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Recruiting leadership visits Reserve recruiting group, celebrates accomplishments

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Chance Babin

Leaders of Air Force Recruiting Service had the opportunity to witness the unbridled enthusiasm of the 367th Recruiting Group first hand at the group’s annual deployment readiness training event here in October.

The 367th RCG, formerly Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service, joined Air Force Recruiting Service as a classic associate unit earlier in the fall. AFRC RS has met or surpassed its recruiting goal 19 years in a row and the new group showed its enthusiasm for Maj. Gen. Jeannie Leavitt, AFRS commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Sonia Lee, AFRS command chief master sergeant, at the training event.

Leavitt attended the event to get an understanding of her new group and share the vision of total force recruiting firsthand with the Reserve team.

“I thought it was important for Chief Lee and me to attend the Reserve annual event because it was an incredible opportunity to learn about the unique aspects of Reserve recruiting from the experts,” Leavitt said. “Attending this event also provided us the opportunity to share the latest AFRS state of command information with the Reserve recruiting team. Our outstanding Reserve recruiters were able to ask questions about total force recruiting directly to the AFRS leadership team. Recruiters tend to not be shy, so they asked some great questions and provided a lot of interesting insights.”

“We were honored to welcome General Leavitt and Chief Lee,” said Col. Timothy Martz, 367th RCG commander. “Their support of our event and their leadership through our Total Force integrated recruiting initiative has been outstanding. They truly recognize what Reserve recruiting brings to the fight and we look forward to strengthening the active-duty Air Force and Reserve classic association we have established this past year.”

Martz and his team of Reserve recruiters had another stellar year despite many challenges.

“Chief (Jean) Vargo (367th RCG manager) and I are beyond proud of our recruiting mission success in fiscal 2019,” he said. “We exceeded our mission requirements for the 19th consecutive year while achieving more than 101 percent of our annual goal. This is remarkable given the mid-year budget challenges we all faced as a command. Our recruiters in the field delivered excellence this past year. Our recruiters on the front line are the key to our success.”

The 367th RCG honored its top performers at the Orlando event.

Master Sgt. Marquise Heard, the lead/in-service recruiter for March Air Reserve Base, California, won the Mike Mungavin Award, given annually to the top Reserve recruiter. It is named after retired Col. Mike Mungavin, former AFRC RS commander.

“Winning the Mungavin Award is surreal,” Heard said. “This award is bigger than me. It’s for my amazing teammates who support me every day. I honestly dedicate this award to all the recruiters who do not get recognized enough. I dedicate this award to the recruiters in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest who work day-in and day-out to make goal for this command.

“I think the key for winning this award is simply going out and doing the job every day. I believe in give your best efforts in everything you do. I believe in just doing your job and taking care of people around you and everything else will play itself out. I’ve never been the person to chase awards, so this has truly been an honor.”

The award for the top squadron went to the Northern Recruiting Squadron, which is charged with recruiting one of the toughest areas of the country.

“Last year, NRS failed to meet our recruiting mission and we were considered the worst of the four squadrons,” said Lt. Col. Tim Martin, NRS commander. “At the beginning of the year all that changed thanks to strong squadron leadership from Lt. Col. Gary Beckett (the former NRS commander), Chief Roger Haynes (the former NRS manager), tenacious flight chiefs and dedicated recruiters who overcame the stigma of recruiting in the most difficult region of the U.S.”

Leavitt and Lee said they were impressed with the cheering, enthusiasm and noise throughout the deployment training event.

“There were a lot of positive takeaways, but the one thing that stood out the most was the level of energy and enthusiasm,” Leavitt said. “We are very excited to have the 367th RCG officially join the AFRS team. Our Reserve recruiters are an extremely motivated group of individuals. Our Reserve squadrons have a strong sense of friendly competition that consistently propels them to success. I find that kind of positive energy extremely contagious and I know it will make our entire team stronger.”