RJ mar 09 - USAREC - U.S. Army

igh Recruiting
Story by D. Charone Monday, Columbus Battalion
The sky’s the limit for the Columbus Battalion when it
comes to getting out the word about recruiting. The
battalion has partnered with the international, awardwinning
sky divers of Team Fastrax to attract prospects.
Made up mostly of prior service members, the team has a
profound influence on Recruiting Command, as they are
walking testimonials for how the Army can help people succeed.
Team Fastrax was created by owner John Hart to promote
the sport of sky diving in a positive way. Members are drug
free and serve as role models and ambassadors of the sky
diving community. Combined jumps for the team total more
than 300,000.
They perform all over the United States at professional
football and baseball games, NCAA Division I football games,
NASCAR, the International Hot Rod League, major air shows,
and symphony events. They have the distinction of being the
first-ever civilian sky diving team to jump with the Golden
Knights in a world championship. As a result of this partnership,
a Team USA 8-Way, known as KnightTrax, was used at
the 2008 World Championships of Parachuting.
The team’s partnership with the Army formed a few years
ago when Columbus Battalion’s recruiters Staff Sgt. Bill Rice
and Sgt. Timothy Castle of Columbus North Station decided to
sponsor several tandem jumps between Ohio State University
students and Team Fastrax.
This led to the first high school jump — game ball and U.S.
Flag jump at the Hilliard Davidson vs. Hilliard Darby football
game where about a dozen school administrators jumped. The
sky divers then invited the team to speak at the school. During
the general assembly, Fastrax sky diver David Hart gave a
motivational speech about his personal experience as a U.S.
Army Ranger.
According to John Hart, “We were told by one of the
recruiters that the sky diving activity had significantly improved
his relationship with the school principal and athletic
director.” … (Also) “The parents love it that we take the time to
talk with their kids and pose for photos. The crowd interaction
is our favorite part of the sky diving performance. We are
known for jumping large American flags at our events, and as
we approach the landing area, the crowds go crazy chanting
USA, USA, USA.”
Sky diving demonstrations often bring in leads. Nine jumps
executed in front of a crowd of more than 100,000 during the
Ohio Challenge in Middletown, Ohio, generated more than 50
leads.
Team Fastrax also has an ongoing relationship with the
101st Airborne demo team, the Screaming Eagles. Members of
the Eagles train at Team Fastrax’s training site. Team Fastrax
has taught members of the Screaming Eagles how to perform
jumps that include trailing flags and pyrotechnics.
“I believe this is a great partnership that more USAREC
battalions should take advantage of,” said John Hart. “We
open doors to schools that have been closed in the past to the
Recruiting Command.
“We have heard more than one recruiter comment on how
our efforts have helped them get engaged with Future Soldiers
and open doors at the schools. Think about it, members of our
jump team are CEOs and presidents of corporations. We don’t
tell the students what the Army is going to do for them while in
the service; we tell them how serving in the United States Army
will give them the skill sets to succeed in life beyond their
enlistment.”
RECRUITER JOURNAL | MARCH 2009 | 11