Photo By Emily Peacock | RICHMOND, Va., (Oct. 8, 2019) -- Staff Sgt. Joseph Gilmartin from the Richmond...... read more read more
FORT LEE, Va. (Oct. 28, 2019) -- Several CASCOM organizations recently partnered with the Richmond Recruiting Battalion, active duty troops from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, and a Virginia reserve unit to coordinate, then participate, in a Total Army Involvement in Recruiting Tour Oct. 7-16.
In addition to military subject matter experts from Fort Lee’s 23rd Quartermaster Brigade, 508th Transportation Company and 59th Ordnance Brigade, an assortment of equipment from the Logistics Training and Petroleum and Water departments was mobilized for the “TAIR Tour” featured at four area high schools and one technical center.
The Army-wide TAIR Program helps recruiters reach and influence a targeted audience with help from local military organizations that furnish equipment and personnel upon request by the Recruiting Command. Participating members show up at promotional events to support the Total Army recruiting mission.
“Active units supporting Recruiting Command events is a priority from the TRADOC commander all the way down,” said Capt. Jeremy Grant, assistant S3 for the 23rd QM Brigade. “Brig. Gen. Douglas McBride Jr., 55th Quartermaster general, specifically highlighted Recruiting Command support as one of the QM School’s main objectives for this fiscal year.”
Grant coordinated Soldiers and assets between the Richmond Recruiting Company and the Quartermaster School for the tour. He emphasized it was a concerted effort by his organization with willing volunteers who expertly showcased the unique opportunities provided in the QM branch and the Army itself.
He was one of those volunteers.
“The NCOs and officers we send to these events are told to tell their own ‘Army story,’” Grant emphasized. “My journey through the Army may speak to some particular students, and any of our NCO’s vastly different journeys may speak to others. In tandem, though, the stories provide immense value added, and that is why our leadership is so supportive of partnerships with recruiting.”
This is not the first time this year that CASCOM partnered with the battalion, as several units supported a tour across Virginia in March with equipment and Soldiers.
“That event was a significant success for our battalion,” said Capt. Jeffrey McGowan, commander of the Richmond Recruiting Company. “It was the reason we conducted this tour
in my company area of operations.”
McGowan reported that the students were interested in all of the assets the supporting units brought with them.
“They loved the 508th’s Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle, the Quartermaster’s E-Sports display where they could play video games against an Army E-Sports professional, the 128th Aviation Regiment’s helicopter engine, and the 343rd Army Reserve’s Field Ambulance to name a few,” McGowan acknowledged.
Both the battalion and the company plan more events like this one next year.
“We got over 250 leads during this TAIR Tour. An event like this gives students an opportunity to talk with active duty or Reserve Soldiers one on one, learn about their Army experience, gain a better understanding of the Total Army, and gather information on the opportunities that military service could possibly provide them,” McGowan noted.
Showing the students the many opportunities the Army could provide them was one of the reasons Sgt. 1st Class Andre Corbin, CLA/CLT Credentialing Logistics Training Department manager, volunteered to participate in the tour.
Corbin is the subject matter expert on two military occupational specialties and the technical expert on the Very Small Aperture Terminal satellite dish. He reported that he personally spoke to hundreds of students in a broad manner, and several dozen in a more one-on-one dialogue.
“The students were interested in the Army in general and were quite intrigued by the specifics I shared with them regarding the various aspects of the 92A and 92Y MOSs – essentially, how the two jobs are the ‘Amazon of the Army;’ providing needed supplies to Soldiers. It seemed they had never considered how Army opportunities were more than shooting rifles and kicking in doors,” Corbin revealed.
“Also, the students were very interested in the VSAT; particularly its being completely portable and able to be torn down and set up in about 15 minutes, and how it could provide internet connection anywhere in the world.”
When not talking about career fields or equipment, Corbin shared stories of his experiences traveling the world, earning a college degree online with the Army footing the bill, his benefits, future retirement and having the feeling of making a difference as well as being proud to serve his country.
“I felt like I was making a good connection with some of the students and opening them up to new possibilities with them now considering the Army as a realistic option,” he reflected. “Several of the students I spoke with went directly to the recruiting NCOs to get more information on enlisting. This made me feel like I was adding direct value to the operation.
“I would recommend other Soldiers volunteer for recruiting activities at least once in their career as a way to keep in touch with why we serve and to see the Army through the eyes of a young person,” Corbin concluded.
| Date Taken: | 10.28.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 10.29.2019 13:13 |
| Story ID: | 349707 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 22 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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