FEDERAL AND STATE NATIONAL GUARD LEADERS ARE DISCUSSING THE CHALLENGES OF RECRUITING TROOPS. 

RETENTION RATES AT THE ILLINOIS ARMY AND AIR NATIONAL GUARDS ARE PRETTY GOOD, BUT IT’S GETTING PEOPLE TO SIGN UP THAT IS SOMETIMES A STRUGGLE. BOTH BRANCHES RELY ON CURRENT MEMBERS TO SPREAD THE WORD, AND FOCUS ON THE SUMMER MONTHS TO BRING IN RECENT GRADUATES. TECHNICAL SERGEANT STEPHEN GRAVES WITH THE AIR GUARD SAYS THEY WANT POTENTIAL RECRUITS TO KNOW THAT SERVING CAN FIT INTO THEIR BUSY LIVES.

ARMY STAFF SERGEANT YOON KIM WITH THE ILLINOIS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD SAYS THEY TRY TO PROMOTE FLEXIBILITY WHEN UP AGAINST OTHER EMPLOYERS.

FEDERAL MILITARY LEADERS ALSO SAY IT’S A TOUGH TIME TO RECRUIT, NOTING THAT BRANCHES CONTINUE TO LOOK AT POLICIES THAT MAY REDUCE THE POOL OF POTENTIAL MEMBERS SUCH AS RULES ABOUT BODY MASS INDEX AND TATTOOS.