FORT KNOX, Ky. –
Recruiters throughout the United States are closing out a successful Fiscal Year 24, after meeting the U.S. Army’s accessions goal, and preparing for Fiscal Year 25. For many, this is a time for reflecting, strategizing, and planning for what they need to achieve success next year. It’s also a time for celebration of accomplishments.
Staff Sgts. Jimmy Burnette, Melissa Molina and Caleb Rose of 5th Recruiting Brigade are doing just that.
“The Recruiters within Team Alamo Warriors footprint, in particular to the Western Slope Recruiting Company, have been persistent to support the Army mission,” Col. Julian Perez, 5th Brigade commander, said. “Without the 4C’s (Character, Commitment, Competence and Courage), accomplishments like the ones made by Staff Sgt. Burnette, Staff Sgt. Molina, and Staff Sgt. Rose wouldn’t be possible.”
The 5th Recruiting Brigade, also known as Team Alamo Warriors, oversees the Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Phoenix and Denver Recruiting Battalions. Within the Denver Recruiting Battalion, Staff Sgts. Jimmy Burnette, Melissa Molina and Caleb Rose are Recruiters for the Western Slope Recruiting Company.
In February 2024, Burnette was recognized as a top performer as part of the quarterly FY24 Top 13 Recruiter ceremony in Washington. Burnette, a Recruiter from the Glenwood Springs Recruiting Station in Glenwood, Colo., has since completed 68 contracts.
“I set realistic goals and then I just readjust them as needed,” Burnette said as he explained his strategy of setting and meeting his mission goals.
In achieving this accomplishment, Burnette approached each month without a particular number of contracts in mind. Whether he contracted seven future Soldiers or zero, Burnette priorities involved ensuring future Soldiers find the path that is meant for them.
Rather than focusing on what being an Army Soldier, Burnette said he approaches recruiting like a job interview. Through this approach, future Soldiers can see themselves in the job that fits them best instead of trying to see if they fit into an Army mold. This approach also assisted in getting future Soldiers into a Military Occupation Specialty they can succeed at but also receive in-depth on the job training and certifications they can carry with them throughout their careers.
Staff Sgt. Melissa Molina said she agrees there is no one-size fits all approach to recruiting. Molina, a Recruiter out of Grand Junction, Colo., has curated a successful approach for her footprint.
She began her Army career as a 15W Drone Operator. Her background in drone operations means Molina is uniquely qualified to assist future Soldiers interested in similar careers, while also looking toward her fellow Recruiters to assist her in educating on other available careers and opportunities.
“I know what it’s like to be a seven-year enlisted Soldier in my drone operating MOS, but I don’t know much about the police corps or a medic type of field where (future Soldiers) may have questions,” Molina said. “I rely on my teammates to help me give our future Soldiers the insight for them to be successful.”
Learning from previous and current Recruiters has played a large roll in Molina’s success as a Recruiter. Molina said she has grown during her time as a Recruiter and learned how to start conversations and build rapport with future Soldiers. She is actively building on these skills as she goes into the next fiscal year. Another critical skill she said she has worked on is the ability to not take a “no” personally and being able to shake it off before going to the next applicant.
“I don’t let the downsides of things stop me or discourage me from continuing to try,” she said. “Taking the initiative to know that when kids don’t want to do this, to not take it personal, shake it off and going onto the next individual is the best thing that you can do.”
While Molina built her recruiting strategy learning new information from her fellow Recruiters, Rose created a unique approach to him to achieve success.
Rose is serving as the sole Recruiter at the Durango Recruiting Station, Durango, Colo., since June 2023 and is the reason the station stayed on track this past fiscal year. Durango Recruiting Station not only covers Durango, but also rural towns in the surrounding area such as Cortez, Colo.
Working with future Soldiers in rural areas, there is an overlap between the skills the kids grew up around and jobs they can do within the Army. Rose looks to inspire his future Soldiers by showing them how to apply the training and skills they value to a career in the Army, while gaining opportunities to travel the world and experience different cultures.
“I always recommend going overseas,“ Rose said. “If you join the Army and find that it’s not for you; you can always come back.”
Rose has been able to cultivate a more personal, one-on-one approach to recruiting while serving as the only Recruiter at his station. By working with so many applicants and serving as their connection to the Army, Rose said he learned how to shift his recruiting strategy to fit the needs of each future Soldier he interacts with. This, coupled with the thorough follow-ups that Rose prioritizes, has led to him ensuring the Durango Recruiting Station remains on mission.
Just like the different environments and cultures throughout the United States, Army Recruiters come in with different strategies, experiences and skills. Each Recruiter brings a unique perspective to the field, which contributes to their abilities in bringing future Soldiers into the Army to “Be All They Can Be”.