US Army intensifies recruitment for new National Guard troops
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The U.S. Army is stepping up its recruiting efforts aimed at what it calls the new generation of prospective National Guard soldiers.
The “Uncommon is Calling” campaign is made up of five films featuring real soldiers in emergency scenarios based on Army National Guard missions.
“I didn't really see military in my future at first,” said Sergeant Claudia Napier, who joined the Tennessee Army National Guard as a military police officer.
“After I joined, I realized I really had a passion to serve, and since then, I've been able to deploy to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.”
Napier’s experience is featured in the recruiting campaign focusing on the part-time opportunities of the Guard.
“It really shows how someone can be living their everyday, normal lives, just like everybody else you know, sitting at a desk all day but then the Guard kind of gives you that extra experience where you get to go out and really have those uncommon experiences and getting those skill sets and opportunities that can be found in the Army National Guard,” said Napier.
The Army National Guard is in 54 states and territories, responding to domestic emergencies and at the federal level as standby support for active duty soldiers.
“We assist with floods, any kind of natural disaster, hurricane relief. We do wildfires, civil unrest, anything that the community is needing. We have that state mission, but we also have that federal mission of going overseas and helping active duty as well.”
While this recruiting effort may target younger people, Napier explains there is a wide range of benefits for future Guard soldiers.
“We can enlist anyone from 17-years-old, being a junior in high school, all the way up to 40-years-old. It just has to do with your time in your life. A 17-year-old probably needs their schooling paid for. A 35-year-old probably wants really good health insurance," Napier said.