Arkansas National Guard Recruiting in Crisis

Seventeen-year old-Jamall Hunt didn`t have any plans to pay for college, before he met Sgt. Floyd Spears. "I want to be a doctor when I get older," Hunt said. Even though he`s only in 11th grade now, Jamall already has some training this month, to get ready for basic training in June. Hunt says he expects, "a lot of running, lot of pushups, lots of yelling." But he also expects the whole experience to open doors, including the one college. "Going to places, going to other countries. I`ve never been outside of Arkansas," he said. Sergeant Floyd Spears is desperate to get that message to potential recruits. "For a major crisis like this to put us down is unusual," he said. Spears says his mission requires that he recruit three people a month. But his year, he`s only been able to bring in one to two new recruits a month. That goal is up to 36 recruits a year, from 2003`s 32 recruits. Spears is concerned that when current guardsmen start getting out, the state will be low on troops. "When we get back we don`t know what our strength is going to be. That`s why it`s crucial now that we pump up the numbers and get more bodies in to replace the ones getting out," he said. Spears say potential recruits are discouraged because so many National Guarsdmen are on deployment now. "Because they think that if they come into the National Guard right now, they`re gonna leave right now, and that`s not true," Sgt. Spears said. So, he stresses the benefits like paid college tuition, a $6,000 signing bonus, and a regular paycheck. Guardsmen work one weekend a month, and two weeks in the summer. Spears say they`ve opened a new recruiting office for higher visibility. It`s located at 800 Reservoir Rd. Ste. 5. Anyone interested can call him at 228-4530 or 681-1256. You can also log on at www.1-800-GO-GUARD.com