This is one of the things that I've been talking about, with recruiting #membership in The American Legion. The lessons that the United States Marine Corps and Marine Corps Recruiting can teach us are invaluable. I believe our focus is off target. I believe that we condescend too much, feeding the "Whats in it for me?" mindset. Those who think we aren't already targeting younger, minority, and women #veterans, aren't paying attention. One of the extraordinary examples of Legion history is that women and minorities could vote in Legion elections before they could vote in American elections. That attitude of a "veteran is a veteran is a veteran" is both naturally #inclusive and defining our community as a subsection of the population, deserving of attention. The perks are there, but but should be secondary in our pitch. Additionally it is critical that we make it easy to serve. Include the family. Erase political chatter. Mentor. Have opportunities to "do" things. I think we benefit if we get back to focusing on mission first. When recruiting for the Legion Family, let's talk about the opportunities to serve and improve the lives of those in the military/veteran community, as well as all living in the greater community. Never fear; there's levels to this service that can adapt to each member's bandwidth of fiscal and time resources. Some can impact by simply paying their dues to support. Some will do a bit more and participate in www.legion.org/action to help flex our lobbying power by contacting their elected officials, in a strategic and unified way. Some will participate in volunteer activities in the community. Others will step up and support programs that fall under our Four Pillars. Maybe they want help with Legion baseball, oratorical, Boys/Girls State, or any of the list of orphans that we have. Those who really want to dive deep in this will aspire to leadership. This is the potential power of Be The One. We have a mission of ending veteran suicide. Actionable steps towards that end are becoming increasingly availabe. www.legjon.org/betheone. Service is in the DNA of those who served honorably in a #military uniform. Does it not seem logical to appeal to that sense of service when we ask them to wear the Legion cover? Doesn't it make sense to transfer our focus to a mindset of "What's best for WE?" Semper Fi...for the Good of the Legion. https://lnkd.in/gbMyUpvw
J Chad Drake PMP
11mo
The Marine Corps will not struggle with recruiting because they have never hitched their wagon to college, GI Bill, or any other financial reasoning. What attracts young men and women to serve is the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. What attracts young men and women is the opportunity to be a warrior and live a life of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. What attracts our nations finest is being a part of a tradition and heritage that has been ready to be the first to fight since 10 Nov 1775. The Marine Corps will cease to exist when our nation no longer wants or can afford a Marine Corps. It will cease to exist if legacy Marines and families are poorly treated by the institution. The Marine Corps will cease to exist if it changes its model of first to fight and tries to be all things to everyone. The Marine Corps is a unique and rare breed. Our nation cannot and should not water down the values of the Marine Corps nor its purpose….to close with and destroy the enemy with all means necessary. Glad my dad served and I was able to do the same…I miss those days, the mission, purpose, and the good people who served for the love of God, Corps, and Country. Humbled to serve amongst many hero’s and people better than myself. VR JCD
Scott Widdifield
11mo
If I were a recruiter today, I would tell kids to visit the other services first and only come back if they didn’t find what they were looking for. The Marine Corps is for the best and we are much harder with fewer benefits for things like being yourself. We are looking for warriors, not average. We want the hard working self-starter who is looking to be more than the sum of his/her parts. So see me if you don’t find what the others cannot provide..the intangible, esprit de corps, excellence, hard work, being pushed to be your best and part of a team that has proven as much for well over 200 years. The would just stop.
Bill Lee
11mo
As a Special Forces vet, I was never interested in the dress blues or crayons aspect of service. It was about the mission. Not a mission infused with diversity, gender or other such social questions, but rather about the challenge and my country. The Legion today has an identity as a vet service organization who can unf*%k the VA. That's great, but it has no interest except self-interest, no challenge and no 'country' component that's visible. If the Legion wants to recruit, it needs to change its perception.
Jason Castillo
11mo
Do you think the Marine Corps is telling the truth? Is it possible we are inflating our numbers to avoid hard questions and how we could change? Worth thinking about.
David Bayler, MBA
11mo
Not surprising when the USMC is so much smaller than other branches. If the force was the same size as the Army they’d be struggling to make numbers as well.
Austin Carter
11mo
There is a retention problem, for the force to succeed it to retain talent and not just treat those already in as replaceable by someone new. Everyone can be replaced but not everyone can be replaced by anyone!
Steven Long, M.B.A.
11mo
IMO, the USMC makes goal annually simply because they are...the Marines. Yes, they have a very unique nature or culture. From experience as an Air Force recruiter for over 17 years, my first four years, like all others, started recruiting in the hometowns and high schools. I'd say I was an above average recruiter and if a kid came in to tell me he was also thinking of the another branch, I could usually convince them the AF was the way to go. Except, for those pesky Marine candidates. I learned that when the candidate wants the Marines, it is with 95% assuredness that they will join the Marines no matter what I say. I came to the realization that they are all reincarnated or something like that. Rather than spend one hour trying to sell the AF, I would just walk them across the hall to the Marine office. The USMC has a draw to it that is extremely difficult to break when they have made the decision. Also, I would also mention that it may take another fiscal year for the other services to catch up due to the pandemic and not being able to enter the high schools and meet many face-to-face. This curtailed consistent lead generating activities and will take some time to rebuild. Aim High Air Force on our 76th birthday!
It's the dress blues....and all you can eat crayons
USMC Veteran, Actor/Writer @ Independent Entertainment | Podcast Host, Producer
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