Chris Amrhein, Brig. Gen. commander of Air Force Recruiting Service Interview

Chris Amrhein talks to Mendte in the Morning about the state of recruitment in the last few months and the perks of signing up for the Air Force or Space Force.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'd like to bring in what an honor, Brigadier General

(00:03):
Christopher am Erin, who is Commander of Air Force Recruiting Services.
He's in New York City for Armed Services Day, which
of course is May fifteenth to the seventeenth. General am Rin,
thank you so much for being It's quite an honor.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Hey, Larry, thanks for having me on the show today.

Speaker 1 (00:22):
Yeah, explain that that the numbers the Defense Department talks
about the numbers are way up, but you still need people.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Oh, we're absolutely looking for a high quality talent to
come into our Air Force and our Space Force, as
well as our components in the Air Force, Reserve and
Air National Guard. In twenty twenty four, so the previous
year we absolutely hit our goal across all components to
include the Space Force. We exceeded the goal. And this

(00:52):
year we are absolutely on track to meet our goal
again this year. And so I think as your question
is is, we're meeting the goals to bring in our
requirements in the Air Force and Space Force, but we
are also always looking for talent to get out there
and build what we call the depth the Delayed Entry

(01:13):
Program also known as the Bank, which we've been able
to do over the last two years, please.

Speaker 1 (01:19):
Share with us the vital role that the Air Force
plays and that Space Force plays. By the way, if
I was of age, I'd love to be involved with
Space Force. It sounds really it sounds really great. What
opportunities do people have with those two branches.

Speaker 2 (01:34):
Yeah, So I think one of the things when I'm
out and about in the field and talking to our
line force that's out there, is really just making sure
people understand, you know, that all of the jobs that
are available in the you know, in the civilian economy,
if you will, I would say ninety nine percent of them,
we have that job skill in the Air Force or

(01:55):
Space Force across almost any you know, any of the
opportunities that are out there. I think, you know, from
a brand standpoint for the Air Force very much known
you know, to aim high and fly, fight and win.
But there are literally over one hundred and thirty different
type of jobs that folks can do in our Air

(02:17):
Force and Space Force to be able to impact those
missions that are out there. And so I mean, I
would go to we have medical professionals, we have folks
that we have firefighters, we have security forces, which is
like you know, our Military Police. Obviously, we have folks
in flying opportunities, civil engineering, electrical engineering, really across the spectrum.

(02:42):
Those opportunities are out there and we're always looking for
talent to come and join our team.

Speaker 1 (02:46):
Would you recommend to young people going to college the
ROTC program.

Speaker 2 (02:51):
I absolutely would. In fact, I'm an ROTC graduate myself,
and I really really enjoyed the opportunity. We have folks
that are out there that are ready to talk. We
have over one hundred and forty five detachments across the
United States that are part of four year major universities
and provide that opportunity. I think one thing I'd also

(03:13):
like to offer is we will take people into the
ROTC program. They don't have to do the full four years.
If they decide that after their first year in college
that maybe joining the Air Force or Space Force is
something that's for them, then we have three year program
as well. In fact, I have a daughter that went

(03:34):
through that program and she's a lieutenant now in the
Air Force, and so there are multiple paths even within
ROTC as well as OTS and the Air Force Academy
to come in as a commissioned officer.

Speaker 1 (03:45):
I love that you change the age of enlistment to
forty years of age, do you have You're seeing a
lot more people near that age joining.

Speaker 2 (03:54):
I think what raising that age up to forty two
actually now the the maximum age without a waiver to
come in is uh. It really provides more flexibility for
the talent that's out there. What I also think that
that that opportunity has done is for folks that maybe

(04:16):
already have you know, an established either family, local area,
desire to stay or a current career path for them
to join our Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard. Uh.
And that way they can do both. They can serve
in their in their civilian role as well as in
a military role.

Speaker 1 (04:35):
Well that sounds great. Is there a phone number for
people to call or a website they can go to?

Speaker 2 (04:40):
Absolutely so. Our two websites are air Force dot com
and Space Force dot com. And then what I would
offer is and we have an app. It's called aim
High app and it's obviously it's free to download. You
do not have to build an account or anything. You
can go in as a guest and it will show
you all of the job possibil city set are out there.

(05:01):
And if you put your zip code in it'll even
give you a referral to the local recruiter near you
to start that conversation, well, Sarah, as.

Speaker 1 (05:08):
I said from the beginning, it's an honor. Thank you
for everything you do, Brigadier General Christopher. I'm Ryan, I
appreciate your time.

Speaker 2 (05:16):
Hey, Larry, thank you very much for the opportunity, and
I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Speaker 1 (05:21):
You too,