Air Force reservist earns Get 1 Now recruiter award

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Theanne Herrmann
  • 624th Regional Support Group
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - An Air Force Reserve recruiter based out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, earned the Western Recruiting Squadron Top Get 1 Now Recruiter award, Oct. 27.

Tech. Sgt. Michael Shinohara accepted the award in October during the Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service Deployment Readiness Training, in Orlando, Fla., for having the most accessions through fiscal year 2016 using the Get 1 Now Program.

The Get 1 Now program is a tool for Reservists to recommend qualified people with whom they wish to serve alongside by using the website or app. The program encourages current members to “Share your Adventure” meaning reservists should talk about their experiences and benefits with potential recruits.

“Current service members are referring people they know have good work ethics,” said Shinohara, a Yigo, Guam native. “If an Airmen is talking with someone they feel would be a good fit for the Air Force Reserve, all they have to do is upload their contact information into the app. Their information is immediately streamlined to our call center and prescreened to see if they are eligible to join.”

This is Shinohara’s first year serving as a recruiter; he credits the Get 1 Now app with his success in finding quality recruits. He also earned the Top Get 1 Now Recruiter for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2016 for enlisting eight Airmen.

“These awards represent all the hard work of our reserve members who use the Get 1 Now app to recruit their family, friends or coworkers,” said Shinohara. “Almost half of my 38 recruits from 2016 are from Get 1 Now referrals.”

Shinohara explained how the app helps him overcome the challenges of being a recruiter in the Pacific region.

“It’s challenging being a recruiter for the state of Hawaii and Guam because we are geographically spread out,” said Shinohara. “This app helps tremendously. It gives our Airmen the opportunity to contribute to the recruiting efforts without having to contact a recruiter directly.”

Service members are rewarded for their recruiting efforts.

“Not only can you refer someone you know that would make a great contribution to our reserve force, you also get cool prizes,” said Master Sgt. Maria Tailo, who has been using the app for the past three months. “The great thing is that your lead just needs to qualify, they don’t have to join for you to earn an award.”

Airman can earn up to four awards per fiscal year, and include items that range from a solar charger to a fleece jacket.

“I’ve referred five people so far,” said Tailo, an Ewa Beach, Hawaii native. “The app is easy to use and you can track your referral to see if they qualify. When I do see my leads go all the way through to enlistment, it is self-gratifying.”

The 624th RSG currently has enlisted opportunities for potential recruits to fill the following career fields: air transportation, water and fuel systems maintenance, and pest management. For officers there are openings for mental health nurses, civil engineers, doctors and a dentist.

“My goal is to get at least half of the 624th RSG Airmen to download the app to their phone to help fill in our vacancies,” said Shinohara.

Airmen can refer potential candidates by visiting http://www.get1now.us or downloading the app to their smartphone.