ARMY RECRUITING & RETENTION Lieutenant Colonel Gloria Berlanga
MISSION The Rhode Island Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command conducts Strength Maintenance Operations based on the three tenants of Strength Maintenance: Recruiting, Retention, and Attrition Management. Our mission is to provide quality, deployable soldiers and leaders in defense of the citizens of Rhode Island; promote opportunities for service; and foster increased public awareness of the RIARNG. ORGANIZATION The command and support staff, headquartered at Camp Fogarty in East Greenwich, provides guidance and support to two geographically based teams, each led by a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer. We are community-based and have two recruiting offices located on Weybosset Street in downtown Providence and on Rte 117 in Warwick. RECRUITING, RETENTION, AND ATTRITION MANAGEMENT Despite reductions in incentives and tougher enlistment standards, during this fiscal year the command achieved 310 enlisted gains, and 39 new officer gains. As a result of this success, the Recruiting Command narrowly missed the end strength goal set by National Guard Bureau. Additionally, the command exceeded goals for “quality� enlistments, in that 90% of Soldiers entering the RI Army Na-
tional Guard had at least a high school diploma. Additionally, other newly enlisted Soldiers earned their high school education through resident National Guard education programs. Due to the military downsizing nationwide, the majority of monetary incentives that existed even five years ago have been eliminated. There are significant benefits available to members of the RI Army National Guard. Principle among these are tuition assistance at state colleges and universities; up to 100% tuition assistance at other institutions; student loan repayment programs; ROTC scholarships; a new GI Bill with benefits that are transferrable to family members; low cost health coverage and dental coverage for both the individual Soldier and their families; paid career training; limited cash enlistment bonuses; adventure and opportunities for service. RECRUIT SUSTAINMENT PROGRAM (RSP) The mission of the RSP is to ensure that new recruits are physically fit, mentally prepared and administratively correct when they arrive at basic training. The RSP is unique to the Army National Guard as no other branch of service has such a program. It is designed to prepare non-prior, and some prior service enlistees, with the basic knowledge and
2013 Annual Report
41