Glendale’s “Meet Your Army Reserve” event rewrote the playbook on community connection
The 63rd Readiness Division, alongside the Phoenix Recruiting Battalion, unveiled the “Meet Your Local Army Reserve” event, Saturday August 22. Historically, military recruiting has relied on structured, transactional Reserve Recruiting Partnership Council (R2PC) often confined to school cafeterias or quiet recruiter offices. But on this day, that playbook was thrown out, replaced by a large-scale, interactive grassroots festival.
The mission was clear: demystify the Army Reserve, highlight its immense local economic value, and prove that serving the country doesn’t require leaving the community you love.
The traditional R2PC model, while effective in targeted settings, often struggles to address the deeper skepticism of Gen Z and civilian stakeholders. Today’s young adults are looking for debt-free career paths, transferable skills, and flexibility, yet they remain wary of an “all-or-nothing” commitment.
By pivoting to a festival-style environment, organizers created a low-pressure, high-engagement space. Attendees weren't just handed brochures; they climbed into static equipment displays, shared casual conversations with Soldiers, and got an up-close look at the engineering, medical, and logistical assets utilized right in their own backyard.
"This is to showcase to the community... that we’re out here," explained Army Maj. Amos Chow, 63rd Readiness Division Recruiting and Readiness Chief. He noted that the event allowed units to showcase themselves to potential applicants while telling their own Army Reserve stories — how service has benefited them, their families, and Glendale as a whole. "It’s a brand-new program that we’re standing up… we’re trying to lean ahead and help units essentially help themselves."
The festival successfully united three critical pillars of Glendale’s civic ecosystem: Gen Z prospects, local educators, and regional business owners. It wasn't just about finding recruits; it was about building a supportive local military ecosystem.
"It brought us to a pivotal point where I felt like the U.S. Army Reserve and Army Recruiting were meeting halfway to achieve the same goal,” said the recruiting battalion commander Lt. Col. Brandon Staub. “This was successful because of the presence of leadership, our PaYS partners, TPU Reservists, and Army Recruiters. Seeing all of that come together like this simply hasn't happened before."
Megan Trentin, owner of Armed Forces Across America, attended as a vendor to support service members navigating real estate. "We noticed... that a lot of veterans and active-duty service members were being [disserviced] by completely ineffective, inexperienced Realtors," she shared, emphasizing her company's mission to provide VA specialists and a white-glove experience for the military community.
Similarly, Issac Silva of the Arizona Department of Corrections Tactical Support Unit (TSU) saw the event as a bridge between civilian and tactical worlds. "They never understand what the tactical side of corrections is," Silva remarked, noting the crossover in skills like weapons relations and IT that civilians and Reservists can bring to the table.
The deeper purpose of the gathering was perhaps best articulated by Brig. Gen. Jodi Smith, 63rd Readiness Division’s Deputy Commanding General.
"How do we become mission partners to change lives, create opportunities and really, to me, always the north star: defend liberty?" Smith asked the crowd. "We got to do that by building the team... share what you have learned yourself, the importance of doing it, the hardships of doing it, the rewards of finding that grit in your own heart."
Smith highlighted the event's core value proposition: part-time service paired with full-time benefits, civilian-ready skills, and a network of leaders making a difference both in and out of uniform. This sentiment echoed her remarks from the previous day's training, where she stressed that a reservist's experience and community influence are ultimate force multipliers.
As conversations flowed between station commanders and local ambassadors about navigating benefits and staying connected to the military community, one thing became abundantly clear. Meaningful connection happens when the Army steps outside the traditional recruiting station. By fostering an authentic space for dialogue and partnership, Glendale didn't just host an event — they rewrote the playbook on building trust and strengthening the vital bond between Soldiers and the communities they call home.