By Master Sgt. Phil Speck,
123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="324" caption="Master Sgt. Tommy Caruso, recruiting office supervisor for the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Force Support Squadron in Louisville, Ky., goes over enlistment paperwork Jan. 10, 2012, with new recruit Joseph R. Duke, who is joining the Kentucky Air Guard as a medical technician for the CERFP. The CERFFP unit — also known as the Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosive Enhanced Response Force Package — is designed to respond to attacks on the U.S. homeland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Phil Speck)"]
KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Current and retired members of the Air National Guard can now refer potential recruits to the Guard and collect rewards if those individuals decide to join.
The new Air National Guard Referral Rewards Program offers incentives ranging from backpacks to high-definition televisions, said Master Sgt. Tommy Caruso, Base Recruiting Office Supervisor.
"The program was created to reward current and retired Air Guard members who are helping bring new Airmen into the unit," Caruso said. "It's based on a tiered system of rewards, so that the incentives increase in value as you make more successful referrals. Special incentives also are offered for critical career fields."
To participate in the program, current members and retirees must visit www.Refer2ANG.com and sign up. Each participant will receive a Referral Rewards Welcome Kit with everything the participant needs to get started, including his or her Referral Reward Program Code.
"The RRP code is what the referred lead will need to give to their recruiter while starting the accession process," Caruso explained. "This code is unique and will be the key to getting participants their credit for the referral."
The welcome kit also includes tips on finding qualified candidates, personalized business cards with contact information and the participant's RRP code, and a Referral Rewards Membership Card that lists the RRP Code and The Airman's Creed.
Participants can start referring leads by handing out their personalized business cards, Caruso said.
Rewards are redeemed via a tiered system. After a participant's first recruit joins, the participant can choose a reward from the first tier. When the second recruit joins, he or she can pick a reward from the second tier, and so on.
The more new Airmen a participant finds, the more valuable the rewards.
The first tier offers a choice of a backpack, duffel bag, tool or executive leather kit. All the items are customized with the Air National Guard logo. The second tier offers such items as a custom fitness kit or a tailgate package. Third-tier rewards include custom luggage or a stainless kitchen set, while fourth-tier incentives include a grill or golfing set.
Fifth-tier rewards, offered to participants who bring in five recruits, include a 3D, 40-inch Blue-Ray home theater system or two different gaming kits that include a game system and 40-inch high-definition television.
Certain hard-to-fill jobs are designated as critical AFSCs, Caruso noted. "If you find a recruit to fill one of these positions, you would be eligible for premium rewards.
"But no matter what positions you fill, you can receive some pretty amazing items."