Abbott replaces Carden as recruiting commander

Brigadier Gen. Maria Britt, Georgia Army Guard commander, passes the battalion colors to incoming commander Lt. Col. Anthony Abbott as part of a long time ritual as Abbott assumes command of the Recruiting and Retention Battalion October 1st, 2008 during a ceremony at the Oglethorpe Armory in Ellenwood. (Georgia National Guard photo by Amanda Kenny)

By Amanda Kenny
Public Affairs Office

ELLENWOOD, Ga. – Lieutenant Col. Anthony Abbott formally accepted command of the Georgia Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion from Lt. Col. Thomas Carden during a ceremony Oct. 1st, at the Oglethorpe Armory.

Carden will be moving on to be the readiness enabler in the personnel office, said Brig. Gen. Maria Britt, Army Guard commander, as she praised his time as the commander of the battalion.

“He has done an outstanding job,” Britt said. “He has set the pace and climate for this battalion.”

As for Abbott, Britt hoped that his new found knowledge and being freshly out of the Army’s War College will be put to use.

“You have my full support and confidence,” Britt concluded to Abbott.

Abbott had his own words of encouragement and praise to give as well as a promise to the Soldiers he was taking command of.

“My vow to you today,” said Abbott. “Is to continue to provide you with the same professionalism and level of support that you have received from Lt. Col. Carden. My philosophy with this command is the same as any other commands I have had, it is this, I will strive to make this command even better during my tenure and present it to my predecessor as a stronger more viable organization.”

Both commanders as well as Britt also praised the Soldiers of the battalion, stating that their hard work is the reason that Georgia has some of the highest recruiting success in the country.

Abbott previously served as the commander of 1st Battalion, 214th Field Artillery. He has also served as the commander, fire direction officer and battalion personnel officer with the 118th Field Artillery. He has also held various position within the 78th Troop Command and the 170th Military Police Battalion.

Abbott earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry Education from Georgia Southern University as well as a masters of science in secondary science education. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation from the university.

Abbott, his wife Tammy and their children reside in Dacula, Ga.
 

Guard enjoys recruiting increase

Story by Gene Rector
Macon Telegraph

Georgia’s Air and Army National Guard are enjoying a recruiting surge, an upswing that bodes well for the state and nation, officials say.

Nationally, the Air National Guard has met its end-strength goals this year for the first time since 2003. Georgia was an exception, although a productive recruiting year has pushed the state’s air arm much closer to fully manned status.

At the same time, Georgia’s Army National Guard is an over-achiever, already reaching more than 150 percent of its recruiting goal for the year.

“Right now, we are 94 percent manned,” said Senior Master Sgt. Richard Hamilton, the Georgia Air National Guard’s recruiting and retention superintendent. “But we were at 85 percent last year at this time, so we’ve seen significant improvement.”

The state’s Air Guard - including the 202nd Engineering Installation Squadron at Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon and elements of the 116th Air Control Wing at Robins Air Force Base - is authorized 2,900 airmen. Currently, 2,715 are on the books.

Hamilton, who works out of Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, said incentives and changes by the National Guard Bureau have made the recruiting job easier. First-time recruits in certain career fields are eligible for up to $20,000 in signing bonuses while prior-service candidates may receive up to $15,000.

Aircraft mechanics are high on the list. “We fly airplanes for a living,” Hamilton said, “so we’re looking for people to work on them. Civil engineering, law enforcement and security forces are also big ones.”
There was more freedom this year to focus recruiting on individual unit needs.

“If the 202nd needed cable splicers, for example, we could put that on the bonus list to attract people,” he said. “That helped us quite a bit this year and they’re going to do it again in 2009. It will help us attract people to where our needs are.”

On the Army side, the state total stands at 10,900 soldiers with a goal of 15,000 by 2020. Lt. Col. Thomas Carden, head of recruiting, credits the Georgia environment for the success.

“Georgia is a patriotic state,” Carden said. “You can’t wear a uniform to many towns and eat in a restaurant over three times without somebody trying to buy your meal. We just have great Americans in Georgia.”

Recruiting bonuses are important, he concedes, along with educational and training benefits.

“But a young man and woman who raises their hand in 2008 are special and, for the most part, they’re not doing it for the money,” Carden said. “They know they likely will have to deploy somewhere to a hostile environment and be separated from their families. I don’t think $20,000 is enough. I may be an idealist, but they just want to serve. They want to be part of something bigger than they are.”

Hamilton is optimistic about reaching the Georgia Air Guard’s goal of being fully manned. One reason is the addition of two new recruiters. Another is the strong retention rate.

“Our retention rate is 92 percent now,” he said. “That means once we get people, we usually keep them.”

Family tradition is also important. “We see a lot of people from the same families,” the senior non-commissioned officer noted. “For example, we have a unit in Savannah with five people from the same family. Those families have been with us a long time and they’re familiar with serving. They understand you can get your education paid for or get a skill they can use.”

Carden, based in Atlanta, said Georgians make his job easy. “Less than 1 percent of the population in the U.S. eligible to serve in the military ever put on the uniform,” he said. “So it’s powerful that we have so many kids in Georgia who are stepping up. They’re important. They’re special.”