Every waiver a person; some waivers are heroes
April 7, 2014
By Cathy Pauley, U.S. Army Recruiting Command PAO
With the year-to-date shortfalls added to U.S. Army Recruiting Command’s remaining FY14 mission, recruiters will likely have more applicants requiring a waiver.
Many recruiters see waiver workflow as an administrative drudge. The Chief of USAREC Waivers Branch sees a waiver as a story about the applicant.
“Remember, every workflow is tied to a person,” said Troy Paisley.
From an administrative side of a waiver request, it is simply a chain of requests and responses that end up on a stat sheet or log, until approved or disapproved.
For the hopeful applicant, that waiver process is his or her story, a story that requires rewriting to become a Soldier.
Paisley has one of these stories from his time as a recruiter.
In 2005, he met Kyle (not his real name), a multi-sport athlete, cocky and all-around great guy, according to Paisley. He came strutting into the recruiting office and announced, “I want to join the Army.”
“Kyle had a slight phobia to algebra and three run-ins with the law, all misdemeanors,” said Paisley, who was center commander then. “He studied hard and utilized March2Success for his algebra and I got his waiver packet together.”
When Kyle’s waiver packet was approved, he enlisted two days later.
Paisley’s first sergeant at the time, now-Command Sgt. Maj. Nevin Salada, believed then that working waivers took time away from recruiters searching for applicants that didn’t require a waiver.
“Truthfully, Kyle’s experience changed my perception,” Salada said. “To this day I define a quality applicant as “any applicant that is willing to die for his or her country.”
Determined to be a hero, Kyle chose airborne infantry and selected “unit of action” option that assigned him to the next deploying unit upon completion of initial training. Kyle was honor graduate of his infantry cycle. His mother became the Army’s number one fan after Kyle shipped to basic training and while he was deployed.
“She was always in the station talking to other parents, or setting up a neighborhood support group for military families,” said Paisley. “And she brought us baked goods.”
After airborne school, Kyle came home for the Hometown Recruiter Assistance Program, visiting area high schools and talking to prospects. The new paratrooper was responsible for multiple enlistments.
Kyle’s deployment was one year as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle gunner in 2006 and he volunteered to extend it six months. He and Paisley wrote back and forth during the deployment.
“He always said the deployment was just like ‘Call of Duty,’ ” Paisley said.
Unlike that video game, there were no extra lives. Kyle died a real hero in the line of duty in 2007.
“Kyle was a quality young man and died for the freedoms most people take for granted,” Salada said. “I don't believe the Army should be in the business of allowing all people to enlist but I do believe the whole person concept should weigh heavy on the approval process.”
Kyle’s mom was so proud of her son, and thankful for Paisley helping him enlist in the Army.
“His mom told me he wanted to join the Army his entire life,” said Paisley. “She said if it wasn’t for me and my team, Kyle would have never got to live his dream.
“Kyle has always been an example of why I do this,” said Paisley, who retired as a sergeant first class in 2012. “Recruiting is a ‘people’ business. People like Kyle.”
April 7, 2014
By Cathy Pauley, U.S. Army Recruiting Command PAO
With the year-to-date shortfalls added to U.S. Army Recruiting Command’s remaining FY14 mission, recruiters will likely have more applicants requiring a waiver.
Many recruiters see waiver workflow as an administrative drudge. The Chief of USAREC Waivers Branch sees a waiver as a story about the applicant.
“Remember, every workflow is tied to a person,” said Troy Paisley.
From an administrative side of a waiver request, it is simply a chain of requests and responses that end up on a stat sheet or log, until approved or disapproved.
For the hopeful applicant, that waiver process is his or her story, a story that requires rewriting to become a Soldier.
Paisley has one of these stories from his time as a recruiter.
In 2005, he met Kyle (not his real name), a multi-sport athlete, cocky and all-around great guy, according to Paisley. He came strutting into the recruiting office and announced, “I want to join the Army.”
“Kyle had a slight phobia to algebra and three run-ins with the law, all misdemeanors,” said Paisley, who was center commander then. “He studied hard and utilized March2Success for his algebra and I got his waiver packet together.”
When Kyle’s waiver packet was approved, he enlisted two days later.
Paisley’s first sergeant at the time, now-Command Sgt. Maj. Nevin Salada, believed then that working waivers took time away from recruiters searching for applicants that didn’t require a waiver.
“Truthfully, Kyle’s experience changed my perception,” Salada said. “To this day I define a quality applicant as “any applicant that is willing to die for his or her country.”
Determined to be a hero, Kyle chose airborne infantry and selected “unit of action” option that assigned him to the next deploying unit upon completion of initial training. Kyle was honor graduate of his infantry cycle. His mother became the Army’s number one fan after Kyle shipped to basic training and while he was deployed.
“She was always in the station talking to other parents, or setting up a neighborhood support group for military families,” said Paisley. “And she brought us baked goods.”
After airborne school, Kyle came home for the Hometown Recruiter Assistance Program, visiting area high schools and talking to prospects. The new paratrooper was responsible for multiple enlistments.
Kyle’s deployment was one year as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle gunner in 2006 and he volunteered to extend it six months. He and Paisley wrote back and forth during the deployment.
“He always said the deployment was just like ‘Call of Duty,’ ” Paisley said.
Unlike that video game, there were no extra lives. Kyle died a real hero in the line of duty in 2007.
“Kyle was a quality young man and died for the freedoms most people take for granted,” Salada said. “I don't believe the Army should be in the business of allowing all people to enlist but I do believe the whole person concept should weigh heavy on the approval process.”
Kyle’s mom was so proud of her son, and thankful for Paisley helping him enlist in the Army.
“His mom told me he wanted to join the Army his entire life,” said Paisley. “She said if it wasn’t for me and my team, Kyle would have never got to live his dream.
“Kyle has always been an example of why I do this,” said Paisley, who retired as a sergeant first class in 2012. “Recruiting is a ‘people’ business. People like Kyle.”