Cover Photo: POINT MUGU, Calif. – Master Chief Naval Aircrewman (Mechanical) Nick Barringer, assigned to Commander, Naval Air Forces, rides a wave during the 10th Annual Point Mugu Surf Contest onboard Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Point Mugu May 26, 2024. NBVC is a strategically located Naval installation composed of three operating facilities: Point Mugu, Port Hueneme and San Nicolas Island. NBVC is the home of the Pacific Seabees, West Coast E-2D Hawkeyes, 3 warfare centers and 100 tenants. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt.j.g. Drew Verbis)
From the Admiral
Recruiting Nation,
What a great time to be a Navy Recruiter and what a great team to be a part of! For three months in a row we have made mission! Congratulations to you all! Your hard work and dedication to the mission have gotten us to this point. Your efforts have been stellar and I am deeply impressed by your commitment to getting us across the line for the past three months. Bravo Zulu!
Our momentum right now is excellent but we must keep it moving forward. Even though we are in the peak of summer we must continue to prospect for future Sailors. We need to be out making visits at local events, talking with people who are involved with summer school programs, and making cold calls. Also, remember the new school year is just around the corner so we need to be planning our school visits starting in August to make the most of the opportunities to interact not only with high school seniors, but also the centers of influence, especially principals, coaches and teachers who can encourage future Sailors to take the next steps.
Prospecting is important but there is more to successful recruiting. In order to hit all of our targets for the year we need to make our own rain. What does that mean? Quite simply, it means that we need to go beyond prospecting and get out there to follow-up aggressively with the leads we have. One follow-up phone call or a meeting to talk about the Navy over a cup of coffee can make the difference in turning a prospect into a contract. Prospecting accounts for around 50% of our mission. When we follow-up on the leads we have, that generates almost 40% of our mission. By comparison referrals only account for around 10% percent of our mission. All of these efforts have to work together in order to achieve mission success. We can do this! The last three months have proven that.
We have come a long way from where we were when I became your Commander in late March. Our Battle Stations evolutions helped to clear out the medical waivers backlog and will bring thousands of new shipmates into the Fleet. For everyone who participated in those evolutions, your efforts made a profound difference. Battle Stations was a tremendous success and I am proud of the work you selflessly put into it, placing the mission first and striving toward success.
As we continue on into the fourth quarter of FY24, there are plenty of opportunities to continue leaning forward and pushing hard for the goal line. I encourage you to share best practices among your fellow Recruiters at your NTAGs and around Recruiting Nation. We at Headquarters want you to win! We are looking at what is working for you and have seen some great successes around the Nation. In the coming months we will be highlighting NTAG successes in Recruiter Magazine and sharing the success stories of our top performing NTAGs so that we can learn from each other and continue doing what we are doing so well right now.
As I mentioned in my last column to you, if you have ideas for improving our processes, reaching future Sailors or have mission-related questions, do not remain silent! Your ideas may be the key to getting the next Shipmate into the Fleet. Keep up the great work, we are on the right course and together we will make mission!
Winner’s Win!
Rear Adm. Jim Waters
A Message From the CMC
Recruiting Nation,
Bravo Zulu to all of recruiting nation for your hard work over the last few months! As we push through the final trimester of the fiscal year, we continue to see unprecedented results.
To quote Admiral Waters, “winners win” and you all are making it happen. This past month, recruiting nation earned its first Gold Wreath it's seen in quite a while. Let’s continue that push through the end of September and enter FY25 ahead of the game. The entire Navy is in our corner and assisting through our ESAR program. Great Lakes is adding RDCs and Instructors to ensure the success of recruiting and that our newest Sailors are properly trained and prepared as the newest generation of Navy Warfighters.
