The story was originally published in The Sylva Herald, Feb. 23 edition.
Things have changed for people looking to join the U.S. Army. To stay competitive and attract more recruits the Army has increased sign-on incentives to a maximum of $50,000, the largest incentive opportunity ever offered to new recruits by the Army.
The previous limit was $40,000.
The officers in the Sylva U.S. Army Recruitment office hope that this will increase the number of people from Jackson and the surrounding area to increase, said Michael Rohrer, Sgt. 1st Class at the Sylva recruitment office.
The Army has 150 different careers that need to be filled in the Regular Army and the Army Reserve.
“Cash bonuses up to $50,000, the total incentive package for a new recruit is based on the combination of incentives offered for the selected career field, individual qualifications, length of the enlistment contract and ship date before training,” Rohrer said.
Not every new recruit would receive $50,000. It would result from a combination of different opportunities and bonuses.
Each career option has a different bonus, and certain choices like Airborne or Ranger schools, or quick shipment will add to that career bonus. Select foreign languages can be worth up to $40,000, according to a release from the Army.
“We do offer quick ship bonuses, with 30-, 60-, and 90-day bonuses which range from $2,000 to $9,000, on top of what you are already getting if you qualify for other bonuses,” Rohrer said.
Other incentives include duty station of choice as well as a two-year enlistment option.
“We offer first duty station of choice for limited places like Fort Polk, Fort Hood, Fort Bliss, Fort Drum, etc.,” Rohrer said. “We have what is called the flexible enlistment option it’s for like two and two, it’s approved for 84 jobs, with two years active and two years reserve. This allows for short enlistment opportunity for individuals without committing to a six-year enlistment.”
The local office plans to work Western Carolina University and Southwestern Community College to spread the word about the new incentives.
“We are working on a partnership with WCU to advertise at games,” Rohrer said. “We’re trying to work on (advertising at) their baseball games right now. Because Sylva’s so small we pop in like three or four times per city. Get in the schools and just talk about class presentations or go to career fairs. We are going to the career fair at Southwestern Community College on the 24th. There will be a table set up there and just talk about careers in the Army and all the new incentives that are being put out,” he said.
Rohrer said that their office covers from Sylva, Cherokee, Cashiers and to the Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia borders, but they only get around three or four recruits monthly.
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