ST. LOUIS --  

For the second year in a row, Air Force Reserve Command's recruiting force met its accession goal, celebrating the achievement during a weeklong training event in St. Louis from January 24-30, 2026. 

More than 470 Air Force Reserve recruiters, leaders and support staff from across the Air Force Reserve Command and Air Force Recruiting Service and around the globe, gathered for a weeklong Recruiting Training Event designed to celebrate reaching the AFR accession goal of 7,600 for a second consecutive year, while strengthening recruiting effectiveness, resilience, and mission alignment for the 367th Recruiting Group, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. 

The event, themed Forging Warrior Mindset, brought together 473 attendees for over 20 hours of training per Airman. The training was designed to combine professional skill development, resilience education, and team cohesion to support the 367th Recruiting Group's mission to inspire, engage, and recruit future Citizen Airmen. 

“Our recruiters are the tip of the spear and our most vital weapon system,” said Col. Sean “Metro” Fellows, 367 RCG commander. “This event was about sharpening skills, reinforcing our warrior ethos, and ensuring our Airmen are empowered, trusted, and resourced to win in a challenging recruiting environment.” 

Fellows championed the training week with his ‘Just Freaking Care’ philosophy. The event featured over forty speakers and facilitators who led sessions on recruiting mastery, leadership principles, and seven mission-critical recruiting tasks. The training also fulfilled annual requirements such as Sexual Assault Prevention and Response and Suicide Prevention, while promoting comprehensive Airman fitness and mindfulness. 

“The event directly supported the commander’s vision,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jose Escorza, training branch chief and accession superintendent, 367 RCG. “The training was structured to inspire through keynote speakers and recognition, engage through tailored breakout sessions and team-building events, and recruit by sharpening the skills needed to identify and enlist the next generation of Citizen Airmen.” 

Senior leaders emphasized the importance of coaching, accountability and self-care as mission enablers. Chief Master Sgt. Derek Hudson, senior enlisted leader, 367 RCG, said the event marked both a celebration and a recommitment. 

“We celebrated exceeding last year’s goal while refocusing on coaching and accountability at every level to ensure mission success,” said Hudson. “The energy and passion of this team shows we’re just getting started.” 

The training reinforced the connection link between readiness and people.  

“Sustained excellence requires trust, mentorship, and warrior self-care,” said Fellows. “When our Airmen are healthy and aligned, they’re unstoppable.” 

Leaders expressed confidence that the momentum from the training event will continue as recruiters return to their duties worldwide. The event supports the Air Force Reserve Command's priorities of readiness and modernization by strengthening the foundation of the force through successful recruiting.

“Recruiting is the bedrock for building a combat-ready Reserve that can surge capacity, achieve strategic depth, optimize our force mix, and fulfill our core purpose to fly, fix, and fight,” said Fellows. “By focusing on controllable actions—honing skills, coaching Airmen, mastering processes, and fostering a culture of trust and accountability—we're aligning with AFRC's emphasis on a resilient, modernized force.”  

To learn more about serving in the Air Force, Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve, visit www.airforce.com/find-a-recruiter or download the AIM HIGH app to speak directly with a recruiter.