I will continue my push of Navy Enlisted Leadership Development (NELD). This course is beneficial to both personal and professional growth. NRC will continue through Calendar Year 25 through its Mobile Training Team to deliver required courses. For all first class petty officers eligible for chief, you must have the Advanced Leadership Development Course (ALDC) complete by January to be exam eligible. All E5 through E8 personnel must have your applicable development course complete to be eligible for advancement in CY25. If you have attended NELD, ensure your record reflects completion. To be specific, E5 must complete IDLC, E6 ALDC, E7 CPO LDC, and E8 SEA. For E4 to E6 personnel, virtual courses are available through Naval Leadership and Ethics Center (NLEC). I encourage recruiting nation to utilize this option due to our geographic dispersion.
We are steadfast on Recruiters, Recruiting and Readiness and will push initiatives for improvement. Two of the latest are expanding recruiter badge wear and SDAP level 7. Our pay and personnel department is processing pay changes and recruiters should start seeing these changes August 1st. Continue to provide feedback and suggestions for continuous improvement and I know we will succeed in our mission. I will always mention it, continue to take care of yourselves, your shipmates and your families. I am proud of the dedication and work you all are doing out there on the deckplate. Keep charging!
Very Respectfully,
CMDCM Konopka
A Message From the NCR
Recruiting Nation,
We did a fantastic job last quarter and have excellent momentum going into the critical summer months. Congratulations to all for earning the gold wreath awarded to the Nation in June! As we move into the final quarter of the year, we need to continue our focus on penetrating and winning in our Hot Zip Codes with a heavy focus on quality. As we increase our high-quality contacts, you can expect the number of CAT IV applicants who join DEP to decrease. Recruiters should always be focusing on prospecting, selling and building trust-based relationships. Leaders need to continue to focus on removing barriers for them to focus on those important items so that our most important resource, the Recruiters, are put in a position to succeed.
Nuke continues to be our top priority mission. We continue to work to streamline the waiver and testing processes and as a result of your hard work, we have made NF mission for three consecutive months. Warrior Challenge continues to be an area of focus at every level. It will take an all-hands effort to fill the WC prospecting funnel with enough activity to generate a larger flow of applicants for consistent WC mission attainment. I recently released our national NF and WC prospecting plans to be implemented at every level of the enterprise in order to ensure that the priorities of the nation are aligned, and we apply the proper amount of attention and effort to these critical missions. If you haven’t reviewed these, get with your leadership to acquire a copy. As always, fellow free to “add to” if your market requires additional prospecting to achieve mission.
NRC is transitioning to a new goaling model and a new way to assess your stations yearly goals and progress. These charts assess the weekly NCA percentage progress of stations, divisions and NTAGs. The goal is to get to the green on these charts and strive for the blue! These charts should be reviewed by LPOs, DLCPOs and NTAG leadership daily in order to assess, plan and adjust accordingly to ensure mission success.
Lastly, we are in the beginning stages of transitioning our sales methodology from VALOR to our new sales system called IMPACT. I am very excited and have every confidence that this methodology will help our recruiters ask the right questions, build credibility, and improve their success in finding and closing applicants to join the world's greatest Navy. We will begin the rollout of IMPACT to the nation later this FY. Every member of the recruiting team will be trained in person on this new sales system by early spring.
I look forward to watching the continued growth, development and success of Recruiting Nation as we close out FY24 and look to build for a strong start to FY25.
See you at the Top!
NCCM Gerald Allchin
A WORD FROM CHAPS
Find more RADs and request items for your recruiting event online at IPOL. Tap the link below to get started.
Did you know the Recruiter eToolbox has a calendar of recruiting events? Check out the Events tab to see what events are coming up and to find more information about events coming to your local area. Check the eToolbox for many more tools and resources available to you.
Goats and Glory Update
Goats and Glory finished the week taking victories in three events.
The first was a 2-0 Victory in the League of Legends vs the Coast Guard during the Armed Forces Dungeon League Event. League of Legends, commonly referred to as League, is a multiplayer online battle arena video game developed and published by Riot Games. Members participating consisted of HM2 Newton, STG2 Javier, YN2 Shaker, MA2 Rodriguez, and IT1 Felton. The season is expected to end with a tournament in August 2024 consisting of Army, Coast Guard, and Airforce teams.
