APRIL 21, 2022 — U.S. Army Recruiting Command launched a new nationwide Army Service Week campaign April 18 to highlight Future Soldiers who have made the decision to serve and inspire others to consider a career in the U.S. Army.
The two-week awareness and recruiting campaign runs through April 29 and will feature about 40 mass enlistment ceremonies in communities across the country.
“We need the nation to see the value a career in the Army offers young adults today,” said Maj. Gen. Kevin Vereen, who leads the Army recruiting efforts. “Many people today just don’t understand the benefits we provide and the wide variety of career paths Soldiers can choose.”
Army Service Week aims to address the current awareness challenge using events and social media to reconnect with communities and provide information about career opportunities, current recruiting incentives and employment benefits.
With careers ranging from the well-known infantry and Special Forces roles to positions in information technology and medicine, the Army provides training and education to ensure each Soldier is successful in their chosen career field and more marketable when they transition out of the service.
The intent of Army Service Week is to encourage young adults to visit their local recruiting offices to have a discussion and see if the Army is a fit for their future plans. The Army has announced a variety of incentives recently to stand out in the current labor market.
“We are in a competition for talent, and we know young people have a lot of options right now,” Vereen said. “We need to have incentives and benefits that will make serving an attractive option when compared to other public and private sector opportunities.”
In January, the Army announced an all-time-high bonus maximum of $50,000 for certain critical occupations. The service has also worked to provide predictability by giving thousands of recruits the ability to select their first duty station, including popular locations like Hawaii, Colorado and Germany. Another current incentive is a two-year enlistment, which offers an option for individuals who aren’t prepared to make a long-term commitment of four or six years right away.
Recruiters across the country will also use Army Service Week to highlight information about current vacancies and the key benefits of service, including technical training, 30 days of paid vacation, health care, money for college classes and certifications, and family support programs.
“We’re in a challenging recruiting environment,” said Command Sgt. Maj. John Foley, senior enlisted leader for U.S. Army Recruiting Command. “All we are asking for is a conversation. The Army isn’t for everyone, but we find that many people change their minds about service when they spend some time with a Soldier and truly understand what it’s like to be on our team.”
For more information about careers and benefits in the U.S. Army, visit Army.com.
By Marenda Figgs