People are drawn to service for many reasons. Whether it’s legacy, finances, or pride in service, there is usually a motivation that brings individuals into a recruiter’s office. From that point on, their recruiter is someone they talk to often as they embark upon the journey to serve.
Since 1979, the U.S. Air Force Recruiting Service has recognized top recruiters who excel at making this journey with applicants and enlisting the highest number of recruits in their respective areas with the Total Force Operation Blue Suit award.
Tech Sgt. Michael Evans, Air National Guard (ANG) recruiter for the 172nd Airlift Wing, was among the 14 honorees selected out of 2,100 active-duty, reserve, and National Guard recruiters. The goal for recruiting for the Mississippi ANG was 36 enlistees. Evans superseded this goal and was the top ANG recruiter in the nation last year, enlisting 78 recruits.
Just like each of those applicants, Evans, a native of Canton, Mississippi, began eight years ago in a recruiting office.
“I’ve been in the military since 2018,” said Evans. “Initially, I worked at Nissan as an engineer, doing the same thing every day. I became complacent. I saw a C-17 flying around, and it caught my interest. I did some research, learned about the Air National Guard, and one day, I talked to a recruiter, and everything was history after that.”
In that role, he discovered that there were wingmen in his section who did not know what the Air National Guard had to offer. Evans’ desire to learn led him to guide his wingmen in the right direction.
Evans decided to apply to be a recruiter, and according to Master Sgt. Casey Bonner, flight chief at the time, nailed his interview, and they knew he would be a great fit.
“I first met Evans a year and a half ago when he applied for the recruiting job here,” said Bonner. “In his interview, he was very well-spoken, very energetic, very professional, and really had a good presence about himself.”
Evans says that that energy, combined with the desire to help others, created the ideal conditions to become a top-tier recruiter.
“That's part of me,” he said. “It makes me feel better when I know I have accomplished my mission, which is to give back.”
Evans’ key to success? Organization. He said his leadership and his recruiting admin played a big role in his success as a recruiter. Evans also said that his family’s love and support also inspire him to perform to his highest potential.
When you perform at this level, people take notice.
“He’s been killing it,” said Bonner. “Honestly, he’s the best recruiter I have ever worked with. His attention to detail, his work ethic, and his energy are just second-to-none.”
Whether you’re headed to the recruiter’s office or not, Evans has some valuable advice: do what you love and rely on your team.
“If you feel like your work is a passion, continue to push forward and do the best that you can do in anything and everything. And don’t think you have to do it by yourself. A team is better than an individual, so seek help if you need it.”
A ceremony honoring the Operation Blue Suit awardees will be hosted at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph on April 2.