Army recruits civilians to recruit its soldiers

Dayton Daily News ^ | 21 October 2002 | James Cummings

[Deadeye Division]

Army recruits civilians to recruit its soldiers

Service tries to pull in more forces

By James Cummings
e-mail address: james_cummings@coxohio.com
Dayton Daily News

CENTERVILLE | If a young person had walked into the U.S. Army recruiting station on Miamisburg-Centerville Road two weeks ago, he or she would have been greeted by a carefully groomed recruiter in a crisp, neat Army uniform.

The same person walking into the same station this week would be greeted by a carefully groomed recruiter in a crisp, neat sports coat. The active duty Army recruiters staffing the seven Army recruiting stations in this part of the state were replaced last week by civilian recruiters.

The Dayton area is one of 10 locations nationwide participating in a five-year experiment to see if civilians can find new recruits for the Army as effectively as the traditional military recruiters.

Capt. Timothy Luedeking said he and his staff of 50 active-duty recruiters last week turned over control of recruiting stations from Middletown to Springfield to Huber Heights to a private company, Military Professional Resources Inc. of Alexandria, Va.

But aside from the switch from military uniforms to civilian clothing, the recruiters probably won't operate much differently than they have in the past. Most working in the area's Army recruiting stations used to be recruiters before leaving active military duty in the past few years.

"The transition has been going very smoothly," said Ernest Tickler, MPRI's company manager for the Dayton area. "We've got one former Navy recruiter, one Marine and two Air Force, but most of the people working for us have been Army recruiters in the past."

Luedeking said Congress last year mandated that the military experiment with ways of hiring private contractors to take over some support work so active-duty personnel could focus on duties related to combat readiness.

By the end of the year, civilian recruiters will replace Army recruiters in 10 locations, with MPRI covering five and Resource Consultant Inc. of Vienna, Va., handling the rest.

The other military branches in the Dayton area — Navy, Air Force, etc. — will continue to use active-duty recruiters at least for the time being.

Luedeking said the military personnel who worked under him at Dayton-area recruiting stations are being housed temporarily at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Eventually they will be reassigned to other recruiting districts or to combat-related duties.

A couple of uniformed soldiers may still be found in local Army recruiting stations. The Army sometimes has recruits from the area who recently completed basic training work at the stations for a couple of weeks to give potential signees an up-to-date perspective on what Army training is like.

Luedeking's troop's assignment in the Dayton area officially ends next Monday, when a ceremony formally handing over the Dayton recruiting stations to MPRI will be held at the Korean War Memorial in Dayton.

Traditionally, Luedeking said, top soldiers are pulled from other duties and assigned to work in recruiting stations for two or three years at a time. However, many of the people now working for MPRI in the Dayton area were recruiting specialists before leaving active duty; instead of working two- or three-year hitches as recruiters, they kept the job for a decade or more. For example, Robert Jones, MPRI's company training manager for the Dayton area, was an Army recruiter mostly in the Dayton area from 1985 to 1999, when he retired from the service and joined MPRI.

"We'll be doing the same things we've done all along. We're still looking for kids who are qualified physically and morally to serve their country," Jones said. "The only difference is we'll have more of a chance to become fixtures in the community. Instead of rotating somebody else in every couple of years, most of us will be here for the long haul."

Contact James Cummings at 225-2395 or by e-mail at james_cummings@coxohio.com

[From the Dayton Daily News: 10.21.2002]

[stylin19a]

Congress with a good idea (it is)? will wonders never cease !

" Luedeking said Congress last year mandated that the military experiment with ways of hiring private contractors to take over some support work so active-duty personnel could focus on duties related to combat readiness."

We've got one former Navy recruiter, one Marine and two Air Force, but most of the people working for us have been Army recruiters in the past."

Just as long as they don't decide on "Matt Foley" types.

[AngrySpud]

Having worked in a recruiting support role, I gotta wonder ... how do you get a civilian to work 70 hours a week?

[Tuba-Dude]

That's no problem--send my medals and stripes to MATT FOLEY, care of the VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!!!

[KitJ]

Flashback to late in the year, mid-1980s. Walking into the recruiting office, seeing those men strutting around the office in their crisp uniforms. Pride. I could be one of them. They had chests full of medals, creases to shave on, and all walked with the confidence of men who are in control. I enlisted two months after I turned seventeen, and still serve in uniform.

Fast forward to present day. As I walk in, am I buying a new car? Is this guy in a suit trying to sell me a house? He looks normal enough, though a little greasy in his blue blazer and red tie - maybe like he's trying to be an executive wannabe. But I was trying to join the Army. This guy says he was Army too. If it was so good, why did he get out? Couldn't he cut it? Probably not. Look at him, no medals, his shirt looks rumpled and I think that tie is a clip on. Forget this....


Kit.
Proudly serving since 1985, USA

[Deadeye Division]

Bump