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By Master Sgt. Greg Rudl
National Guard Bureau
ARLINGTON, Va. – For the first time in five years, the Air National Guard has met its end strength goal of 106,700 for this fiscal year, Guard officials announced today.
The ANG recruited 1,194 in August, which was 107 percent of its goal of 1,116. To date for fiscal year 2008, it retained 16,518 personnel, which was 107.3 percent of its goal of 15,390.
Lt. Col. Randy Johnson, chief of Air Guard recruiting and retention, attributed the milestone to several factors, including the hard work of recruiters and retainers and the growth of advertising campaigns and recruiting initiatives.
"A half a dozen things come to mind that made this possible," he said. "One reason was the constant leadership focus on recruiting."
Other reasons he cited:
• Administrative assistants working in recruiting offices the past two years have freed up recruiters from paperwork
• The Guard Recruiting Assistance Program has given the ANG about 3,000 enlistments, said Johnson. G-RAP is a paid referral program where traditional drill status ANG Airmen, officers and retirees earn a "finder's fee" of $2,000 for each new recruit who enlists and reports to Basic Training.
• Expanded enlistment incentives and bonuses and personnel initiatives.
• Robust advertising and outreach program that includes aerobatic pilot John Klatt and our Mobile Recruiting Vehicle.
• The new voice of ANG advertising, Nashville country music recording artist Laura Bryna, wha has been making appearances showcasing her "Hometown Heroes" music video.
The Army Guard exceeded its programmed end strength by nearly 1,000. It's now at 362,014 Soldiers, 103 percent above its goal of 351,133. It met its August monthly target by recruiting 5,785 Soldiers. It retained 27,151 Soldiers, 95 percent of its objective of 28,694.
Among the Army Guard's new recruiting programs announced this summer were the launch of a sponsored Indy Car race car and a mobile marketing campaign that lets potential recruits discover their inner "Rock Star" at fairs and music festivals throughout the country.
The Army Guard has also enlisted two superstars to attract new members and remind those already serving what the Guard is all about through a new nationwide theater advertising campaign that debuted, Aug. 22, 2008.
The new "Warrior" campaign includes music from Kid Rock and features Dale Earnhardt Jr., the National Guard-sponsored NASCAR Sprint Cup driver. Kid Rock wrote the song specifically for the Army Guard
The "Warrior" video is appearing in more than 3,000 theaters and on over 27,000 screens around the country.
| Date Taken: | 09.10.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.10.2008 15:38 |
| Story ID: | 23475 |
| Location: | ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 23 |
| Downloads: | 20 |
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