By Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. David Speicher
BALTIMORE – Current and retired Air National Guard members who refer new recruits to the Guard may now collect rewards for their efforts.
The Air National Guard Referral Rewards Program is a voluntary recruitment referral program in which members who successfully help recruit a new member are rewarded with incentives.
According to Air Force Master Sgt. Robert Sweeney, the recruiting office supervisor for the 175th Wing, anyone – whether full time, traditional or retiree – can go to www.refer2ang.com and set up an account. An informational packet and business cards will be mailed directly to the individual.
“The program gives new leads a second source of information if they want to ask a member who is not a recruiter,” said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jerry Goldstein, assistant retention office manager.
“Unlike G-RAP (guard recruiting assistance program), this program provides rewards for all. The full-time staff was excluded from G-RAP,” Sweeney said.
The previous program did not allow rewards to full-time members.
“This program is for everybody where G-RAP was for certain individuals. The full-time staff was disappointed in G-RAP,” Sweeney said.
The old program was a dollar amount reward.
“This program rewards on a multitier system of incentives,” he said.
As a person brings in more recruits, the rewards move up in a tiered system.
The first tier – one recruit – has choices of a backpack, duffel bag, tool or executive leather kit. All the items are customized with the Air National Guard logo.
If two recruits are brought in, the member moves to the second tier. Choices on the second tier include a custom fitness kit for men or women or a tailgate package.
The third tier, for bringing three recruits, includes custom luggage or a stainless appliance kitchen set.
If four recruits sign up, the choices are custom grill and knife kitchen kit or a golf kit that includes a golf bag, golf balls and a GPS for golf courses.
The fifth tier, or five recruits, rewards the member a 3D, 40-inch Blue-Ray home theatre system or two different gaming kits that include a game system and 40-inch high-definition television.
“The main thing for recruiting is to fill the critical jobs. The majority of the jobs we are recruiting for are critical jobs like aircraft maintenance, munitions systems and civil engineering. The program rewards better for these critical jobs,” Sweeney said.
“They (full-time ANG members and retirees) are like the headhunters for us. They are going to find the individual and bring them to us. Then they collect the rewards,” he said.