- Published
- By Randy Martin
- Air Force Recruiting Service
The Air Force continued its year-long 75th anniversary celebration with a four-star presence in a scenic Midwestern community that boasts a rich racing history. The service’s highest ranking commissioned officer joined recruiters and future Airmen and Guardians when Air Force Recruiting Service showcased its Petty GMS sponsorship during the Kwik Trip 250 NASCAR Cup Series race at Road America near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
“We have a great relationship with NASCAR,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.
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The Hangar is part of a national marketing strategy that was designed in Texas by AFRS.
“The Air Force engages in experiential marketing and sponsorships to raise public awareness and help the Air Force Recruiting Service meet its mission to inspire, engage and recruit the brightest, most competitive candidates, with an emphasis on careers in science, technology, engineering and math,” said Lt. Col. Jason Wyche, AFRS’s recent chief of national events, during a visit to Road America on race day.
Wyche said that motorsports venues are logical places for recruiters to meet people who may be inclined to serve the nation and work in technical careers. Senior Air Force leaders agree.
“In NASCAR, you see technology, teamwork and competition come together and that’s the same thing that happens in the Air Force,” Brown said. He got a firsthand look at the course during a pace car ride with Air Force driver Erik Jones, shortly before the Kwik Trip 250.
The 2022 event at Road America was just the second NASCAR Cup Series race in the course’s 65 years as a motorsport mecca for fans in Wisconsin and beyond. Among them was a future Airman with an open mechanic enlistment contract from a village of about 1,500 people one hour north of Road America on Lake Michigan.
“I’m joining the Air Force because I want to go out into the world and meet new people,” said Caitlyn Ruttner, from Mishicot, Wisconsin.
Although she’s from Wisconsin, it was her first time at Road America. She recalled her childhood and her father sharing his love of NASCAR and him giving her toy cars to play with.
“Mom and dad are proud of me for joining the Air Force, and a little anxious, but that’s to be expected,” she said.
The opportunity to meet the Air Force’s top leader was a real and unexpected treat for Ruttner.
“It’s an honor and I’m shocked that I get to meet someone like the chief of staff,” Ruttner said. She was one of 23 future Airmen who recited the Oath of Enlistment during a pre-race ceremony at Road America’s Victory Lane. Their ceremony was seen by a national television audience and thousands of people on hand for the race.
Brown provided his perspectives after spending time with some of the enlistees and their family members who observed a loved one’s meaningful life experience in person.
“This year we’re celebrating the 75th anniversary of our United States Air Force and when you think about our mission to fly, fight and win, anytime and anywhere, we can only do that because of the great recruiters and Airmen we have here today,” Brown said.
One of those recruiters was optimistic about accomplishing his fiscal 2022 goal for active-duty Air Force accessions.
“I guarantee that we’ll make our station, flight and squadron goal,” said Staff Sgt. Artice Melvin, an enlisted accessions recruiter for the 347th Recruiting Squadron, who works at a recruiting office in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The region he is responsible for is 49,000 square miles.
“This isn’t the easiest area to recruit in because we don’t have an active-duty Air Force base,” said Lt. Col. Patrisha Knight, a Space Force officer and 347th RCS commander. “Sometimes our recruiters are the only Airmen that civilians in this community have ever seen. These national assets are a huge part of our recruiting effort. When AFRS and these national assets come to our backyard, it’s invaluable.”
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