ANG recognizes two Arkansas Air Guard recruiters

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Bob Oldham
  • 189th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Two of the 189th Airlift Wing's recruiters were recently recognized for their performance in recruiting new members into the Arkansas Air National Guard. 

Master Sgt. Eddie McElyea received the Air National Guard's Eastern Sector Medicine Man Award for his efforts in recruiting health professionals, and Tech. Sgt. Ken Munday was named Rookie Recruiter of the Year for region three as he helped the wing achieve a 101.17 percent end strength last fiscal year. 

Region three consists of the states of Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and the territories of the U. S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. 

Sergeant McElyea coordinated support with the 189th Medical Group staff to fill critical, unmanned health professional positions. Through his efforts, the wing accessioned a flight surgeon, an orthodontist, two physician assistants and one medical service corps officer. 

Additionally, he advertised health professional opportunities through public service announcements, the Little Rock Air Force Base marquee and purchased an advertising plan through a local movie theater, highlighting Air Guard opportunities before more than 70,000 viewers. 

The Medicine Man Award is presented to the member in each sector that displays exemplary performance in health professions recruiting during the fiscal year prior to the award date. 

Sergeant Munday in FY 06 "accessed 52 applicants against a goal of 46," his nomination package stated. Of those 52 applicants, 88 percent were for critical and hard-to-fill specialties. 

"[He] averaged 4.3 accessions per month, exceeding the national average of two per month," Lt. Col. Tammy Cusumano, 189th Mission Support Flight commander, wrote in his nomination package. 

Additionally, he established partnerships with local active-duty recruiters for high school visits, obtaining greater access to the non-prior service market and resulting in higher non-prior service accessions.