Gold Bar Recruiter program returns to the Holm Center Published July 24, 2009 By Jessica Casserly Air University Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- The Air Force ROTC Gold Bar Recruiter program completed its first annual training course Thursday at Maxwell for 18 second lieutenants, said Brig. Gen. Teresa Djuric, Holm Center commander. This is the first group of lieutenants to go through the 10-day "Gold Bar" training course since the program was converted to a contract in 2002, said General Djuric. "The Gold Bar program was in place for 11 years before ROTC adjusted from this minority-focused recruiting program to more generalized recruiting. There was also a concern that lieutenants involved in the program would fall behind their peers already on station," said Col. John McCain, Air Force ROTC commander. In an effort to align with the Air Force Chief of Staff's vision of a diverse Air Force, General Djuric and Colonel McCain began looking at diversity recruiting programs that had been successful in the past. The Gold Bar Recruiter program was selected for reactivation due to its ability to reach a significant number of perspective AFROTC cadets. "Fifty seven percent of all Air Force officers come from the ROTC program," Colonel McCain said. When looking at statistics for the Gold Bar program, Colonel McCain found approximately 20 percent of all ROTC cadets cited their interaction with a Gold Bar recruiter as a reason they became involved with ROTC. The newly activated Gold Bar Recruiter program is authorized up to 20 recruiters each year, with 18 lieutenants participating this year. These prior ROTC cadets will serve at one of approximately 14 host detachments across the United States, said Colonel McCain. "Every lieutenant participating in the program will be trained here at Maxwell before reporting to their AFROTC detachment," Colonel McCain explained. The detachments are located at select schools from cities across the United States that have a high percentage of minority students, said Colonel McCain. While the program focuses on reaching minority students, General Djuric emphasized that Gold Bar recruiters are there to provide support and assistance to any high school senior or college student interested in applying for ROTC. "The Gold Bar recruiters are there to help all those interested through every step of the application process," General Djuric said. Qualified lieutenants must go through a selection process before being placed in the Gold Bar program, Colonel McCain explained. "First of all the lieutenants are strictly volunteers," he said. "They go before a board at AFROTC headquarters. We review letters of recommendation from their detachment commanders, their performance as an ROTC cadet, their field training performance and their bio before they are selected for the program." Lieutenants have the opportunity to request assignment at their preferred detachment. "We try to match them as closely as we can," Colonel McCain said. "Some have even been able to return to the detachments they graduated from." General Djuric explained that the Gold Bar program is a 12-month maximum assignment. "Lieutenants involved in the program are all on active duty when they arrive here for training," General Djuric said, "so the length of their assignment will depend on when their career field training starts." Gold Bar Recruiters will also return to Maxwell on temporary duty to attend Air & Space Basic Course, General Djuric said. "Their training won't stop when they leave for their detachments. There will be a constant flow of information between HQ AFROTC and Gold Bar Recruiters," she said. For General Djuric, a broadening exchange of ideas is the most important result of the Gold Bar program. "Through the Gold Bar Recruiting program we have the opportunity to recruit and grow a more diverse Air Force. A diverse Air Force ensures diversity of thought. Diversity of thought leads to many operational courses of action versus 'groupthink.' It all starts with ROTC," General Djuric said. "If I had to describe the Gold Bar program in one word I would say opportunity," Colonel McCain said. "This program provides awareness and opportunity for everyone. We look at this program as a way to introduce ROTC to a diverse group of sharp folks. They're out there; we just have to find them. We want our Air Force to look more like America."