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Recruiter among AETC’s 2014 Outstanding Airmen of the Year

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Hillary Stonemetz
  • Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas --  An Air Force recruiter assigned to the 319th Recruiting Squadron was named one of Air Education and Training Command's Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2014.

Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Trueman joined the Air Force 10 years ago as a firefighter.

"I joined because an Air Force recruiter came and talked to my class," Trueman said. "I was in the Marine Corps Junior ROTC but everything the Air Force recruiter said was right on. It was perfect."

Trueman opted to become a recruiter when he had the choice to cross train from the firefighting field or pick a special duty assignment.

"I chose recruiting to broaden my horizons and because I care about the community," he said. "The Air Force has excellent career opportunities."

As a recruiter, Trueman inspired 142 people to join the Air Force. He also won numerous prestigious awards such as the 360th Recruiting Group Top Overall Recruiter for fiscal 2012 and 2013, 319th RCS Gold Badge for fiscal 2012, and Operation Blue Suit and Air Force Recruiting Service NCO of the Year for fiscal 2013. But it wasn't always easy.

"I really struggled as a rookie recruiter," Trueman said. "But I found a mentor in Master Sgt. David Bushnell. He allowed me to work outside the box. He is a coach and a great leader."

"I've had the privilege of working with some great Airmen in my 22-plus years of service," said Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Farrill, 319th RCS production superintendent. "Tech. Sgt. Trueman is absolutely one of the best recruiters I've ever been around. More importantly, he is a phenomenal NCO and epitomizes being a great Airman first. This is evident by his recent Stripes for Exceptional Performers promotion to technical sergeant and his selection as one of AETC's Outstanding Airmen of the Year."

Three years ago, Trueman was able to use his professional sales skills as a recruiter to help a young man in a desperate situation.

"He wanted to join the Air Force but he had been abandoned by his family and was homeless," Trueman said. "He was incredibly intelligent and he worked hard to finish school. I was able to negotiate with hotels in the area to provide him with free housing. He joined the Air Force as an aerospace maintenance specialist. Now he's up for senior airman below the zone and he lives in Japan."

After spending four successful years as a recruiter, Trueman decided to return to his career field and become a fire protection instructor at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. He plans to take the lessons he's learned as a recruiter and apply them as an instructor.
"I think that the most important thing that I learned from my time in recruiting is to give 100 percent effort," Trueman said.

While joining the Air Force can be stressful for some people, Trueman said taking time to get to know applicants is critical to helping them develop into successful Airmen and leaders.

"I hope to carry this mentality forward with my students in the fire protection course, and for the rest of my career," he said.

"Tech. Sgt. Trueman has left a lasting impression not only in our unit, group and command, but in our Air Force," Farrill said. "He will absolutely progress even further in his career and I am proud to have served with such a great young NCO."