Army recruiters seeking a few more good enlistees
An increase of the overall mission of U.S. Army recruiting in the nation will impact recruiting in Butler County ever so slightly.
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 allowed Army leaders to call for an increase from 62,500 to 68,500 recruits this year.
Capt. John Hurd, company commander of the Clarion Recruiting Company, which covers Butler County and other surrounding counties, said the increase is a positive change for the Army as a whole, but when broken down, this will only be an increase of about four more recruits this year in the county.
“Really, it's a minuscule increase,” Hurd said.
Hurd said Butler County's mission has remained relatively unchanged during the past three years.
“It's based on historical numbers,” Hurd said. “Sometimes they hit it, and sometimes they don't.”
The time for recruiting personnel to meet their mission requirements spans through September.
Hurd said the U.S. Army Recruiting Station at Clearview Mall in Center Township already has met its mark for this year. He said the Butler station consistently reaches its goal.
“They are basically on par with their previous two years with the number of contracts they were looking to achieve,” he said. “There seems to be generally good support in the area.”
Hurd said Butler County has not only produced a good number of recruits, but many of them are geared for better jobs.
All recruits take a timed aptitude test called the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. The higher a recruit scores, the better are the jobs he is offered.
“Our quality marks this year are much higher than previously,” Hurd said. “It's a reflection of the school system and the way the kids are (being raised) here.”
Though the Army as a whole is increasing in size, Hurd said its demand for quality will not falter.
“The Army isn't planning on changing their standards, and I wouldn't say that would be a concern, especially in the Butler area.”
While the increase in mission numbers won't drastically affect the county, some of the new incentives and changes may reach county recruits.
The Army is offering $200 million in incentive bonuses this year.
Hurd said recruits can earn up to $40,000 in incentives which could take the form of an enlistment signing bonus or funding for education.
“This is the big thing,” Hurd said. “It's absolutely fantastic.”
The Army has also opened more opportunities for previous servicemembers to return and has increased the number of two-year enlistment opportunities.
Hurd said the added availability for veterans to re-enlist gives them a soldier already trained for a job, cutting down costs while the additional two-year contracts gives an opportunity for some, especially seniors in high school, to test the military as a potential career.
Hurd said these opportunities give potential recruits a few fresh topics to discuss across the desk and may just give some the incentive they need to join.
