Four recruiters from Ohio recently helped the Michigan Air National Guard move closer to its manpower goals.
The Ohio Air National Guard recruiters all worked at the Centennial Open House & Air Show at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which attracted an estimated quarter of a million people over a three-day period. The Ohio recruiters were encouraging young men and women to join the Michigan Air National Guard.
The Assistant Adjutant General of the Ohio Air National Guard, Brigadier Gen. Gregory Schnulo, generously offered the services of his recruiters to assist Michigan recruiters in meeting their goals.
"This type of assistance is unprecedented and it shows a great partnership not only between Ohio and Michigan, but is indicative of the type of relationships that exist across the Air National Guard at the state-to-state level," said Major Gen. Leonard Isabelle, Commander of the Michigan Air National Guard and the assistant adjutant general for air in Michigan. “We are extremely grateful to Brig. Gen. Schnulo’s generosity and sharing this recruiting and retention expertise with our Michigan recruiters.”
The Michigan Air National Guard's recruiting staff has recently undergone some changes, with one veteran recruiter being promoted to a new position and another recently deployed for six months. Several other recruiters at Michigan's two air wings -- the 127th in metropolitan Detroit and the 110th near Battle Creek -- are relatively new to the position.
The Ohio Air National Guard recruiters will continue to provide periodic assistance to the Michigan wings over the next several months. The Ohio Air National Guard is currently at 107 percent manning, which has freed up some time for the Ohio recruiters.
Senior Master Sgt. David Whynot, recruiting and retention superintendent for the Michigan Air National Guard, said while the open house and air show provided recruiters an opportunity to plant a lot of seeds, it is really the one-on-one follow-up between a recruit and a potential new Airman that makes the difference.
"So whether it is help returning phone calls, following up on an inquiry that comes in via an email or just sharing some best practices from an experienced recruiter to a newer recruiter, their assistance will pay great dividends," Whynot said. "Ohio's teamwork is greatly appreciated and I look forward to a continued relationship."
Supporting the effort from Ohio are Master Sgt. Misty Goodrick, 200th Red Horse Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Lori Mittlestadt, 178th Wing; Master Sgt. Todd Parkison, 121st Air Refueling Wing; and Tech. Sgt. Nick Alexander, 179th Attack Wing. The Ohio ANG recruiting and retention manager, Senior Master Sgt. Joshua Blakley, is assisting Whynot with the coordination of the partnership.
At Selfridge and at Battle Creek ANG Base, the Michigan Air National Guard has made recruiting and retention one of its key priorities for the remainder of 2017 and 2018. Recruiting and retention is a priority of the state-level vision of the Michigan Air National Guard.
“Our recruiting and retention numbers are currently down for a number of reasons,” Isabelle said. “Some of those reasons include the unknown long-term future of the A-10 mission in Michigan, and two out of the three missions at the 110th Attack Wing recently changing.”
"Internally, we know we have two of the best wings in the Air National Guard -- our recent awards and accolades bear that out. Now we need to spread the word and let the next generation know about the tremendous career opportunities that exist here within the Michigan Air National Guard. We welcome the assistance of our brother wings in Ohio to accomplish this mission," said Isabelle.
Tech. Sgt. Matthew Bowles, an ANG recruiter at Selfridge, said in Fiscal Year 2017, the majority of new recruits in to the 127th Wing were Airmen who had not previously served in the active duty Air Force or another branch of service.
“We are bringing in new people, with no military background. The discussion takes a little longer, but once they understand the benefits of service in the Air National Guard, they are eager to be sworn in,” Bowles said.
The Ohio ANG recruiters worked during the Selfridge open house to staff a recruiting booth and to roam the open house area, to make contact with potential recruits who may not have walked past the recruiting display area.
Learn more about joining the Michigan Air National Guard by visiting www.goANG.com/MI.