The military services’ recruitment teams are facing new realities as they struggle to meet recruitment targets. After being forced to quickly develop a pandemic-era outreach approach, recruiters are now returning to traditional recruitment methods and balancing those with new virtual options that helped them reach potential recruits.

The military services are also working hard to retain service members who could otherwise choose to leave service.

Defense communities can help with both recruitment and retention. That will be the subject of a special session, “It Takes a Community to Recruit a Service Member,” at the Defense Communities National Summit, taking place March 6-8 in Arlington, Virginia.

Session speakers will include:

  • Sharene Brown, Spouse of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force
  • Mona Dexter, Chief of Staff, Hiring Our Heroes, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
  • Kristi Hilbert, CEO, Heroes Supporting Heroes; Air Force Chief of Staff Civic Leader Program
  • Meredith Lozar, Head of Community Development & Government Relations, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
  • Craig Wilhelm, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army

Check the Summit website for registration, hotel accommodations and regularly updated programming information.

Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Hutchinson