CHICAGO -- What started out as a simple visit to the veterans representative at Chicago State University to promote prior service and Army Reserve opportunities turned into a radio gig for recruiters from the Midtown and Southside Chicago Recruiting Stations. Chicago Company recruiters Sgt. 1st Class Tyray Daniels and Staff Sgt. Jonathan Spann are now weekly panel members on a Chicago State radio show geared toward veterans.
"The show is the internet based weekly program 'Vet Connect,' that features a panel discussion on veterans benefits and issues concerning veterans," according to Sgt. 1st Class Deven Williams, the Midtown center commander. "The program is designed as an outreach project of the National Association of Black Veterans (NABVETS), and attempts to 'inform, motivate, encourage, educate and network those who've serve in the Armed Forces.'"
WCSU, the Chicago State radio station, is an affiliate of the online streaming iHeartRadio service. The focus of Vet Connect, according to the show's host Savant Willis, is to "utilize radio and other social media networks to share the concerns of veterans' issues with both military and non-military audiences."
Williams says that he was excited about the opportunity to get his recruiters involved in the weekly panel discussions. "The show's mission is to inform through various media, and as recruiters we should always be looking for new ways to have our message heard," William said. "Recruiters can use the show to interact with the call-in listeners by answer questions and provide the audience with our current recruiting messages."
Most importantly, the show has opened doors for recruiters at Chicago State.
"Prior to our participation in the show, we had little access to the university," Williams said. "The show provides recognition and great access for the recruiters at the school. And through our various advocates at the university, we're able to use the campus for Future Soldier events and we're working on a plan to make the campus a potential ASVAB testing site."
Williams says that the recruiters have been offered guest spots on other university panels thanks to the show. And the veterans' forum show seems to be catching on, which should create opportunities in other battalions.
"Other regional universities are using the show as a template to create similar shows," Williams said. Vet Connect producers have also been approached by the American Forces Network (AFN) representatives, who are interested in syndicating the show on AFN outlets worldwide.
Vet Connect is aired on Friday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. and WCSU can be found at http://wcsu.csu.edu or on the iHeartRadio app by searching WCSU or Chicago State University.
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