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New recruiting storefront opens in Fort Smith

  • Published
  • By Capt. Holli Nelson
  • 188th Wing Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  Recruiters from the Arkansas Air National Guard Joint Force Headquarters enhanced their presence in the area with the grand opening of their newest recruiting office Dec. 4, 2014, at the Green Point shopping center in downtown Fort Smith.

The newly constructed office will offer citizens in local communities an opportunity to meet face to face with an Air National Guard recruiter to discuss career options at Ebbing Air National Guard Base's 188th Wing and Little Rock Air Force Base's 189th Airlift Wing. The project, which has been in the works for over a year, was developed in an effort to reach recruiting and retention goals for the Arkansas Air National Guard and make reaching a recruiter easier for those wishing to join the Air Force.

Master Sgt. Keith Freeman, Tech. Sgt. Eric Martin, Tech. Sgt. Jeff Matthews, Staff Sgt. Eric McGriff and Tech. Sgt. Mandy Denhardt represented the JFHQ recruiting and retention office at the ceremony Thursday and spoke about their excitement for the newest storefront in the Green Point shopping center.

"This is the first time in the 188th's history that we have had a recruiting office outside of the unit," said Tech. Sgt. Eric Martin, recruiting office supervisor. "I know this will give us a better opportunity to reach out to the community members here in the area and fill the roles needed to accomplish our new mission."

The 188th WG recently converted from a manned to unmanned flying mission in June of 2014. The new wing mission requires a robust skillset for the members who serve at the 188th and recruiters are actively seeking candidates in the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, communications, remotely piloted aircraft, and other additional support career fields. The 189th AW serves alongside their active duty counterparts at Little Rock AFB flying the C-130 airlift mission. The new Arkansas recruiting station serves to place the most qualified candidates for service at the 188th WG and 189th AW to carry on the tradition of excellence for the Arkansas ANG.

"There are a realm outstanding people in the Fort Smith community who are qualified to serve in these great units," said Chief Master Sgt. Eddie McElyea, recruiting and retention superintendent for the Arkansas ANG. "This new storefront will definitely help spread the word in the community about the great benefits of the Arkansas Air National Guard."

Recruiters around the ANG work to inspire, engage and recruit the brightest, most competitive and diverse men and women for service in America's Air Force. The office will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and by appointment only on Saturdays. For more information on opportunities at the 188th Wing, please call 1-(479)-573-5147 or 1-(479)-573-5138 or for the northwest Arkansas area, please call 1-(479)-571-3600.

New recruiting storefront opens in Fort Smith

  • Published
  • By Capt. Holli Nelson
  • 188th Wing Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  Recruiters from the Arkansas Air National Guard Joint Force Headquarters enhanced their presence in the area with the grand opening of their newest recruiting office Dec. 4, 2014, at the Green Point shopping center in downtown Fort Smith.

The newly constructed office will offer citizens in local communities an opportunity to meet face to face with an Air National Guard recruiter to discuss career options at Ebbing Air National Guard Base's 188th Wing and Little Rock Air Force Base's 189th Airlift Wing. The project, which has been in the works for over a year, was developed in an effort to reach recruiting and retention goals for the Arkansas Air National Guard and make reaching a recruiter easier for those wishing to join the Air Force.

Master Sgt. Keith Freeman, Tech. Sgt. Eric Martin, Tech. Sgt. Jeff Matthews, Staff Sgt. Eric McGriff and Tech. Sgt. Mandy Denhardt represented the JFHQ recruiting and retention office at the ceremony Thursday and spoke about their excitement for the newest storefront in the Green Point shopping center.

"This is the first time in the 188th's history that we have had a recruiting office outside of the unit," said Tech. Sgt. Eric Martin, recruiting office supervisor. "I know this will give us a better opportunity to reach out to the community members here in the area and fill the roles needed to accomplish our new mission."

The 188th WG recently converted from a manned to unmanned flying mission in June of 2014. The new wing mission requires a robust skillset for the members who serve at the 188th and recruiters are actively seeking candidates in the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, communications, remotely piloted aircraft, and other additional support career fields. The 189th AW serves alongside their active duty counterparts at Little Rock AFB flying the C-130 airlift mission. The new Arkansas recruiting station serves to place the most qualified candidates for service at the 188th WG and 189th AW to carry on the tradition of excellence for the Arkansas ANG.

"There are a realm outstanding people in the Fort Smith community who are qualified to serve in these great units," said Chief Master Sgt. Eddie McElyea, recruiting and retention superintendent for the Arkansas ANG. "This new storefront will definitely help spread the word in the community about the great benefits of the Arkansas Air National Guard."

Recruiters around the ANG work to inspire, engage and recruit the brightest, most competitive and diverse men and women for service in America's Air Force. The office will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and by appointment only on Saturdays. For more information on opportunities at the 188th Wing, please call 1-(479)-573-5147 or 1-(479)-573-5138 or for the northwest Arkansas area, please call 1-(479)-571-3600.