and there's never been any time that we've been stronger than what we are now," Vaughn said. "We would, in a revolutionary manner, change one of the largest recruiting institutions in America and that's exactly what we did. We get stronger every day based on the very program that we put into place here. It stands at the very root of the success that we've had in the last three years."
North Dakota - along with G-RAP's other four pilot states: Iowa, West Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri - received plaques from Vaughn in recognition of their efforts in launching the historic program. One of North Dakota's top recruiting assistants, Capt. Jaime Stephan, also received a plaque of appreciation during the ceremony.
Since its inception in North Dakota, G-RAP has generated 875 enlistments, and there are 617 active leads currently pending. More than three-quarters of the 2,377 Soldiers who are eligible to register with G-RAP as recruiting assistants have done so, and many have benefited from the financial incentives tied to the program. So far, North Dakota Soldiers have earned more than $1.4 million through the program.
"North Dakota's success with G-RAP is truly the result of a total team effort," Heim said. "Providing an incentive to Soldiers to assist in the overall recruiting effort only made sense. The program compensates them for their efforts while helping to build a better force for all of us in North Dakota."
Upon verified enlistment, the recruiting assistant receives an initial $1,000 payment, with a second $1,000 payment upon verification of the Soldier's successful shipment to basic training for non-prior service individuals or a full $2,000 payment for prior-service Soldiers.
The top recruiting assistant in North Dakota currently is Pfc. Heather Lentz, who has facilitated seven enlistments, six of which have shipped to basic training. The Grand Forks resident enlisted in June 2006 and is on track to earn $14,000 through G-RAP.
North Dakota's other top recruiting assistants include Stephan, of Detroit Lakes, Minn., Pfc. Jared Schwanz of Grand Forks and Spc. Mark Stenberg of Devils Lake. Due to weather, Stephan was the only assistant able to attend the Kentucky ceremony with Heim. He has helped to enlist six Soldiers, five of whom have left for basic training, and has six others who are seriously considering an enlistment at this time. If all 12 ship, he'll reach $24,000 in bonus payments.
"North Dakota strongly supports our National Guard, and our residents embody the loyalty and sense of duty needed to serve one's state and nation," said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general.
"G-RAP really capitalizes on this to benefit everyone involved - opportunities for new enlistees, financial benefits for the recruiting assistants and a stronger Guard for all of us in North Dakota. Resources such as this help ensure that the North Dakota National Guard will continue to grow and be prepared to handle anything that we may encounter in the future."
| Date Taken: | 12.18.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 12.18.2008 21:54 |
| Story ID: | 27869 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 301 |
| Downloads: | 131 |
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