International Baccalaureate high schools are not a top priority for most recruiters since many of, if not all, their students are typically college bound and not interested in military service.
Sergeant 1st Class Justin Daniels of the Greenfield Recruiting Station in Milwaukee wanted to break down that recruiting barrier, and he set out to do just that when assigned to Ronald Wilson Reagan College Preparatory High School in November 2008.
Initially met with resistance from several influential administrators including the principal and guidance counselors, Daniels was not deterred from achieving his goals of dispelling myths about military service and helping as many students as possible reach their goals.
Daniels not only achieved his personal mission, but his successes also propelled him beyond all the expectations he had when beginning his journey at the school.
During his first year, Daniels went back to recruiting basics and used his best asset: two Future Soldiers who attended the school. He invited them to share their positive enlistment experiences and their Army stories with faculty and students, which allowed him to gain the reputation as a trusted coach and mentor within the school.
When graduation day came in May 2009, however, Daniels was greeted with lukewarm smiles and forced handshakes from parents and was only allowed to address the graduating class in an informal forum. It was then that he knew his mission was not yet complete.
Concerned about only enlisting one senior that year, Daniels realized he would have to get creative about how to reach students and faculty the following school year.
At the beginning of the 2009--2010 school year, he introduced himself to the faculty and provided educators with information regarding money for college and Army career opportunities.
While many faculty members were still somewhat reluctant to hear what he had to say, one guidance counselor, Michael Reedy, eagerly embraced Daniels. Still, no students enlisted in the Army during his second year. Though Daniels had a promising conversation with junior Nathaly Salazar at a career fair toward the end of the year, she was only interested in serving in the Air Force.
Daniels started off his third year at the school with a visit to Reedy's office and was pleasantly surprised to hear the senior class president requested Daniels deliver the graduation speech to the Class of 2011.
He would soon find out a reference from Salazar was behind the request. Even though the student wasn't interested in the Army, she was obviously impressed with Daniels and shared her feelings with other classmates. Her interaction with Daniels at the career fair helped change his relationship with the senior class and eventually the entire school.
When word spread to staff and faculty about the request for Daniels to be the graduation guest speaker, teachers began greeting him with genuine smiles.
Reedy established an Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) testing program, and Daniels was even invited to participate in the selection board for the new principal.
In his address to the 2011 graduating class, Daniels once again reverted back to the basics to deliver the best speech he said he'd ever given. He shared his Army story and encouraged students to be open to learning from everyone they meet and exploring every opportunity.
"As you all move forward in life and choose a career, I want you to promise me something. Use these next years to help shape and define you as I let my time in the Army shape and define me. Becoming a recruiter has given me a great edge on life. I interact with kids every day and learned how to reach each kid in a way to make a difference for the better. Attending Ronald Reagan has given you that same edge, a leg up on the rest of the kids competing with you. There will be an array of opportunities for you because of your attendance at Reagan."
The results of Daniels' efforts are evident in the 2012 school year.
Already, he's tripled the number of students taking the ASVAB. He received the junior and senior contact lists the same day he requested them. The principal requested he deliver anti-bullying training to the students. Teachers greet him with genuine respect and appreciation and consistently request his assistance with history and other classroom presentations. The school psychologist requested his assistance in encouraging a young man to not drop out of school. And he is a valued member of one of the school's most prominent clubs, Urban Promise, which is comprised of students who hope to be the future leaders of America.
Daniels anticipates writing more enlistments than ever before from the school. At the beginning of January, one student had already enlisted and Daniels was working with three more.
Last, but certainly not least, Daniels will leave a lasting impression at that school and with its students.
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