Army Reserve Staff Sgt. John Zonker talks to a potential recruit about Army opportunities. Zonker was on orders in fiscal year 2014 to Lacey Army Career Center.
Army
Reservist Introduces New Networks for Recruiting Efforts
By Tom Conning, USAREC, Seattle Battalion
Jan 5, 2015
Seattle Battalion is taking advantage of the opportunity to tap into hometown recruiters through the Active Duty for Operational Support program in the Army Reserve.
The program puts Reserve Soldiers on short-term orders to support recruiting missions.
Seattle Battalion used four Reserve Soldiers last fiscal year.
“The return on investment was outstanding,” said Sgt. 1st Class Brian Lockwood, Olympia center leader. “Usually, they will be drilling members in the community, which drill locally. This advantage is huge, because they have built internal and external networks.”
Army Reserve Staff Sgt. John Zonker worked with Lockwood and said it was an eye-opening experience.
"These recruiters are working their tails off,” Zonker said. “I gained a better understanding of what recruiters had to do. It’s probably more challenging than people think.”
Lacey center leader Sgt. 1st Class Rico Dawes appreciated Zonker’s familiarity in the area.
“Zonker was also very useful in assisting in Army Reserve recruiting, because he has a first-person perspective on the Reserve,” said Dawes. “His personal contacts made it easier to traverse the community of Lacey and gain access to the young men and women that the Army needs to be the future leaders of tomorrow.”
Zonker originally volunteered for the assignment for the experience to add to his NCO Evaluation Report but, said he gained so much from the assignment, that he would like volunteer for recruiting duty again in the future.
By Tom Conning, USAREC, Seattle Battalion
Jan 5, 2015
Seattle Battalion is taking advantage of the opportunity to tap into hometown recruiters through the Active Duty for Operational Support program in the Army Reserve.
The program puts Reserve Soldiers on short-term orders to support recruiting missions.
Seattle Battalion used four Reserve Soldiers last fiscal year.
“The return on investment was outstanding,” said Sgt. 1st Class Brian Lockwood, Olympia center leader. “Usually, they will be drilling members in the community, which drill locally. This advantage is huge, because they have built internal and external networks.”
Army Reserve Staff Sgt. John Zonker worked with Lockwood and said it was an eye-opening experience.
"These recruiters are working their tails off,” Zonker said. “I gained a better understanding of what recruiters had to do. It’s probably more challenging than people think.”
Lacey center leader Sgt. 1st Class Rico Dawes appreciated Zonker’s familiarity in the area.
“Zonker was also very useful in assisting in Army Reserve recruiting, because he has a first-person perspective on the Reserve,” said Dawes. “His personal contacts made it easier to traverse the community of Lacey and gain access to the young men and women that the Army needs to be the future leaders of tomorrow.”
Zonker originally volunteered for the assignment for the experience to add to his NCO Evaluation Report but, said he gained so much from the assignment, that he would like volunteer for recruiting duty again in the future.