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Thursday 21 July 2022
As recruiters struggle, Air Force seeks lift from ‘Top Gun’

By LOLITA C. BALDOR ing Service. “Frankly, we said the service will have a cultural divisions over race, for enlistment bonuses, but
Associated Press hope people get excited total force of 466,400 this abortion, vaccines and in April service leaders add-
WASHINGTON (AP) — all over again about what year, down from the ex- other issues tear through ed another $14 million, and
When “Top Gun: Maver- we do. Whether they want pected 476,000. It could the nation, trust in the gov- in July they put in $7 million
ick” roared into theaters in more.
late May, the Air Force was The Navy, said Walker, has
ready. also increased bonuses by
The smash hit movie may about $100 million.
feature Pete “Maverick” It also has also relaxed
Mitchell as a hotshot Navy some restrictions to make it
aviator, but to much of possible to enlist some who
the movie-going public, may not have qualified be-
the distinction between Air fore. He said the Navy ex-
Force and Navy fighter jets panded its waiver policy for
is lost. So Air Force recruit- some prior marijuana use
ers struggling to meet their and for tattoos — allowing
enlistment goals took boxes recruits to have visible ones
of free mugs and lanyards, in more places, such as the
and fanned out to movie neck.
theaters for the premiere, A new pilot program al-
determined to capitalize lows single parents with up
on the jet-fueled excite- to two children over a year
ment surrounding the film. old to seek a waiver to enlist
These are tough times for as long as the recruits have
military recruiters. With CO- someone who can care for
VID-19 complicating their the children in case of a
work and low unemploy- deployment.
ment reducing the number The recruiting officials also
of potential recruits, all ser- said it’s crucial to increase
vices are having problems the public’s awareness of
finding young people who The recruiting team poses together at the U.S. Air Force recruiting tent prior to a NASCAR race at the military and the ben-
want to join and can meet the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Sunday, July 17, 2022, in Loudon, N.H. efits available for serving.
the physical, mental and Associated Press They said recruiters and
moral requirements. all members of the military
The Army especially is strug- to aim high or fly Navy, we end 2023 with between ernment — including the need to get out into their
gling. On Tuesday, it said it just want them to come 445,000 and 452,000 sol- military — has declined. communities, connect with
will cut the total number of join us. We want them to diers, depending on how At the same time, only people and tell their stories.
soldiers it expects to have be excited about military well recruiting and reten- about 23% of young adults Air Force Sgt. Eric Way did
in the force over the next service.” tion go. are physically, mentally just that at the Regal Cine-
two years. If those trends The Air Force said it usually With just 2 1/2 months to and morally qualified to ma in Waterford, Connecti-
continue, that could pres- goes into each year with go in the budget year end- serve without receiving cut, during the premiere
ent challenges as it tries to about 25% of its recruiting ing Sept. 30, the Army has some type of waiver. Mor- of “Top Gun: Maverick.”
meet future national securi- goal already locked in, but met just 50% of its recruit- al behavior issues include Standing in the lobby, sur-
ty and warfighting missions. this year will have about ing goal of 60,000 soldiers, drug use, gang ties or a rounded by Air Force swag
The situation is somewhat half of that. The Navy and and based on those trends criminal record. and banners, he captured
less dire for the Air Force, Marine Corps often have as will likely miss that goal by “We look at it as the tough- the attention of a 22-year-
Navy and Marine Corps. much as 50% of their goals nearly 25% as of Oct. 1. est recruiting environment old from Old Lyme, who lat-
Leaders of those branches at the start of the year, but An array of factors has that we’ve had in de- er told him the movie con-
say they hope to meet or also will see their percent- made recruiting more diffi- cades,” said Rear Adm. Lex vinced him that he should
just slightly miss their recruit- age slashed. cult across the services. Walker, who heads Navy enlist.
ing goals for this year. But Gen. Eric Smith, assistant Two years of the COV- Recruiting Command. Air Force Senior Master Sgt.
they say they will have to commandant of the Marine ID-19 pandemic shuttered “Companies are also of- Gervacio Maldonado, who
dip into their pool of de- Corps., said the Marines are schools and other large fering great pay, they’re helped organize the New
layed entry applicants, focusing more on retention public events that the mili- offering sign-on bonuses, England recruiting cam-
which will put them behind than recruiting. He said the tary relies on to meet young help with college. They’re paign centered on the
as they begin the next re- Marine Corps “will make or people face to face. offering many of the same movie’s premiere, said re-
cruiting year. come very close to mak- The low unemployment benefits the Navy has his- cruiters spoke to the young
So recruiters are offering ing” its recruiting goals this rate means fewer people torically used to recruit.” man before the film and
bigger bonuses and other year, but at the expense of are looking for jobs. Private One short-term solution is gave him social media in-
incentives to those who the 2023 pool. And when companies often pay more money. The Air Force and formation to contact them
sign up. And they are seiz- recruits have less time to and are more nimble in re- Navy commanders both later.
ing on the boost that Holly- prepare before reporting sponding to a tight labor said they had to request It worked. The man has al-
wood may offer – such as to boot camp, more fail to market by raising salaries. more money for bonuses ready done his first inter-
the buzz over the sequel to complete their training, he Military salaries vary widely this year as they began to view.
the 1986 hit “Top Gun.” said. and are determined by see the recruiting struggle Maldonado said the man
“When the original ‘Top The situation is more dire Congress. worsen. later told a recruiter that he
Gun’ was released, the for the Army, which a top Across the country, fewer For the first time in a de- had been debating the en-
Navy and Air Force re- general says faces “un- people are familiar with the cade, the Air Force ap- listment idea for some time
ceived a pretty good re- precedented challenges” military. Many do not know proved two rounds of addi- and said that “after watch-
cruiting bump,” said Maj. in recruitments. anyone who served and tional bonuses this budget ing the movie, that was my
Gen. Edward Thomas, Gen. Joseph Martin, vice do not have bases in their year. Last October the ser- tipping point and I want to
head of Air Force Recruit- chief of staff for the Army, regions. As political and vice budgeted $17.5 million start the process.”q