NCOs seeking tough leadership training, staff interaction skills, and improved personal communications abilities should look to a three-year tour in U.S. Army Recruiting Command.
Seeking and enlisting the future of our Army comes with many opportunities NCOs may not realize.
I have found USAREC provides unique and focused leadership skills not found anywhere else in the Army. Leading peers away from the installation environment is completely different from leading junior enlisted. I now have a stronger understanding of leadership and the power of influence. What motivates privates and specialists does not motivate sergeants. Finding the right balance of positional and personal power is critical when leading Soldiers of the same or greater rank.
Developing an NCO of the same rank brings its own challenges. How respective will the Soldier be to development outside of their primary MOS? Does the leader have the experience required to develop said Soldier? Is the leader making the time to properly develop and mentor the Soldier?
Shortly after getting to a recruiting center, unique challenges will accelerate an NCO's personal development. For many it will be the first time since graduating high school that they will interact with a variety of civilians -- primarily teachers, principals, teenagers and their parents.
Recruiters must assure parents of 17 and 18 year olds that the Army will provide the best training possible, employ their son or daughter with care and professionalism, and get that young person off to a great start in life.
Since USAREC is nationwide, some NCOs will report to remote locations where they and maybe one other are the face of the Army in that community. Some of these locations do not fully reflect our values and beliefs. An assignment with USAREC provides new experiences and exposes the NCOs to challenges found only in this command.
I can attest that NCOs assigned to USAREC are among the Army's best. Recruiters must pass background checks associated with an assignment to a "Position of Special Trust." For that Department of Defense designation, only the top five percent of every MOS can be considered for a three-year recruiting tour. Recruiters shape the future of the Army. The NCOs I have served with represent the talent, drive and ethics necessary for this duty.
Army-selected recruiters may find themselves assigned to the same center from which they enlisted, and they will find that city or town changed. Friends from your sports teams and study hall may view the Army as a last-resort option.
I found out quickly how to adjust and develop recruiting tactics to meet the demands of my location, to change perceptions. Often the recruiter has the largest impact on how Americans views its Army. Every day recruiters must demonstrate that the Army is a profession of highly skilled and well-disciplined Soldiers, able to serve this nation and the American people in any mission.
Finally, the primary mission of USAREC is to achieve mission success or, put them in boots. This is easy to say, however; without the right attributes and applying the correct approach to leading, mission success will not happen on a consistent basis. A good leader is a great follower first. For many Soldiers, recruiting duty is the first time in many years where they are a follower. After a USAREC assignment, every NCO will have a greater appreciation for leading and realize how difficult true leadership can be.
USAREC has evolved from a "mission is everything" command to one that focuses on leader development, teamwork, and ensuring NCOs leave this command better than they were when they arrived three years earlier.
A Soldier's time in USAREC should not be full of anxiety and doubt, but one that takes advantage of the positives. Displaying professionalism, securing the best Army for the future, and development of leadership skills are just a few of the unique opportunities that go along with recruiting America's future Army.
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