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Master Sgt. Bryan McCoy and Tech. Sgt. James Register plot where they will go for their next recruiting trip on a map May 8, 2013, at the Air Force recruiting office in Salisbury, Md. Both McCoy and Register cover more than 4,180 square miles of territory recruiting. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chuck Walker)

Recruiters find key to success

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chuck Walker
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SALISBURY, Md. --  Leaving your mark and making a lasting impact on the community is something a lot of us strive for, but it can be a difficult goal.

Two Air Force recruiters accomplished that goal recently and were awarded for their efforts.

Master Sgt. Bryan McCoy and Tech. Sgt. James Register, recruiters with the Salisbury, Md. Recruiting office, received keys to the city of Salisbury from Mayor Jim Ireton May 8, 2013, in a ceremony at the city council chambers in downtown Salisbury.

Register said he was surprised by all of the attention.

"I really don't know," Register said when asked why he was receiving the honor. "I guess it's a culmination of everything we've done. This is not something we sought, we did not seek it. This is the kind of reward most of us don't get."

Both McCoy and Register served more than four years in the Salisbury recruiting office, covering an area of approximately 4,180 square miles between them and spreading the word about joining something they both love, the Air Force.

McCoy said he thoroughly enjoyed the time he spent in Salisbury.

"I loved it," McCoy said. "I loved 99 percent of it. I would not go back and change anything at all."

Register said becoming a recruiter was a good choice for him, and that the experience he feels, has made him a better NCO and a better Airman.

"I'm still friends with my recruiter and I finally took his advice," said Register on why he chose recruiting. "It was a good career move for me. It's one of the opportunities the Air Force gives you to branch out, do different things and become a better person. It's given me a bigger perspective. I wanted to give back and help others the way my recruiter helped me. I want do the same for other applicants."

Master Sgt. Steven Szeszko, 314th Recruiting Squadron flight chief of enlisted accessions, said McCoy's and Register's involvement in the community was the reason they were being recognized.

"I've only been here a year, but I was impressed with how professional and how ingrained into the community they were," Szeszko said. "Sergeant Register lives in Fruitland, Md., and he is consistently doing stuff with kids and everybody in the community. Sergeant McCoy goes down into Virginia. They both visit 20 schools every month. The key to recruiting is involvement and they are involved, it's amazing how much they do for the community."

Lt. Col. Ricardo Trimillos, 314th Recruiting Squadron commander, said McCoy and Register each shared a love of their their job and it showed in them being recognized.

"You can tell those two enjoyed their jobs and that they were solid members of the community, being involved with schools, youth sports and Civil Air Patrol," Trimillos said. "To be successful, you have to love what you do and you can tell they love what they do because it comes through. It was a great honor to see the community embrace their recruiters and it showed why they were successful as recruiters."

One person who can testify to McCoy and Register's impact in the Salisbury community is Kyle Dunn. Dunn, a delayed entry program recruit who reports to basic training on June 18, said he had nothing but praise for both McCoy and Register.

"They are two of the most professional recruiters I've ever seen or gotten to know," Dunn said. "They go above and beyond what other recruiters do. Most just read out of book or tell you to get back with them. They went out of their way to get me the answers I needed and they were interested in giving me the information right then and there."

McCoy and Register will now prepare to move on to Dover Air Force Base, Del. McCoy will report to the 436th Operations Support Squadron on May 31 and Register will report to the 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron in July.

Register said the thing he will miss most about being a recruiter is the impact he was able to have on people's lives.

"You can make a difference for people as a recruiter," Register said. "A lot of people come in here and they need the Air Force. You can then make a difference in their life and change them and their lives for the better."