Air Force announces top recruiters for 2006

  • Published
  • By Maj. Sean McKenna
  • Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  Twelve Air Force recruiters garnered top honors in their field for fiscal year 2006 as winners of Operation Blue Suit XXVIII, Air Force Recruiting Service officials announced Dec. 18.

The winners include:

-- Master Sgt. Richard Cuddeford, 343rd Recruiting Squadron at Offutt AFB, Neb.
-- Tech. Sgt. Darren Briggs, 341st RCS at Lackland AFB, Texas
-- Tech. Sgt. Ronald Everman, 331st RCS at Gunter Annex, Ala.
-- Tech. Sgt. William Forsythe, 337th RCS at Shaw AFB, S.C.
-- Tech. Sgt. Dennis Livingston, 331st RCS
-- Tech. Sgt. William Malcolm, 367th RCS at Colorado Springs, Colo.
-- Tech. Sgt. Luis RoblesDeJesus, 337th RCS
-- Tech. Sgt. Steven Woods, 367th RCS
-- Staff Sgt. Jerry Evans, 330th RCS at Indianapolis
-- Staff Sgt. Jason Maloney, 318th RCS at New Cumberland, Penn.
-- Staff Sgt. Jason O'Donley, 364th RCS at Sacramento, Calif.
-- Staff Sgt. Jason Rodriguez, 344th RCS at Arlington, Texas

"Recruiters dedicatedly work in one of the Air Force's toughest careers -- 'selling' the Air Force," said Brig. Gen. Suzanne M. Vautrinot, AFRS commander. "Most of what people sell can easily be discarded, but our recruiters 'sell' a lifestyle. To meet the challenge, our recruiters must be the very embodiment of what it means to serve. These 12 extraordinary individuals have demonstrated they are what they 'sell.' They are what they believe in -- and they truly believe in the Air Force way of life."

The Operation Blue Suit program recognizes the best fiscal year recruiters worldwide for their efforts in recruiting a diverse, high-quality volunteer force to fill career fields critical to the Air Force in accomplishing its missions.

Air Force Recruiting Service met its enlistment goal for the seventh consecutive year in fiscal year 2006, bringing in 30,889 new accessions against a goal of 30,750. The fiscal year 2007 goal is 27,760.

"These are challenging times our nation faces and all of our military recruiters are doing a fantastic job in meeting the goals," General Vautrinot said. "The operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have tested our ranks, as well as the will of all Americans, but well-qualified young men and women continue to serve -- a real testament to the tremendous quality of our countrymen, our Air Force and its recruiters. We are hopeful that kind of support -- that call to action -- continues in 2007."

Operation Blue Suit began in 1979 to help bolster production in critical recruiting programs. The competition was originally designed to enhance enlisted recruiting efforts during the traditionally slow months of February through May. It proved so successful that officials expanded it to include officer accessions recruiting.

This year, Operation Blue Suit honors 12 enlisted and officer accessions recruiters as the best of 1,640 Air Force recruiters worldwide. Winners are nominated by their recruiting groups and selected by a board based on their performance in meeting assigned recruiting goals, leadership qualities and other professional traits.

Air Force Recruiting Service officials will recognize Blue Suit winners and their spouses in events taking place March 5 to 9 in San Antonio.

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

Click here to view the comments/letters page