What is the Committed Augmentee Recruiting Effort (CARE)?

  • Published
  • By Capt. Tyler Sullivan
  • 319th Recruiting Squadron

The 319th Recruiting Squadron at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts works with Airmen and Guardians throughout the six New England states to overcome the difficult recruiting environment.

Leaders from the 319th RCS are connecting Multi-Capable Airmen from several installations and across numerous career fields with recruiting engagements and innovative tactics to advance the Department of the Air Force’s recruiting mission, adding augmented forces to support recruiters during recruiting challenges.

The unit has organized zone canvasing, lead-generating and refinement force multipliers, school list retrieval teams, installation visits, and Total Force Integrated homeschool council to enhance the recruiting mission. 

Why is it needed?

The CARE team is building a culture of MCA that shares career stories and opens doors to local communities through conversation and connection. As Airmen and Guardians, we get a say in who joins our family. CARE members take this to heart and grow our forces with the right teammates.

We are all recruiters. Being present in the mission with our recruiters shows we care. Our Air and Space Force needs a culture of shared interest in the recruiting mission. CARE offers every Airman and Guardian a chance to engage in a special duty and support a mission in need. See a need, fill a need!

What has it achieved?

The team has perfected the consolidated lead refinement center (LRC) method, conducting three-weekend events in one quarter, contacting more than 14,000 high school seniors and college students, and sharing 272 immediately interested applicants with recruiters. The team plans to conduct these LRCs quarterly to supplement recruiter man hours.

The CARE team is a force-multiplier and a capability of the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century or AFSO21 initiative. The 319th RCS headquarters staff continues to expand on the willingness, dedication, and camaraderie that grows within the CARE team. The team is currently undergoing a 30-day operation with a Total Force Integrated homeschool counsel.

They team is connecting and collaborating with over 202 homeschool networks and six Department of Education liaisons to integrate with homeschool students. According to the National Education Research Institute (NHERI), the homeschool population has doubled since 2020 and continues to grow and compound in size each year. The CARE members are consolidating contacts, sharing their Air Force stories, and opening new recruiting doors for our DAF recruiters. We expect to report great things in the future.

How do you build a CARE team?

A CARE team is adaptable to mission needs. The 319th Recruiting Squadron educates its CARE team to effectively share personal Air and Space Force experiences with the public. Several CARE members have found a passion for recruiting and choose to supplement recruiting engagements at high schools, fairs, and other community events.

These efforts allow recruiters to take a knee and spend time with family. Additionally, CARE members within local Security Forces have guided installation visits and military working dog exercises. Company Grade Officers in acquisition fields have shared engineering, business, and finance jobs within the DAF.

These are just a few ways a CARE team develops a new culture of Airmen and Guardians directly supporting the recruiting mission. Again, see a need, fill a need.

If you are interested in learning more about how to build a local/regional CARE team, please reach out to Capt. Tyler Sullivan, 319th Recruiting Squadron, Operations Flight commander.