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Recruiters: Keepers of the keys

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Joshua Strang
  • Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas --  Without keys, the vehicle doesn’t start.

An Air Force career is much like taking a car for a drive. The trip has hills and valleys representing the highs and lows most Airmen experience as they take their career for a quick four-year spin around the block, or on a cross-country, multi-state family vacation of 20 or more years. However, regardless of the path and destination, the vehicle will never leave the driveway without the keys.

In the Air Force, recruiters are the ones who jump start that journey. They are the keeper of the keys.

Recruiters serve in communities throughout the nation as the face of the Air Force; and for aspiring Airmen they are possibly the first people in blue recruits will meet.

“It’s important I leave them [communities] with a positive impression of the Air Force,” said Tech. Sgt. Tanisha Ross, Enlisted Accessions Recruiter, 341st Recruiting Squadron. “It is a big responsibility.”

Ross says with big responsibility comes big reward.

“I really enjoy seeing their transition from civilian to Airman,” Ross said. “I really bond with some recruits and I’m able to go to their basic training graduation. It is a good feeling to know I helped change their life for the better.”

Ross said her day typically runs from about 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“At 4:30 p.m. your day is not over,” Ross said. “Weekends and evenings are not off limits and when you leave your office, your work cell phone and laptop go home with you.”

A recruiter’s day consists of checking the recruiting database for updates, filling appointments with applicants, managing the Delayed Entry Program, conducting monthly school visits and canvassing their zones for potential recruits.

Air Force recruiters are responsible for inspiring and recruiting future generation of Airmen. Their duties also include leading and mentoring the Delayed Entry Program recruits, speaking publicly to small groups, classrooms and building relationships with community leaders. Recruiters also participate in planning and organizing large events for the purpose of marketing the Air Force and Air Force career opportunities.

Ross said it takes a lot of work to successfully transition a civilian into an Airman.

“The toughest parts of my job are time management, stress management and ensuring all applicants are taken care of,” she said. “Once you understand the moving parts and become proficient in each area, it gets easier. Some days are harder than others, but I accept the challenge and I am glad I was selected.”

Since recruiting was designated as one of 10 developmental special duties in 2013, the positions are filled through a nominative process. According to a memo from Air Force Personnel Center Headquarters, “The nomination process will provide Commanders, through their respective MAJCOM, an opportunity to nominate their best Airmen to fill these critical positions while providing a developmental career path.”

“My commander nominated me,” Ross said. “He, along with my chief, sat down with me and asked my top three DSD choices. I received a congratulatory email from Air Force Recruiting Service four months later notifying me of my selection.”

According to Chief Master Sgt. Dianne Jones, Operations Support Division Superintendent, Air Force Recruiting Service, the DSD program has helped the Air Force establish and hold firm to qualification standards and high expectations for Airmen selected by their leadership.

“These Airmen are called to action and are being asked to serve in a capacity that perhaps they had not seen in their future,” Jones said. “Those who react with the eagerness to serve in this capacity, expediently follow through with the process, and proceed without hesitancy into these assignments show their leaders they have made the right choice in selecting them for a DSD.”

Jones said recruiters play a crucial role as Air Force ambassadors.

“Over the last few decades many Air Force bases and other military installations have closed and left wide areas without a strong military presence,” Jones said. “The recruiter might be the only interaction some people have with the Air Force. It is his or her responsibility to ensure they are representing us well.”

Jones said there are various benefits for Airmen who want to be recruiters, but those benefits depend on what motivates them personally

“For some, it might be as simple as the increase in income through receiving $450 a month special duty pay,” Jones said. “For others it could be the experience of working in a more independent environment, the chance to learn something new and challenging or the potential these duties might bring for future promotions. They may find that the contributions they make to changing lives are beyond any other benefits.”

Airmen interested in becoming a recruiter should visit the DSD process page on myPers and talk with their base Career Advisor or other Airmen who have performed recruiting duty.

There are more than 1,000 recruiters serving in more than 700 offices within the continental United States, Europe, Japan, Puerto Rico and Guam. They are responsible for recruiting 100 percent of the enlisted force, 90 percent of the service’s health professions officers and approximately 16 percent of line officers.

*Editor’s note-this is part of a series on Developmental Special Duties