Getting one member gets you rewarded --getting lots, gets you airborne

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Stephen Bailey
  • 301st Fighter Wing
FORT WORTH, Texas --  Staff Sgt. Ed Hartman never thought the excitement and energy level for his newfound love would take him to new heights, but that's exactly what happened Dec. 3 when he raced through the skies aboard the 301st Fighter Wing' s F-16 on an incentive ride.

"Unbelievably the best time I've ever had," said an exhausted, but still fired-up, winner of the Get 1 Now program. The Get 1 Now program is the Air Force Reserve Command's program encouraging Reservists to refer anyone they feel may be interested in joining the Reserve to the local recruiters.

Program officials launched the Get 1 Now program in March and have been in full swing providing more rewards and recognition to participating Reservists than any other recruiting program. Officials said the new recruiting tool is user-friendly, sports a brand-new catchy logo, offers exciting rewards, and has a redesigned easy-to-use Web site.

Sergeant Hartman, a Reservist from the 33rd Aerial Port Squadron, Niagara Falls, N.Y., was named the Get 1 Now program's top performer based on the number of individuals he referred who joined. As the winner, he got his choice of aircraft for an incentive ride.

"I am so excited about the Air Force Reserve and when you're excited about something, it's easy to tell people," Sergeant Hartman explained. With twenty-one years of service, Sergeant Hartman has served in the Army Reserve, the New York Army National Guard, the Navy Reserve, and now the Air Force Reserve.

Sergeant Hartman sadly relates his previous military experiences were not positive. However, since joining the Air Force Reserve, he has found great success, friendly people to work alongside, and received the opportunity to elevate his education and personal development levels.

"We are seeing huge dividends from the Get 1 Now program," said Senior Master Sgt. Jeannie Pratt, 301st FW senior recruiter. The new design made this process easier and has eliminated the qualifying, or routing, of referrals.

Referrals will now be automatically delivered to the closest recruiter to where your referral resides.

Sergeant Pratt said, "We've had good success with this program because for every referral a reservist brings, there's a higher rate of that person joining. Reservists are our best advertisement because they speak from their experiences and can relate with potential candidates."

"I want to thank everyone for this experience to include the entire 301st FW," said Sergeant Hartman, "but especially the pilot, Maj. John 'Farmer' Marusa, who explained what would occur during all aspects of the flight. We went straight up for 10,000 feet off the runway. All I could see was blue. It was awesome.

"My three years in the Air Force have been challenging and rewarding," said the New York native. "I wish I would have joined the Air Force Reserve in 1985 when I first enlisted. Winning this award has made me even more excited about telling others to get involved in the Air Force Reserve."

Program team officials all agree that referring new members to the Air Force Reserve is now easier than ever before and takes no extra time at all. "You never know -- you might be our next winner!" Sergeant Pratt said.

The Web site is get1now.us or you can call 877.786.2372. (Master Sgt. Gary Johnson, AFRC Recruiting Service, Public Affairs, contributed to this story.)