Editor’s note: The reporter assigned to this story is a member of the Coast Guard Reserves, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security. National Guard members serve under the National Guard Bureau and the state government.
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — Michigan Air National Guard officials say recruitment surpassed this year’s goal after reducing the benchmark. Army leaders say they missed their goal but saw an overall increase. The stats come as national military leaders touted goal-breaking recruitment totals ahead of the end of the fiscal year.
Staff Sargent Vernonica Cornejo starts the day at the National Guard recruitment office in Kalamazoo by pulling high school visit lists and coordinating those stops. It’s a job she volunteered to do for the last two years out of the 10 she has been in the service. For her, it’s a chance to share something that gave her stability.
Michigan National Guard company deploying to Southwest border
“Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of money. I didn’t have a lot of resources. So I was one of those kids that, you know, needed extra resources, someone to like lean on,” she said…