Phoenix, AZ –
U.S. Army Recruiting Command's deputy commanding general of operations visited the Phoenix Recruiting Battalion area March 20.
Brig. Gen. Kevin Vereen toured the East Valley Institute of Technology in Mesa, followed by a visit to the Tempe Recruiting Station.
During his visit to EVIT, Vereen observed high school students and adults training on campus in a variety of career fields, including firefighting, welding, culinary arts, automotive repair, criminal justice and radio broadcasting.
"I met some gentlemen at a conference in Nashville a few months ago who told me about the school and urged me to come and visit," Vereen said during a live interview with the campus radio station. "Today I had the chance to come, and it's just amazing here ... words can't describe how incredible EVIT is."
Vereen said he was impressed by the firefighting, automotive and criminal justice students with whom he spoke.
"If they're any indication of how you're being taught here, then I'm highly encouraged," he said.
EVIT has more than 40 different programs. Vereen said the Army can relate, since it has 150 different job opportunities.
"Everything I've seen today we have in the Army ... it's something a lot of people don't understand," Vereen said. "We have a tremendous variety of military occupational specialties in the Army, and hopefully during my visit today, I was able to articulate that to the students I spoke to."
If someone wants to be a firefighter, policeman or automotive mechanic, all those options are available in the Army, he continued.
"As a recruiter, I have the chance to get out and spread the word on what the Army is all about, something very important to me," Vereen said. "There's unlimited opportunities in the U.S. Army, and we have recruiters here eager to help you with all of them."
Vereen later spoke to Tempe recruiters about the mission and congratulated them for being one of the highest performing stations in the Phoenix battalion.
"Recruiting is one of the hardest jobs in the Army and you sacrifice a lot... this is not a 'take a knee' assignment," Vereen said. "But the recruiters here are among the backbone of the Army, and you make things happen."
Vereen said everywhere he goes, he tells recruiters the same thing - have fun, but work hard, and get the job done.
"Enjoy what you do. You should be energetic about coming to work, especially in a good environment with good leadership," he added. "I always try to make my day exciting and have fun, and I want you to do the same."