Company Command is a critical assignment in the growth and development of Army officers. Recruiting company command is a fantastic opportunity available to officers from most branches. But it is often misunderstood. The geographical dispersion of recruiting companies and the difficult environment can be challenging. But these challenges should be viewed as opportunities that will help young leaders improve their leadership skills. Additionally, officers serving in recruiting gain an appreciation for this strategically important side of our Army. This experience will serve them, and the Army, well as they progress in their careers.
What it is
US Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) has 241 companies spread across the US and territories. A recruiting command is generally a two-year assignment. In most cases, these companies are not near Army installations. Each company is composed of numerous stations. It’s task organization varies according to population density and geographic locations. Unless a company is in an urban setting, it is likely to have stations dispersed across a wide geographical area.
Many of the responsibilities of a recruiting company commander are like any other company command. Commanders ensure the highest state of readiness for soldiers and their families. They do this while providing their soldiers the resources and training to accomplish their assigned mission. The difference in recruiting commands is that the resources are often far different from what one would find in an operational Army unit. Most officers come into USAREC with little to no understanding of the skills required to be successful as a recruiter.
The Skillset
Due to their expertise and knowledge of recruiting, first sergeants typically drive the recruiting operations required to achieve mission success. Commanders, on the other hand, are usually charged with conducting shaping operations that will soften the recruiting environment and inform the public about Army opportunities. They work with the battalion staff to plan advertising and marketing efforts to support their recruiters in the field. They also remove obstacles that may hinder recruiting operations. For example, if a high school is unwilling to give recruiters open access to a school, the company commander is usually the first person called upon to improve the situation for the recruiters.
The commander does all of this while conducting typical commander business such as administrative tasks, disciplinary actions, etc. She is also ultimately responsible for her company’s mission. Therefore, she must also keep her finger on the pulse of recruiting operations. The commander must be at the right spot on the recruiting area of operations to make a positive impact. This means visiting stations on a frequent basis, which can be difficult in a company that is geographically dispersed. This dispersion offers a large degree of autonomy and requires officers to often work independently in order to be successful.
What it is Not
Once officers are assigned to my battalion, they almost always tell me recruiting is far more difficult than they thought it would be. Unfortunately, some are told that recruiting is an easy job that will allow them to take a knee and catch up on family time. I can tell you unequivocally that the impression of recruiting is wholly inaccurate. Recruiting is a non-stop operation. Even on some weekends, recruiters can be found meeting with potential applicants, training future soldiers, and conducting recruiting operations at local community events.
While recruiting command can be very rewarding, many officers don’t want to serve in recruiting because they view it as a potential career killer. Just like any other command in the Army, some officers will rise to the occasion and lead their companies with excellence, some will inherit poorly performing companies and put them on the track to mission success, and unfortunately, others will fail.
Those officers who do excel in recruiting have the same opportunities as those that excel in operational commands. All of my company commanders promoted to major, as did my S1. My S3 was a merit based promotion. Of those four who promoted, two made the list for resident ILE. The other two attended satellite ILE. Additionally, two of my commanders successfully transitioned to Foreign Area Officers, one commander transitioned to the Acquisition Corps, and another to Space Operations. In my experience, the profession recognizes those that excel in recruiting command.
Benefits
Although a recruiting company command can be challenging, there are myriad benefits to serving in USAREC. Due to the wide dispersion of recruiting companies, USAREC assignments allow officers to serve in locations that are not available in the operational Army. This is particularly helpful to those officers wishing to serve near family or hometowns that are not near military installations.
Perspective
Recruiting commanders gain a better perspective about the work required to fill our Army’s ranks. In every case, my commanders tell me they have gained a deeper appreciation for what recruiters do on a daily basis. Once back in the operational Army, those commanders will be able to share their experiences with their troops. They can also encourage and prepare soldiers who are on orders for recruiting duty.
Impact
Recruiting commanders have the satisfaction of knowing they are making a strategic impact on our Army. If USAREC does not fill the Army’s ranks, we won’t have an Army. It’s as simple as that. The all-volunteer force can only exist due to our recruiters’ efforts to find the best qualified applicants to serve in our Army. Company commanders play a vital role in these efforts.
Broadening
Company commanders in USAREC are often leading well outside of their comfort zone. This is because of the differences that exist between most operational company commands and recruiting commands. Whether they are logisticians, aviators, or military intelligence officers, recruiting company commanders must adapt to a new environment. This is an environment where they are fighting for their mission every single day of command. Regardless of the branch, officers who complete a tour as a recruiting company commander will grow tremendously from the experience.
Experience
As many of our Army’s senior leaders have said in the past, “we are all recruiters.” Experience in USAREC prepares leaders to assist with recruiting efforts once back in the operational Army. Additionally, the experience may lead some to return to USAREC as a field grade officer and leverage past experiences to further improve Army recruiting efforts.
Challenges
While there are clear advantages to serving in a recruiting company command position, there are some distinct challenges. It is important that one understands these before taking on the task. First, the USAREC NCOs are usually geographically dispersed. This makes command and control somewhat difficult. It means commanders spend a great deal of time on the road. For this reason, ordinary tasks like physical fitness training and MEDPROs updates can be challenging. Commanders must be innovative to maintain a command presence across their area of operations.
Another challenge in recruiting company command is the relative lack of support that commanders have when compared to operational commanders. At the company level, many commanders don’t have an executive officer. However, they do have a civilian administrative assistant who assists with administrative actions. In most cases, recruiting companies are not near military installations. Recruiting battalion staff members try to fill the resulting gaps. But the tyranny of distance is real, requiring organization and communication.
Finally, recruiting operations take place every day. This creates a very fast pace for company commanders. Despite that fact, commanders must train their personnel to maintain readiness. But, they must do so in an environment that rarely takes a break. A two-year recruiting command is definitely a marathon, but a very fast-paced marathon. This relentless pace can be difficult for some commanders. It can be especially difficult for the NCOs conducting recruiting operations on a daily basis. Company commanders must lead their teams to mission success while not crushing recruiters in the process.
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Company command in USAREC is a tremendous opportunity for captains who want to make a positive impact for our Army. Title 10 gives Services the authority and responsibility to man, train, and equip. Recruiting holds ⅓ of that formula. Recruiters work extremely hard to fill our Army’s ranks and they deserve the very best officers our Army has to offer. If you have what it takes, seek out a company command in USAREC. It is a critical job that will improve your leadership skills and contribute mightily to our Army.
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