Usar Recruiting Operations Officer / Retention Officer
Denver, Colorado And Vancouver, Washington
As a member of the Denver Recruiting Battalion, I supported 144 recruiters in 37 recruiting stations, 34 Army Reserve units, and 3 Army Reserve commands. My main role was to provide recruiters with Army Reserve-specific information about incentives available to new recruits. Highlights from this role include:• Planning and executing annual training workshops to improve the recruiters’ abilities to meet applicant and Army Reserve unit needs; I conducted needs analysis surveys, coordinated additional instructor support when needed, and analyzed after action surveys to improve future training.• Implementing local training for Army recruits prior to departure to Basic Combat Training; I selected training topics and prepared training materials, and managed 12 instructors and support personnel. As a result, 98% of participants remained in the DEP program and subsequently shipped to basic training locations.As the Retention Officer for a USAR training division, I conducted assistance visits to support our 28 units’ retention needs. This involved inspecting unit records and procedures, providing on-the-spot training to overcome deficiencies, and delivering presentations to unit commanders to explain the inspection results. I communicated regularly with headquarters units and subordinate organizations across a 12-state region, and with 8 recruiting battalions, 3 Army Reserve commands, and 10 Army installations. It was a honor to work with and learn from 3 outstanding Non-Commissioned Officers who served as retention specialists.Highlights from this role include:• Developing semi-annual training workshops for 28 unit retention personnel, to include needs analysis, materials preparation, facility coordination, funds management, class presentations, additional instructors, and post-event analysis to improve future training; as a result, the division’s retention rate increased to 97%.
