AF Reserve sponsors Monster Jam

  • Published
  • By Martha Whipple
  • 746th Test Squadron
EL PASO, Texas --  Team Holloman recruiters, 44th Fighter Group reservists and Reserve recruiters from Texas, Georgia and Nevada brought a spotlight to the Reserves during a Monster Jam event at the Sun Bowl Stadium March 6 and 7.

The Air Force Reserve sponsored the event that sold out the stadium on the campus of the University of Texas El Paso, bringing together more than 50,000 spectators each day.
Monster Jam is a four-wheel drive extravaganza with a variety of specialty events including hot wheels, monster trucks, pro-stadium trucks, quad wars, demolition derby and specialty thrill acts. Monster trucks go head-to-head and take on the jumps, ditches, water hazards and ramps that make up the obstacle course.

The event kicked off with a Monster Jam pit party, open to all ticket holders. Monster trucks like Grave Digger, El Toro Loco and Blue Thunder lined the infield of the stadium. Fans swarmed the infield, collecting autographs from drivers and snapping photos in front of their favorite truck.

One vehicle that could not go unnoticed was Eli, the Air Force Reserve motor coach. Thousands of fans visited the Reserve recruiting information table in front of Eli. Recruiters and Reservists gave away near 20,000 logo-branded key chains, pens, bags and other Reserve material.

"Sponsoring this type of event provides the best avenue for advertising to the masses," said Chief Master Sgt. Robert Starkey, Robins AFB, Ga., recruiter. "The recruiters bring awareness to the Reserves. People begin talking about the possibilities, and they also learn about Reserve programs in their hometown and surrounding areas. We want to keep the Reserves fresh in their minds."

People of all ages found interest at the booth. Parents were interested in college opportunities for their children. High-schoolers were eager to know more and learn specifics. And many people just wanted to say thanks to the uniformed servicemembers. There was a constant buzz of people around the Air Force table. In three hours, recruiters collected 70 leads on people interested in joining the Reserves.

"This was a superior effort by our entire team of recruiters," said Tech. Sgt. John Venable, Holloman in-service recruiter. "As an in-service recruiter, I am limited to recruiting active duty folks, but these types of events open the door to full-throttle recruiting. I truly believe in the Air Force Reserve recruiting program."

The recruiting program brings the Air Force Reserve to big venues and reaches out to communities in mass numbers, Sergeant Venable said. Many people are not even aware of the Air Force Reserve program until they attend an event like Monster Jam.

While the recruiters worked the crowd and gave one-on-one attention to potential Reservists, five maintenance Reservists from the 44th Fighter Group at Holloman manned the information table and handed out material and information cards. They also collected entries for a drawing to win a poster signed by several drivers on the tour which the recruiters presented to one lucky winner.

"This is a team effort, and we are all working to promote the Air Force Reserves," said Senior Master Sgt. David Papizan, Holloman senior recruiter. "Everyone who is wearing the uniform is also recruiting because the uniform is a highly visible, promotional tool. Our team wouldn't have been complete without the uniformed Reservists working the table."

Reserve recruiters were not only handing out information, they were broadcasting information nationwide. Senior Master Sgt. Christina Emmett, Arlington, Texas, recruiter, took to the media booth and plugged in the Reserves. Monster Jam announcer, Mr. Scott Douglas, interviewed Sergeant Emmett during the opening ceremonies and exposed Reserve opportunities to the sold-out crowd. Fans roared in support of America's troops.

Sergeant Emmett was enthusiastic about the event and using every media outlet possible to reach out to the next generation of Reservists.
"I have been recruiting for 20 years, and the evolution of recruiting techniques has been amazing to experience," Sergeant Emmett said. "Recruiters are not just going to high schools and job fairs; they are reaching folks at all levels and from every angle possible. We are using 21st century technology and delivering Reserve awareness better now than we have ever done in the past. Air Force Reserve is investing in the future with recruiting programs and using networks like MySpace, Facebook and Twitter combined with big venues like airshows, Monster Jam and Sports nation. The Air Force Reserve recruiting program is doing everything right."

For more information about the Reserves or for a listing of Air Force Reserve-sponsored events, log on to www.afreserve.com.