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    Experience Matters for Navy Recruiter

    Experience Matters for Navy Recruiter

    Photo By Burrell Parmer | NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – (October 25, 2018) Electronics Technician (Submarines) 1st...... read more read more

    SAN ANTONIO, CA, UNITED STATES

    11.21.2018

    Story by Burrell Parmer 

    Commander, Navy Recruiting Command

    NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas (NNS) – You can have a vision for life after college, but things don’t always go quite as planned. Sometimes, they can turn out even better. At least, that was how things turned out for Navy Counselor 1st Class Vincent Barnes Jr., assigned to Navy Recruiting District (NRD) San Antonio.

    Barnes was born in Chicago and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. After graduating from Cordova High school in 2008, he enrolled in Sullivan University in Kentucky, where he spent his days attending classes and nights working for UPS.

    “I never knew anything about the military because I never paid much attention to it while growing up,” said Barnes. “I was always told that the only way to be successful is to go to college right after high school, so that was my goal at that time.”

    While working toward a degree in travel and tourism management, Barnes contacted companies that he wanted to work for after college, but they required more than just a degree.

    “I asked them what I needed, other than a degree, to get my foot in the door and the consensus was about two years of work experience at a reputable company,” said Barnes. “So I decided I did not want to keep compiling debt and not know if I would even get a job that I was aiming for.”

    Barnes searched for some of the most reputable companies possible, and July 2009 he decided his best choice was to join the U.S. Navy. Following his graduation from electronics technician “A” school, Barnes served six years of sea duty on the USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723), USS Frank Cable (AS-40) and USS Emory S. Land (AS-39).

    “I joined the Navy because they offered me opportunities and a challenge that no one else had,” said Barnes. “I wanted to push myself and not back down from any challenges.”

    In 2016, following his tour repairing Navy submarines at Naval Base Guam, Barnes started his recruiting career with NRD San Antonio.
    “Recruiting is important to me because the Navy has a reputation for having the most highly developed technology of all the armed services,” said Barnes. “And I believe we need the best and brightest to operate our equipment and ensure we maintain our reputation as these young bright minds replace us.”

    Barnes recognizes the importance of education as a Sailor as well as staying fit. In turn, Barnes uses his knowledge and experience as a personal trainer to help develop the future of the Navy.

    “I volunteer as a personal trainer to help people with workout knowledge as a way to get stronger, lose weight, or just prepare for the physical readiness test,” said Barnes. “I got involved with personal training because I used to volunteer at the gym on base when I joined the Navy. Personal trainers and meal plans can be expensive, so I enjoy helping others for nothing while genuinely wanting to help them reach their fitness goals for a healthier lifestyle. This is also what drove me to recruiting.”

    Barnes said that he takes pride in everything he does, and is grateful for the professional and personal development his time in the Navy has taught him.

    “The mentoring I provide, training, presentations, as well as my interview-to-contract process is all done my way, which helps me to be successful in ways that others may not be,” said Barnes. “I've overcome the challenge of being taken out of my comfort zone and going alone to speak in front of hundreds of kids at multiple schools and colleges. The Navy has taught me to be a leader since boot camp, and I’ll never stop learning how to be a better leader.”

    While assigned to NRD San Antonio, Barnes has been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, recognized as the Enlisted Leads Recruiter of the Year, received the Admiral's Warrior Award, and was meritoriously advanced to the petty officer first class. In October, Barnes converted from being an electronics technician to Navy counselor. This job rating change allows him to be a full-time recruiter for the rest of his time in the Navy.

    Barnes said he enjoys recruiting so much that he expects to stay in for at least a 20-year career, which he believes will be more than enough experience to accomplish any adventure life brings his way.

    NRD San Antonio recruits in an area covering more than 144,000 square miles of Texas territory, spanning from Waco, west to Midland/Odessa, southwest towards El Paso, southeast along the Rio Grande Valley, and west of College Station.

    The Navy’s recruiting force totals over 6,100 personnel in more than 1,200 recruiting stations around the globe. Their combined goal is to attract the highest quality candidates to assure the ongoing success of America’s Navy.

    NRC consists of a command headquarters, two Navy Recruiting Regions, 20 Navy Recruiting Districts and six Navy Talent Acquisition Groups that serve more than 1,200 recruiting stations across the country.

    For more news from Commander, Navy Recruiting Command, go to http://www.cnrc.navy.mil. Follow Navy Recruiting on Facebook (www.facebook.com/NavyRecruiting), Twitter (@USNRecruiter) and Instagram (@USNRecruiter).

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 11.21.2018
    Date Posted: 11.21.2018 12:29
    Story ID: 300893
    Location: SAN ANTONIO, CA, US

    Web Views: 162
    Downloads: 1

    PUBLIC DOMAIN