Memorandum of Understanding
MOAA recently entered into a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. The agreement reestablished MOAA’s and the Army’s first memorandum of understand- ing from 2005, as well as the two organizations’ mutual cooperation. Per the agreement, Army recruiting includes information about MOAA in its activities, and MOAA includes Army recruiting information in its magazine and newsletters and encourages the association’s 416 nationwide chap- ters to support Army recruiters. Maj. Gen. Donald M. Campbell Jr., USA, heads
the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. His deputy is Brig. Gen. Michael X. Garrett, USA. Each took time out to talk to MOAA. What can you tell us about the environment in which your recruiters work today? What do you envision for the next year or so? Campbell: [The U.S. Army Recruiting Command] experienced greater success [with recruitment during] fiscal 2009 than in the past several years due to the hard work and dedication of our Army recruiters. Over the past several months, the propensity to enlist has improved and more than 60 percent of adults continue to report that they would support a young per- son’s decision to join the military. Our success has continued into 2010, and I expect recruiting to remain strong for the foreseeable future. What can you tell us about your current mission? Campbell: This year, the Army has asked us to provide 74,500 regular Army acces- sions and 20,000 for the Army Reserve. As of the end of February, we had accessed 29,507 soldiers for the regular Army and 9,098 soldiers for the Army Reserve. What philosophies do you have? Campbell: The [command] will succeed or fail as a team. Quality of life is a top prior- ity. We take care of our people; and they take care of the mission. Garrett: I’d like to expand on quality of life. General Campbell has really instituted some far-reaching and possibly life-chang- ing policies. For example, the standard- duty day ends at 1700. It takes a battalion
commander’s approval for anyone to work past 2000. One weekday per week, the workday ends at 1500, and two weekends a month are designated soldier and family time. I think that gives an idea of how committed General Campbell is to the quality of life of our people. How can organizations like MOAA or individu- als who recognize the challenge associated with recruiting assist the Army’s recruiters? Garrett: Army recruiting is not just an Army chal- lenge, it’s a challenge for the nation. People can help us by holding speaking engagements, for example. Sharing their Army stories firsthand will make an indelible impression on communities and prospective soldiers, both officer and enlisted. Also, we ask people to encourage young men and women to stay in school and graduate from high school; their educational success is important to them, the Army, and the nation. We also ask individuals or organizations to call
their local Army recruiter and ask how they can help. Invite your local recruiters to your activities, and take time to recognize their hard work. Our success is not possible without them.
Members in the Trenches
Many people want to step up and help military recruiters, and some MOAA members actually do. A few years ago, retired Army Lt. Col. Ben Booth, commander of MOAA’s Mendocino County Subchapter, Redwood Empire (Calif.) Chapter, read about the challenges faced by local Army recruiters. Booth and fellow chapter member retired Army CWO4 Stan McKaig de- cided to visit the local Army recruiting office. “We went in, introduced ourselves, took the recruiters to lunch, and asked them what we could do to help,” says Booth. Booth and the chapter’s involvement continue. The re-
tired pilot introduces the recruiters, many new to the area, to members of the community. He continues to take them to lunch and invites them to local events. “They march with us in local parades with our restored
1926 Model T Ford Roadster,” decked out in military and American flag apparel, he says. He and his wife, Barbara, open their oceanfront cottage for the Army recruiters to use. “We have been inspired, amazed, and delighted by their
spirit of patriotism and devotion to the defense of our country,” Booth says. “They are true patriots. I wish I could do more.”
S E P T EMB E R 2 0 1 0 MI L I T A R Y O F F I C E R 9 5
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