This liberty, we'll defend

LIBERTY ISLAND, N.Y. -- Twelve new recruits take the oath of enlistment into the Air Force Reserve during an enlistment ceremony held recently in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty by recruiters from the 514th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. The dozen Airmen join the more than 71,000 men and women currently serving in the Air Force Reserve. The recruiters at the 514th Air Mobility Wing out of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. administered (U.S. Air Force/Master Sgt. Donna Jeffries)

A solemn oath

Reserve Recruiters make goal for 12th straight year

Published Sept. 12, 2012
By Master Sgt. Paul Flipse
HQ AFRC/Recruiting Service

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Air Force Reserve Command recruiters reached their annual goal today when they recorded their 9,229th enlistment of the fiscal year.

The achievement marks the 12th straight year Reserve Command recruiters have reached their annual target number for enlistments.

"We're the finest recruiting service in the Department of Defense" said Col. Steve Fulaytar, commander of Reserve Recruiting. "We prove it every year by meeting and exceeding goal to ensure we provide the finest Citizen Airmen available for our nation's defense."

During the 12-year stretch, Reserve Recruiters have enlisted more than 114,000 Airmen. As of June 2012, roughly 71,000 men and women were serving in the Air Force Reserve.

Enlistee number 9,229 was Andrew Lange, who was put in at 1:14 p.m. by Tech. Sgt. James Muna at Little Rock, Ark.

The roughly 400 men and women who recruit worldwide for the Air Force Reserve had until Sept. 30 -- the end of the fiscal year -- to reach their goal. They hit the mark 18 days early.

When asked for odds on Reserve Recruiting continuing their streak to a 13th year in a row, Colonel Fulaytar replied without batting an eye.

"One hundred percent," he said.

For information on serving in the Air Force Reserve, call 800-257-1212 to be put in touch with a local recruiter.