Air Guard officials tout G-RAP program Published Sept. 11, 2009 By Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith National Guard Bureau ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- A revitalization of the Air National Guard's advertising and marketing and the continued success of its recruiting assistant program have helped recruiters in August and throughout the fiscal year, recruiting officials said here Sept. 10. "G-RAP (Guard Recruiting Assistance Program) continues to be a very effective piece of ANG recruiting programs," said Chief Master Sgt. Noel Adamson, from the Air Guard's Recruiting and Retention directorate here. The Air Guard introduced G-RAP to the field following nearly three years of success in the Army Guard, which has recruited thousands of new enlistees by paying Soldiers $2,000 for every recruit they help enlist. That success has carried over to the Air National Guard. "Currently, G-RAP is responsible for over 32 percent of our total accessions for the fiscal year," Chief Adamson said. Among the Air Guard's recruiting efforts in August were photo shoots in Vermont, California and Alaska to highlight its service members and health professionals. Chief Master Sgt. Kim Jochem, the ANG's chief of advertising and marketing, said the shoots will support social networking initiatives, which are scheduled to launch in the fall. Department of Defense officials here announced Sept. 10 that the Army Guard reached 54.6 percent of its monthly recruiting goal and 106 percent of its retention goal. Meanwhile, the Air Guard achieved 69.5 percent of its recruiting goal and 119.9 percent of its retention goal. Both services have already met their end strength goal for the fiscal year.