The second event was a Rocket League 2v2 Grand Final victory in the Combat Tested Gaming Tournament of Champions consisting of members MC2 Priestley and FC2 Walker. Rocket League is a vehicular soccer video game developed and published by Epic Games.
The third event was Fandom's Street Fighter 6 Find Your Squad event and consisted of NCC Armstrong and PS1 Cherry. PS1 Cherry went on to go undefeated and securing the Champions 2024 belt. This is event showcased talents including Justin Wong, Chris Tartarian, Steven "Wonderboy" Thompson, Zeda Zhang, and Tasty Steve! Street Fighter 6 is a 2023 fighting game developed and published by Capcom. Announced in February 2022, it is the sixth main entry in the Street Fighter franchise.
The Navy's eSports team, Goats and Glory (pictured above at various events), was established in 2020 to provide a platform for Sailors to authentically engage with people from all walks of life and discuss the range of opportunities the Navy provides, while sharing a mutual passion for gaming.
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Blue Angels Schedule May - August 2024. For more info and the full schedule, tap the link below.
U.S. Navy Band AOR Map
Seaman Soto B. Joseline, assigned to deck department’s 2nd division, from Chicago, stands watch aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) while underway in the Pacific Ocean, June 26, 2024. George Washington is deployed as part of Southern Seas 2024 which seeks to enhance capability, improve interoperability, and strengthen maritime partnerships with countries throughout the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility through joint, multinational, and interagency exchanges and cooperation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class August Y. Clawson)
ITOMAN, Japan (June 22, 2024) Electronics Technician First Class Petty Officer Gabriel Quinto, assigned to Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Far East detachment, sets up candles at Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, Okinawa, Japan, June 22, 2024. U.S. Navy Sailors participated in the candle lighting event on the eve of Okinawa Memorial Day, a prefectural holiday commemorating those who died during the 1945 Battle of Okinawa. The event was held at Peace Memorial Park, the site of memorial walls bearing the names of more than 200,000 individuals from all nations involved who lost their lives during the battle. (U.S. Navy photo by Public Affairs Officer Candice Barber)
BISMARCK, N.D. (June 14, 2024) – A U.S. Navy SEAL rappels into the Bismarck Event Center at the beginning of a Professional Bull Riders event. Naval Special Warfare Assessment Command was at the event as part of a public outreach campaign. Naval Special Warfare is the nation's elite maritime special operations force, uniquely positioned to extend the Fleet's reach and gain and maintain access for the Joint Force in competition and conflict. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alex Kerska)
GULFPORT, Mississippi (June 13, 2024) Builder 2nd Class Alex Moore, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 (NMCB 133), builds a heavy timber bunker at the Port of Gulfport, Mississippi, June 13, 2024. NMCB 133 is conducting homeport operations as part of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command on Naval Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport during the basic phase of the force readiness training plan (FRTP). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Andrew Waters/Released)
From Flight Deck to Recruiting Office: Aircraft-Carrier Sailor Inspires Navy Recruits in the Lone Star State
Story by Allen Cordova, Navy Talent Acquisition Group San Antonio Public Affairs
SAN ANTONIO - In the heart of Texas, a former aircraft-carrier Sailor has found a new mission: inspiring the next generation of Navy recruits. Navy Counselor 1st Class Gabriel Arreaga is now dedicating his skills and experience to mentor and guide young men and women entering the Navy. His journey from the flight deck of one of the world’s most impressive warships to the recruiting station in Southeast San Antonio represents the spirit of dedication and service.
Born and raised in Midland, Arreaga’s Navy career began after two semesters of college and numerous attempts to join the Marine Corps. Due to his tattoos, the Marines weren’t an option for him due to their regulations at the time. He yearned for adventure and a chance to serve his country. So, his brother encouraged him to look into the Navy.
“No one had ever really joined the Navy out of my family,” said Arreaga. “I was going into the Navy blind.”
Wanting to leave right away, Arreaga joined the Navy as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) and attended his basic training in Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon graduation, he transferred to Pensacola, Florida where he was trained in the basic skills of aviation. His first duty station was in Japan, onboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). He quickly adapted to the fast-paced life on the flightdeck and served in various capacities from the ship’s arresting gear to the catapult systems, quickly learning the art of launching and recovering various naval aircraft.
