Dwindling local advertising budgets across the command could spell the end for top-tier Army recruiting footprints at major special events; particularly those planned and executed at the battalion level, however, a lack of dollars is not deterring Lt. Col. Vernon Jakoby, commander of the Kansas City Recruiting Battalion.
Jakoby's team recently planned and executed a Lamborghini-quality Army exhibit at the 2012 Kansas City International Auto Show March 7-11 on a Yugo budget. The effort was so successful, the Army walked away with the Kansas City International Auto Show's top award for interactive exhibits in the battalion's first year of participation at the event.
The footprint, which was about half the size of a football field, spanned 17,000 square feet of prime exhibit space at Bartle Hall Convention Center in downtown Kansas City. The effort generated more than a thousand quality leads in five days primarily with battalion assets and support from local units.
The opportunity to showcase the Army at the national event, which attracted more than 150,000 people in five days, fell into the lap of the battalion when the auto show made the Army an offer it couldn't refuse -- free exhibit space.
"You don't often get $86,000 worth of exhibit space donated," said Jakoby.
Determined to take advantage of the opportunity, the commander initially tried to secure Strength in Action interactive assets only to learn they'd all been committed to other national events for the winter. Refusing to give up, he embarked upon a course of action which is the foundation for the Army's success -- teamwork!
"We reached out to anyone and everyone in the local area to make this event a success and found a number of organizations more than happy to pitch in," explained Jakoby. "I couldn't be happier with the support we received. Synergy is the name of the game."
One of the groups tapped for support was the Kansas City Military Vehicle Preservation Association, which provided a number of World War II era Army vehicles and other cool items that were among the crowd favorites, according to show organizers.
The 89th Sustainment Brigade from Belton provided a HUMVEE and HMETT wrecker with support personnel throughout the event.
The Special Forces Adventure Van was there courtesy of Mission Support Battalion, which also provided a number of other static displays that were sprinkled throughout the massive display.
USAREC Deputy Commanding General Brig. Gen. Henry Huntley administered the oath of enlistment to dozens of Kansas City area Future Soldiers during the event.
The idea to participate in the show was born in November 2011 when Manhattan (KS) AUSA Chapter President, Art Degroat was offered the free exhibit space. Degroat approached Manhattan Company Commander Capt. Trent Cleveland with the opportunity to feature a major Army presence at the 2012 Auto Show. Cleveland immediately contacted Jakoby to map out a vision.
Degroat and the Kansas City AUSA Chapter President, Mark Wiggins have a rock-solid working relationship with battalion Army recruiters and are always looking for ways to help the USAREC mission.
"Their assistance paved the way for our success," Jakoby explained.
Cleveland described the event as a "prime example of what we can accomplish when we focus on teamwork and leadership." Manhattan was one of three Kansas City Battalion companies which played a key role in the success of the car show.
Cleveland is confident the Army and Kansas City International Auto Show will be forever linked following the 2012 effort. Jakoby's already has his team focused on even bigger things in 2013 auto show.
Social Sharing