Recruiters Sign commitments

Recruiters sign commitments

Capt. Cory Hunt, with Alpha Company, signs his recruiting commitment for the next years recruiting mission during a signing ceremony at the Bowman Readiness Center in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 29, 2023. His company is responsible for recruiting around western Kentucky and his enlisted mission is for 356 recruits. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Crane)

Recruiters sign commitments

1st Sgt. Josh Varney, with Bravo Company, signs his recruiting commitment for the next years recruiting mission during a signing ceremony at the Bowman Readiness Center in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 29, 2023. He is responsible for recruiting around eastern Kentucky and his enlisted mission is for 420 recruits. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Crane)

Recruiters sign commitments

Maj. Gen. Hal Lamberton, Kentucky’s adjutant general, speaks to the crowd during the mission signing ceremony at the Bowman Readiness Center in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 29, 2023. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Crane)

Recruiters sign commitments

The signed documents sit on display at the mission signing ceremony at the Bowman Readiness Center in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 29, 2023. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Crane)

Recruiters sign commitments

The mission commitment papers sit on a table during the Recruiting and Retention mission signing ceremony at the Bowman Readiness Center in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 29, 2023. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Crane)

Recruiters sign commitments

The Recruiting and Retention seal sits on display at the mission signing ceremony at the Bowman Readiness Center in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 29, 2023. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Crane)

By Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Crane / Published Sept. 29, 2023

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Kentucky National Guard state leadership joined senior leaders from the Recruiting and Retention Battalion for the signing of their mission commitments yesterday at the Bowman Field Readiness Center, Sept 29.

Since 2020, every branch of the military has seen a decline in recruits, so having these commitments for Kentucky's recruiters is a big deal.

Maj. Gen. Hal Lamberton, Kentucky’s adjutant general, praised the recruiters of the Kentucky National Guard.

“We don’t exist without your efforts,” Lamberton said. “I salute each one of you because I realize how pertinent being a recruiter is to our formations, to our functions and for moving ahead.”

Each company in the battalion set their needed numbers to fulfill necessary requirements for 2024 and are now committed to meeting those goals.

“This accountability extends from our TAG to our newest recruiters,” said Lt. Col. Jason Mendez, commander of the Recruiting and Retention Battalion. “We acknowledge our mission and on behalf of every recruiter, contractor, staff member and leader within the recruiting and retention battalion, consider it done. We make mission!”

In an attempt to help build recruiting numbers, the Kentucky Enlistment Enhancement Program allows every Kentucky Guard Soldier or Airmen to be mini recruiter. Soldiers and Airmen can get paid $500 if they find people who are interested, have them talk to a recruiter and if they enlist, they get cut the $500 check.