According to Arreaga, his favorite part of being an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate was leading junior Sailors and helping them be successful in their career.
NTAG Rocky Mountain, HSM-73 Battlecats (Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73) - Recruited out of Colorado Springs, Colorado, LT Bobby “Dug” Fricke, provides an MH-60R capabilities and limitations brief. Fricke went to Eagle View Middle School and Air Academy High School. As a Midshipman in his sophomore year of college, Fricke did a tour with USS Barry and in his final summer he selected HSC-23 for his final tour. Fricke went on to complete two years of fixed wing and rotary wing training at Pensacola, Florida and Corpus Cristi, Texas before finally moving to California.
U.S. Navy Skillbridge Program: A Triple Win
Story and photos by Matthew Wheeler
(March 18, 2024) GOLDEN, Colo. - Electronics Technician Nuclear 1st Class Jose Porras' transition from Navy service to civilian sector success showcases the effectiveness of the U.S. Navy Skillbridge Program. This program is crucial for service members seeking to leverage their military training and mentorship into highly transferable skills for the civilian workforce. Porras' experience underscores the benefits for both veterans and employers, highlighting the importance of supporting programs that facilitate seamless transitions and strengthen partnerships between the military and industry.
Throughout his naval career, Porras honed critical skills such as discipline, leadership and adaptability which laid the groundwork for his later achievements. The structured training programs within the Navy equipped him with a solid work ethic and a commitment to excellence, qualities that seamlessly translated into the civilian environment.
“I've always had a passion for understanding how things work. Whether troubleshooting equipment in a nuclear plant or working on cutting-edge electric vehicles I’m working on now, the hands-on training I received has given me a rock-solid foundation that I rely on daily,” said Porras. “It's amazing to see how the same principles apply across so many different fields and I'm constantly learning new things and discovering new challenges to tackle.”
Moreover, the Navy's focus on continuous learning and professional development significantly influenced Porras’ decision to pursue a Skillbridge program through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The military's culture of fostering growth and adaptability motivated him to explore opportunities beyond his comfort zone, leading to a successful transition into a new industry.
Additionally, the Navy's commitment to mentorship was a cornerstone of Porras’ journey. He received valuable guidance and support from senior personnel from Navy Talent Acquisition Group Rocky Mountain, who shared insights and advice on navigating the transition process. This mentorship, combined with the Navy's emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, instilled in Porras the importance of building strong relationships—skills he leveraged during his Skillbridge internship and subsequent civilian career.
Recruiting in the Pacific
Story by Navy Recruiting Command Public Affairs
MILLINGTON, Tenn. (May 30, 2024) - May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which is a month-long observance that honors and recognizes the contributions, culture, and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. The U.S. Navy has had the good fortune to benefit from a rich diversity of people within its ranks. According to the latest Department of Defense demographics profile of the military community, about one third of the DOD active-duty force self-identifies with a racial minority group, it is important to celebrate and cultivate the unique position of diversity.
Recently, Capt. Robert Moran, commodore, Navy Recruiting Region West, and his team took a recruiting trip out to the Philippines to help attract and attain talent for the United States Navy. During his week-long trip, Moran visited the cities of Subic, Clark, Manilla and Cebu.
“With a great working relationship with the RAO’s (Retired Affairs Offices) and the VFW’s [Veterans of Foreign Wars], we were able to pre-coordinate, pre-advertise, and really get the word out that we were coming, so that when we arrived we had a steady flow of applicants,” said Moran.”
With almost 300,000 U.S. citizens residing in the Philippines, this recruiting trip presented a special opportunity to help Navy recruiting push toward its recruiting goals. Although this campaign managed to garner ample attention, due to recruiting requirements, Moran and his team were only able to test 128 applicants, and of those 128, 79 were qualified.
During his trip, Moran was also able to enlist an applicant into the advanced electronics computer field who was able to attain a $25,000 enlistment bonus.
