Unit Recruiting Team

The commander, first sergeant and readiness NCO are charged with maintaining the units strength and readiness. The Recruiting and Retention NCO (RRNCO) assigned to provide support to the unit is the commander's key advisor on strength-related issues. Unit leaders should keep the RRNCO informed on factors that affect strength and include him/her during long-term strength planning. In order for this partnership to reach maximum effectiveness, the unit leaders and RRNCO must focus on the same goal:

STRENGTH = READINESS = RELEVANCE

The Unit Recruiting Plan should include every effort to assist the RRNCO in replacing losses and growing strength. Unit members are valuable assets in providing quality referrals. Strength plans should include each team leader providing referrals for the vacancies in their squad or sections. The RRNCO can deliver valuable training that will help unit members prospect for referrals. The training will include:

Obtaining quality referrals: This training will help the unit members to focus on various groups of people they know. Great sources of referrals are the soldier's family, people with whom they socialize, have recreation, attend church, attend school, work and people who live in their neighborhood.

Recruiting potential soldiers: Some things you can do to attract new members are:

  • Talk to everyone you know or meet about your unit and why you joined
  • Bring them to drill and let them experience the Guard
  • Introduce them to your unit RRNCO
  • Follow-up to ensure the RRNCO is helping them get in your unit
  • Encourage and reward soldiers who actively participate in your referral program and who bring potential soldiers to drill
  • Involve the unit chain-of-command in the recruiting process

Teach a pre-screening process known as APPLE-MD: When possible obtain the following information and provide it to your unit RRNCO:

  • Age
  • Prior Service
  • Physical Health
  • Law Violations
  • Education
  • Marital Status
  • Dependent
  • Status

Attrition management starts with the first impression. The new soldier gets that first impression from the RRNCO: By involving the RRNCO as a major player on the Unit Recruiting Team, the commander will develop a partnership that can move that first positive impression to one that will last throughout a career. This position commanders, first sergeants and readiness NCOs to maintain unit strength and take care of the soldiers assigned to them.

Inactive National Guard (ING): The ING is another good source for accessions into the unit strength. Soldiers transfer to the ING for reasons that are temporary. After a specified period of time, we should solicit their return to an active status.We should encourage usage of the ING as a method to keep qualified soldiers connected to the unit. Soldiers who do not extend their enlistment at ETS but whose leaders feel they may return to the ARNG should be extended for immediate transfer to the ING.



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