As with organizations big and small, our military’s success in completing its mission rests on its ability to get and keep highly skilled and talented recruits. Yet, given the competitive market and eligibility-constrained talent pool, recruiters across our armed forces face some significant challenges in meeting the recruiting needs of our all-volunteer force. In this panel discussion, you’ll hear from top policy makers and military recruiters as you gain a better understanding of the shared recruiting and retention challenges our U.S. military manages, as well as the strategies they employ to meet their recruiting mission. You’ll also learn about the multiple programs and “continual-learning” opportunities that are employed across all the whole of the Department of Defense to prepare today’s military to succeed as tomorrow’s veterans.
Learning Objectives:
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Colonel Sam Whitehurst
US Army (Ret.), Vice President
Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services
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Colonel (Ret.) Sam Whitehurst served over 29 years in the U.S. Army in the U.S. and overseas, to include Afghanistan and Iraq. He finished his military career as the Director of the Army’s Soldier for Life program, serving as an advocate for Soldiers as they transition back into civilian society.
He now serves as the Vice President of Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services, where he continues to advocate for service members, military veterans, their families, and the families of our fallen.
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Darcel C. Thomas
Instructor/Writer
US Army Recruiting & Retention College
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Sergeant First Class Darcel C. Thomas was born in Harlem, NY and enlisted into the Army in August of 2002, as a 74C (Telecommunications Operator/Maintainer). She attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson, SC and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, GA. In 2008, she enlisted into the AGR program as a 79R (Recruiter).
During her career, Sergeant First Class Thomas has served as a Company First Sergeant, Station Commander, Recruiter, Assistant COMSEC Custodian, COMSEC Clerk, and is currently assigned as an Instructor/Writer at the Recruiting and Retention College at Fort Knox, KY.
Sergeant First Class Thomas has been assigned to following units: 35th Signal Brigade at Fort Bragg, NC; New York City Recruiting Battalion, Flushing, Harlem, and Lincoln Station, NY; Baton Rouge Recruiting Battalion, McComb and Hattiesburg, MS; and New York City Recruiting Battalion, Washington Heights and Brooklyn, NY.
Sergeant First Class Thomas’ military and civilian education includes: Warrior Leader Course (Commandant’s List), Army Recruiter, Senior Leader Course (Leadership Essay Awardee), Station Commander Course (Iron Soldier), Guidance Counselor/Operations Course (Iron Soldier), Common Faculty Development Program-Instructor Course, Sexual Harassment Assault Response Program Foundation Course and has completed her Associate of Arts in General Studies, a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix, and is enrolled in a Master’s of Science program, majoring in Organizational Development, at the University of Louisville.
Sergeant First Class Thomas was selected as the AGR NCO of the Year while assigned to the Baton Rouge Recruiting BN; NCO of the Quarter while assigned to the NYC Recruiting BN. Her other military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award, MSM, ARCOM (4 OLC), JSAM AAM, GCM (4rd Award), NDSM, GWOTE, GWOTS, ICM-CS, OVSM, NCOPD (Num 3), ASR, RBG2S.
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Babs Chase
Vice President of Military and Veteran Programs
The Manufacturing Institute
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Babs Chase is the Vice President of Military and Veterans Programs at The Manufacturing Institute, the social impact arm of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the nation’s largest industrial trade association. In her role, Babs leads Heroes MAKE America- the Institute’s initiative to connect transitioning service members with the manufacturing industry creating a pipeline of skilled, credentialed candidates.
She has led outreach programs in myriad industries including Politics, Economic Development, Labor, Public Diplomacy, Corporate America and Defense. Babs’s true passion is in the Defense industry connecting organizations wishing to be involved in the community by supporting those who wear the uniform of our country and the families serving alongside them.
In 2018, Babs launched Chase Magnolia Partners, a consulting firm focused on building partnerships to support clients striving to make an impactful difference in the Military Veterans community. Previously, Babs worked on the Public Affairs Team in Corporate Responsibility at JPMorgan Chase & Co. where she was responsible for expanding the face of the Firm in the Mid-Atlantic region by building relationships and engaging with local stakeholders and civic leaders.
From 2011 – 2017 Babs orchestrated executive outreach on behalf of the U.S. Army Senior Leadership developing and maintaining a network of hundreds of external influencers to advise them on impactful opportunities for the Army. She received the Department of the Army Superior Civilian Service Award and Meritorious Civilian Service Award in recognition for her contributions.
Babs served almost all 8 years in the Administration of President George W. Bush. She started out working in Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison at the Department of Labor representing the Secretary with local and State governments and corporate and association leaders around the country. Next, she joined the Public Affairs Team in the Office of the Secretary of Defense where she built an integrated Community Relations Program to inform influencers about the policies, programs, and goals of the Department. She also led the Joint Civilan Orientation Conference, a program for corporate and community leaders to expand their understanding of the role of the defense around the world showcasing our military from all Services. Babs also served at the Department of State Foreign Press Center where she coordinated the foreign press coverage of the 2008 elections for hundreds of international journalists.
A graduate of Baylor University, Babs is a proud native of Memphis, Tennessee. She and her husband, Andrew Mickley (a Navy retiree), reside in Alexandria, Virginia with their Cavalier King Charles, Elvis.
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Andrew Morton
Director, Veterans and Certification Affairs
SHRM
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As SHRM’s Director of Certification and Veteran Affairs Andrew Morton works with the military and veterans' organizations to develop workforce readiness pathways for veterans and military-families. As part of SHRM’s Speaker’s Bureau Andrew informs and empowers organizations in their inclusion-hiring efforts across many populations including Veterans, individuals with disabilities, and Returning Citizens as part of SHRM’s Getting Talent Back to Work Initiative. He is the contributing author to Justin Constantine’s SHRM published book “From We Will to At Will- A Handbook for Veteran Hiring, Transitioning and Thriving in Today’s Workplace.”
Andrew, a retired Infantry-Officer, served in several leadership roles during multiple overseas and combat tours (Iraq, Bosnia, Macedonia and Egypt) in his 21-year Army career. He also served as the Chief of Marketing and Advertising for the Army Reserve. Prior to his arrival at SHRM in 2014 Andrew previously served as public relations director for a PR firm in Alexandria.
Andrew is passionate about awareness and resources in support of mental health within our workforce and society at large and is currently completely his Masters in Mental Health Counseling at the College of William and Mary.