LOS ANGELES (NNS) – Recruiters from Navy Recruiting Command, top regional and national recruiters, Navy Recruiting District and Talent Acquisition Groups, teamed with the Navy’s mobile virtual reality asset, the Burke, comprised a “Swarming Team,” that visited 25 high schools, and participated in three community outreach events in five days to bring Navy awareness to Los Angeles Jan. 20-26.
The Los Angeles Unified School district is the second largest in the country, and introducing them to 113 Recruiters from around the nation is a huge undertaking.
“Los Angeles is a great market for strong candidates,” said Lieutenant Commander, Anthony Allard. “In California the school systems are rich in academic excellence so the Swarm is a great method for uniformed service members showcase Navy opportunities to students.”
In a city with more than 4 million residents, the recruiters had two primary goals. The first is to recruit future Sailors and the second was to bring outreach to the city. Los Angeles is a thriving city with many job and career opportunities. The swarm team’s goal was instrumental in highlighting the benefits of naval service, and creating Navy mission awareness in the community.
“We’re here to open peoples’ eyes to other options and opportunities that other career paths may not offer,” said Boatswains Mate 2nd Class Faustina Deguzman, assigned to Navy Recruiting District, Phoenix.
Overcoming Hollywood stereotypes of the military and educating a city filled with pop culture and movie-made perceptions can be a challenge presented to the nation’s best recruiters. “All of the swarm recruiters have the drive to make a difference and show people their options for a career in the military after high school.’ Said Deguzman.
“The students out here reminded me of myself, highly motivated, but lacked opportunities that many youth aren’t aware of,” said Navy Counselor 1st Class Joshua Yates, Navy Talent Acquisition Group Rocky Mountain. “I pushed them to ask themselves, where their money was at, a metaphor I use when I show them the Navy has a bank full of opportunities to cash in on.”
The city is a melting pot of people and cultures. The Navy advocates diversity as a tool that strengthens its forces, and it is one of its key elements in being the world’s greatest Navy. Through community outreach and recruiting events like Swarm Los Angeles, Navy Recruiting Command plans to bring in future Sailors that reflect America’s diverse population.
The Navy plans on Swarming Chicago, Illinois, next and will continue to hold swarming operations in support of the Navy the nation needs.
Navy Recruiting Command consists of a command headquarters, three Navy Recruiting Regions, 16 Navy Recruiting Districts and 10 Navy Talent Acquisition Groups that serve more than 1,330 recruiting stations across the world. Their combined goal is to attract the highest quality candidates to assure the ongoing success of America’s Navy.
