News

"Get 1 Now" turns 300% increase in recruiting leads

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Grant Saylor
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  Air Force Reserve recruiters at Joint Base Lewis-McChord have been busy. Real busy. That's because referrals of prospective Reservists have skyrocketed under the Get 1 Now program, the Air Force Reserve's popular online recruiting tool.

The number of qualified leads coming into Senior Master Sgt. Scott Terpening's recruiting office via the Get 1 website rose a whopping 300 percent for the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, compared to ALL of fiscal year 2010.

As the 446th Airlift Wing's senior recruiter, Sergeant Terpening credits much of the increase to personal testimonials of current Reservists.

"What's great is when our personnel tell their friends or family members about their first hand experience in the Air Force Reserve," said Sergeant Terpening, who has been selected for promotion to the rank of chief. "It leads to qualified applicants much more often than someone who just stops by a recruiting office with no first-hand knowledge of what it's like to serve."

It doesn't hurt that the 446th AW recruiters have been sponsoring recent high-profile events from all over the Pacific Northwest, including Monster Jam at the Tacoma Dome, and comedian Carlos Mencia at JBLM. Sergeant Terpening also says a plan is in the works for a high-profile late night comedian to visit JBLM in May. Confirmation is pending. While the recruiters here work feverishly to attract high quality recruits to the force, they are thankful to the support they receive from their fellow coworkers throughout the wing.

"Reservists here help us out just by being good stewards of the Air Force," said Master Sgt. Robert Mielke.

The in service recruiter for the 446th Airlift Wing, Sergeant Mielke specializes in retaining service members separating from active duty service. He emphasizes the important role that current Reservists play in talking up the benefits of service. The money you can save on health insurance for your family by cancelling your civilian employer's coverage in favor of the Reserve's TriCare plan is one such example, he said.

Sergeant Terpening said it's also nice to have the support of the wing, from the commander on down to the senior Air Reserve Technicians that help provide the tools needed to bring in the next generation of professional Reserve Airmen.

The soon to be chief splits time between JBLM and Elmendorf AFB, Alaska where he serves as senior recruiter for the 477th Fighter Group. That's where he'll be come early March, spreading the Air Force Reserve message at the Iditarod sled race. Such is the life of an Air Force Reserve recruiter and his team of dedicated professionals.

"Of the four jobs I've held during my enlistment, this is by far the best job I've had in the Air Force," said Sergeant Mielke.