Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Elijah Newton | 191210-N-VH839-0001 (Dec. 10, 2019) HOUSTON - Navy Counselor 1st Class Jakeemia...... read more read more
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Swarm brings recruiter back to hometown
U.S. Navy Story by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Elijah Newton
It was the night before leaving for boot camp, and Jakeemia Rankin was nervous. She was having second thoughts about this whole “military thing.” What was she thinking, signing papers at 17 years old? She had no friends or family in the service. She had zero interest in the military before meeting a recruiter.
“I was the one in class when they did presentations, falling asleep and thinking, ‘Well this has nothing to do with me,’” said Rankin, a Charlotte, North Carolina, native.
However, her recruiter, who is still her mentor to this day, saw a future for Rankin that she couldn’t quite see for herself — a future that led Rankin not only into the Navy, but into Navy recruiting, and from Dec. 2-8, led her to her hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, to participate in a Swarm event.
A Swarm event is a Navy Recruiting Command effort that brings top recruiters from all over the nation to an area where recruitment may be struggling, in order to maximize efforts in that community.
“It has been great being back in my hometown,” said Rankin. “It has come full circle. I was at West Charlotte High School in a class full of females and I was able to keep it real with them. I was able to tell them that this world it can eat you up and spit you out, but it doesn’t have to. You can equip yourself with the tools and take different routes. Even though we were here to talk about the Navy and spread awareness, for me it became a mentoring session. I was able to tell them to stay in school, stay out of trouble, don’t get tattoos on your face, just things that they might not be hearing at home that would disqualify them from opportunities they may not even know they have.”
Rankin sees herself in those girls.
“I did not think the Navy was my path,” said Rankin, who is now a Petty Officer 1st Class stationed at the Navy Talent Acquisition Group, Houston. “I had some setback in high school and needed a lot of waivers to get in. I needed a recruiter to push me.”
Rankin’s recruiter did just that.
“She took me under her wing and did a lot of thing she didn’t have to,” said Rankin. “She could have easily looked at my situation and thought, ‘That’s too much work for me,’ but she didn’t. She pushed me all the way till I joined and left.”
“The night before I left for boot camp, I did not want to go,” Rankin laughed. “So now when it happens, I know how to handle the situation.”
Rankin’s recruiter knew how to handle the situation, too. She reminded Rankin of her Why.
“She said, ‘I thought you wanted to travel. I thought you wanted to get out of Charlotte.’ She reminded me that there were a lot of people who would never get the chance I’m getting to change my life, to get out of the city,” said Rankin. “She said, ‘How dare you waste this opportunity!’ Those reminders got me on the plane.”
Rankin said her recruiter didn’t stop there. While Rankin was in boot camp, her recruiter also sent her a couple of letters filled with quotes and affirmations to remind her not to give up.
“I can already see the finish line. That’s what she would say a lot,” said Rankin.
Now Rankin looks out at a sea of young people sitting where she once sat, and her recruiter’s words ring in her ear.
“One of the days visiting schools, I was in tears,” said Rankin. “I was those girls. I was there with a plan to maybe go to college keep working at Wendy’s, and a recruiter took some time after a presentation to truly get in my head and tell me I had options.”
Eight years later, Rankin is taking full advantage of her options and plans on making the Navy a career. Her favorite day of the week is Friday, but it’s not for the reasons one might think.
“Every Friday, a group of Sailors graduate from boot camp,” said Rankin. “I love getting texts from my Sailors I put in the Navy letting me know they did it. They graduated. That’s my pump up. I used to be very introverted, but once you start seeing the impact that you have on people’s lives and their posts on social media about traveling the world, how dare you not talk to everyone you can! You may be the only thing standing in the way of that person and a better future. I’m not introverted anymore. I owe it to everyone to share the Navy with them. Everyone is looking for something in life, and the Navy has a lot to offer.”
Although Rankin normally recruits out of Houston, she was asked by her command to be part of the Swarm because she is from Charlotte, and Rankin said she was excited by the opportunity. Although Rankin won’t get professional credit for any contacts or leads she makes here, she said knowing that she was helping people in her hometown was enough.
“I know I have made a difference this week,” said Rankin.
Rankin pulled out her phone and read a text she had received earlier in the day from a student.
“Hello, you spoke to us today at West Charlotte,” quoted Rankin, reading the student’s text. “I just want to thank you for teaching me about the Navy and what you do. I have thought about it, and I really want to go to the Navy after high school. Thank you again.”
Rankin had a couple of other stories like that from the week. One story involved two best friends who wanted to take a picture with her, so they could compare it to the picture they take later after they enlist in the Navy.
“I see myself in these girls,” said Rankin. “Now I want them to see themselves in me.”
| Date Taken: | 12.10.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 12.10.2019 16:11 |
| Story ID: | 355124 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 172 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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