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Guard will beef up recruiting

Dec- 9-2004 » Filed Under: 56th SBCT

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By BONNIE ADAMS; Times Leader

WILKES-BARRE - Four National Guard recruiters will be added to recruiting teams in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton to help the state make the goals it previously missed by 669 new recruits.

The state's shortfall has mirrored the national trend in which recruiting fell short last year by 7,000 enlistees.

Army National Guard officials have said it is more difficult to convince service members who are leaving active duty to join the National Guard and face the possibility of deploying overseas.

Master Sgt. Doug Collins of the 109th Field Artillery said the additional recruiters will enable area recruiters to talk to more prospective recruits.

Collins said the National Guard locally also has added about 20 recruiter helpers. New recruits like Coughlin High School graduate Oscar Flores visit area schools to talk with teenagers about joining up. [...]

State recruiter spokesman Sgt. 1st Class Hervey Breault said the Wilkes-Barre recruiting team has seven recruiters and the Scranton team has 11. They cover a broad territory that includes numerous counties. Statewide, 35 new recruiters will be added.

The state has the largest Guard in the nation, with 20,000 members of the Army and Air National Guard. It is the only state to receive a new Stryker Brigade, which has the Army's most advanced technology.

State National Guard spokesman Capt. Cory Angell said there are six such brigades in the active-duty Army, but Pennsylvania is the only state chosen to receive a reserve component Stryker Brigade.

Angell said Pennsylvania's new 56th Stryker Brigade has light infantry, armor and communications and information sharing capabilities. One unit within that brigade is Troop A, 2nd of the 104th Cavalry in Hazleton.


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