“Kristine Agoot, from Baguio City, Philippines, was able to enlist in front of friends and family,” said Chief Machinist Mate Mark Cando, assigned to Navy Recruiting Processing Station Guam. “She mentioned that she can finally be able to support her family financially and follow in her father’s footsteps and serve in the U.S. military.”
With the successes of the trip to the Philippines, Moran has plans to expand more into the Pacific.
“We’ve got some events planned for later this year in the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. Because this is the first time we’ve ever been, we’ll go out there and meet with the governors and mayors and say ‘hey, the Navy is here,’” said Moran. “We’ll be doing this trip in conjunction with the MEPS, who will be doing physicals. Our priority is key leader engagements, we want to plant the seed to let them know we’re there.”
While they continue to create and build good relations with these island countries, Navy recruiting intends to further increase its presence in the Pacific by placing a permanent recruiting station in American Samoa that will open in quarter one of fiscal year 2025.
For more information on how to join the U.S. Navy or how to find a recruiter near you, visit Navy.com.
CNRC consists of a command headquarters, two Navy Recruiting Regions, Navy Recruiting Reserve Command, and 26 Navy Talent Acquisition Groups that serve more than 1,000 recruiting stations around the world. Their mission is to attract the highest quality candidates to assure the ongoing success of America’s Navy.
For more news from CNRC, go to http://www.cnrc.navy.mil. Follow Navy Recruiting on X (@USNRecruiter), Instagram (@USNRecruiter), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/comnavcruitcom), and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CommanderNavyRecruitingCommand)
Navy Warrior Challenge Takes on Grit
Story and photos by Personnel Specialist 1st Class Eugene Haggard
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – Recruiters assigned to Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Pacific participated in the Grit Obstacle Course Race (OCR) May 4, 2024 to raise Navy awareness in the community about the Navy Warrior Challenge (WC) program and to establish stronger relations between the U.S. Navy and residents of Los Angeles County.
The WC program is designed to attract men and women into a career that is predicated on their physical abilities and mental fortitude, and activities such as the Grit OCR attract similar participants. In order for members to begin a career in one of the many WC careers, candidates must undergo a Physical Screening Test (PST).
The similarities of these events is to put their participants through challenges that test physical and mental stamina. The PST consists of five events; a 500-meter swim, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and a 1.5 mile run. The Grit OCR is an 8.5 mile trail with 18 obstacles throughout the course. These obstacles include swinging across rings and chains, rucking sand bags up and down hills, scaling ten foot walls, and climbing Jacob’s ladders.
“This has been an unforgettable experience and definitely emphasized how important maintaining one's health is, but also that there are so many people out there that love to push their own limits,” said Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 2nd Class Nicholas Coppage, a recruiter assigned to NTAG Pacific.
The WC program is a recruitment initiative to place candidates in elite Navy ratings such as SEALs, SWCC, EOD, Navy Divers, and Air Rescue Swimmers. In conjunction with these ratings, a newer initiative within the WC program is the Corpsman Advance Technical Field (HM-ATF) rating. The importance of the recruitment and PST lies in ensuring that those willing to become physically and mentally prepared are admitted, thereby maintaining the high standards and operational effectiveness that the Navy’s special operations forces are known to emulate.
***NTAG Pacific, Santa Clarita, has historically contributed the most candidates to contract into the WC program ratings.*** This event has led to several new candidates reaching out for further information about the Navy and to apply for enlistment with the local recruiting station. It has also led to other owners of CrossFit gyms and organizations inviting further representation from the Navy to attend their events.
“The Grit and other activities like Spartan races have always been key recruiting events for the Navy. They draw in people that are willing to test their limits and are willing to keep pushing them day in and day out,” said Chief Enginemen Logan Sutton, the Navy Warrior Challenge program coordinator for NTAG Pacific. “That is why we are here today, to see them, but to show them what it means to be a Sailor by doing what others might find challenging.”
NTAG Pacific’s mission is to recruit high quality officer and enlisted applicants for Active and Reserve Naval service in seven Southern California counties, the state of Hawaii, Pacific Island Territories, and the Far East.