LANSING, Mich. –
The modern recruiting environment requires agility, strategic foresight, and a unified Total Army approach. During the Region 2 Association of the United States Army (AUSA) conference held on April 24, 2026 in Troy, Michigan, leaders from the Great Lakes Recruiting Battalion sat down with community leaders to candidly discuss the trials, obstacles, and innovative best practices shaping today's recruiting mission.
Leading the panel discussion were Lt. Col. Quentin McCart, Great Lakes Recruiting Battalion Commander, alongside his senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Zachary Haase. Together, they highlighted how United States Army Recruiting Division (USARD) is shifting strategies to better inform applicants about all available career paths, particularly within the Army Reserve, while relying heavily on grassroots community support to sustain recruiter morale and mission success.
To combat historical trends where the Army Reserve was sometimes viewed as a secondary option, McCart explained that the battalion is actively changing the culture among its recruiters on the ground. "We are giving them the dual credit [to] emphasize the reserves from a leadership standpoint," McCart stated, noting the importance of educating the recruiting force on the long-term, strategic benefits of the component. "One of the things the Reserves have that we really sell now is that their glass ceiling is much higher... if you want to do strategic anything in the Army... those are all shared from public jobs, and so we have been pushing that training onto the NCOs, to help highlight that."
Beyond mission tactics, both leaders stressed that the greatest obstacle their recruiters face is the transactional nature of their daily public interactions, which can take a toll on morale. McCart pointed directly to community advocates as the critical counterweight to that challenge. "Your role as an influencer as we look at the recruiting problem across the total force, you're the most positive image we have out there outside of us coming in uniform," McCart noted.
Haase expanded on this, expressing deep gratitude for the local organizations that welcome his 168 soldiers stationed across Michigan. "It really helps the soldiers and NCOs that I have out here look back at the community and actually feel like they're part of the community," Haase shared. "Because realistically, when they engage most of the population, it's 'Are you ready to join the Army?' But [community partners] gives that ability back to show that the community does, in fact... respect the fact of what they're doing... and that they are building the nation's army."
Ultimately, McCart emphasized that the battalion's primary goal is ensuring every young adult finds the path that best suits their goals, acknowledging that recruiters cannot do it alone. "There is a good fit for every applicant out there," McCart concluded, urging community partners to continue helping applicants navigate the benefits of each service component.