FRANKFORT, Ky. – For U.S. Army Spc. Nehemiah Merritt, a signal support systems specialist from Alexandria, Ky., being a member of the military is something he has always wanted to do. Now assigned to the 138th Signal Company, he says it has been a life-changing decision he often recommends to others.
Through the Kentucky Enlistment Enhancement Program (KEEP), Merritt has discovered a talent for helping others find the same opportunities, and he now leads the state with eight successful referrals.
“It's been good having a positive effect on other people's lives,” said Merritt. “Seeing that it can help other people has helped me.”
The state-funded program offers financial incentives to both current and retired Soldiers and Airmen, helping to grow the Kentucky National Guard’s force.
For each referral that leads to enlistment, KEEP participants receive a cash bonus to supplement existing benefits. The program rewards them with $500 for their first referral leading to a successful enlistment, then $750 for a second, and $1,000 for each subsequent enlistment.
Officials emphasize the program is carefully structured, with clear oversight and accountability measures built in from the start.
Recruitment challenges are not unique to Kentucky. Across the nation, the military has faced declining enlistment numbers driven by a tight labor market, rising educational costs, and a smaller percentage of young adults who meet eligibility requirements. In Kentucky, these pressures compound in rural areas where fewer young people are available.
The availability of traditional recruiters to access all the areas of the state is also a challenge. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Haldane B. Lamberton, Kentucky’s adjutant general, sees the program as an opportunity to mobilize others to help recruit in underserved areas.
“We have almost 80 Kentucky National Guard recruiters across the Commonwealth serving the Army and Air Guard,” said Lamberton. “That doesn't spread out to 120 counties very well, but I think we're on an upward progression by including the entire 6,800 Soldiers, 1,200 Airmen and a large number of retirees living around the state.”
Lamberton tasked Brig. Gen. Brian Wertzler, Kentucky’s deputy adjutant general, with developing the program to achieve three key goals: ensure accountability, increase the strength of the force, and empower Service members, past and present, to share their experiences within their communities and with their peers.
In essence, KEEP empowers Soldiers, Airmen and Retirees to become recruiters wherever they live.
“I think the great thing about KEEP is that we can incentivize them for just telling their story,” said Wertzler. “I think when we do this, we are changing people's lives by bringing them into the organization.”
Three years since its launch, Kentucky Guard leaders are encouraged by the program’s consistent success. Enlistment statistics have shown a strong pattern of growth, with projections indicating this fiscal year will surpass the last.
Since its inception, KEEP has brought more than 600 new Soldiers and Airmen into the Kentucky National Guard. The program's growth has been consistent: after securing 26 enlistments in its first year (2023), that number surged to more than 280 in 2025. With nearly 170 enlistments already this year, the program is on pace to set a new record.
U.S. Army Capt. Jennie Rose, operations officer for the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, benchmarks these results in comparison with programs in other states.
"I’m constantly comparing referrals and enlistments to see how other states’ programs compare to ours,” said Rose. “We seem to have gotten a lot more leads and are on track to process more enlistments. It’s great seeing how quickly our program has become successful.”
While Lamberton credits Wertzler with developing the program, Wertzler says it has been a team effort.
“It wasn't just me—it was a collective, senior leadership, team effort to implement KEEP. But I think that combined effort at the start is what put us on the trajectory we are on today, which seems to be ahead of our peers,” said Wertzler.
While it's uncertain what the future holds for the Commonwealth and the Guard, maintaining force strength is critical to enable the organization to be ready to serve the communities of Kentucky.
“Recruiting for the Kentucky National Guard is a crucial activity,” said Lamberton. “So, it needs to be maintained no matter what the future focus may be.”
For Merritt, that means continuing to refer others, helping them better themselves with opportunities they may not have considered. In doing so, he and others like him are not just strengthening the Guard—they are continuing its legacy.