Published: April 14, 2006
Recruiting Efforts Attract, Retain Model Soldier
By: 2nd Lt. Anthony D. Buchanan
BALAD RUZ, Iraq - The U.S. Army uses a lot of its resources to attract quality people, retain them and replace those Soldiers who serve honorably and move on. Over the past couple of years, there have been several complaints about the Army's recruiting plan, but there are cases when it has worked to perfection.
Spc. Andrea Landi works on the tire of a vehicle at Forward Operating Base Caldwell.
Photo by: 2nd Lt. Anthony D. Buchanan, 133rd MPAD |
Spc. Andrea M. Landi, a mechanic from Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division was intrigued by an Army recruiting commercial viewed on television in her home in Anchorage, Alaska.
"I saw a commercial with people jumping out of airplanes and rapelling out of helicopters," said Landi. "I said that looks like so much fun and if I can do things like that everyday, I'm going to join."
Indeed she did. One day while working customer service for U-Haul in Alaska, U.S. Army Recruiter Staff Sgt. George W. Moore, walked in and said, "You look like you want to join the Army," and gave her his card. To make a long story short, this was the beginning of the process of bringing Landi into the military.
A few months later, she swore in and was on her way to basic training. While attending basic training she kept hearing a phrase coined by drill sergeants that remains with many Soldiers after basic training.
"Drill sergeants always say, 'Don't thank me, thank your recruiter,' so I will," said Landi. "I would like to thank my recruiter because he didn't lie to me when I was trying to join the Army."
After basic training, Landi went to advanced individual training to learn how to be a mechanic.
Spc. Andrea Landi does pull-ups in her work area during her free time. She's preparing for Airborne School and Air Assault School.
Photo by: 2nd Lt. Anthony D. Buchanan, 133rd MPAD |
"Being a mechanic was something I was interested in and something I wanted to learn how to do," said Landi. "You learn how to work on vehicles and you also learn how to drive them. I got to learn a job that I like and do something I love to do."
In September of 2005, Landi was name Soldier of the Month for the 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd HBCT.
Sgt. Jose Villar, Landi's squad leader and a native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic said, "She's open to learning new skills and performs just like any of the other mechanics."
"I'm the only female mechanic in my company, but the guys make me feel I'm part of the team," said Landi.
"She's really smart and good with numbers," said Villar. "She'll go far in the military."
She's not off to a bad start. She's already attended the Primary Leadership Development Course and should be promoted to sergeant soon. On top of that, she just re-enlisted to serve her country for another five years.
Landi's goal when she gets home is to attend Airborne School and Air Assault School. To show their support, the guys she work with even put in a pull-up bar in the work area so she could do pull-ups in her spare time to prepare for these schools.
"I would love to attend these schools after this deployment," said Landi.
She also plans to pursue her civilian education and hopes to become a maintenance warrant officer someday.
The Army recruiting plan worked to perfection here. Landi was inspired to join by advertising, she went through the recruiting process where she was briefed and in processed by a recruiter, and sometime after that, she decided to re-enlist for another five years. Landi will go forward and continue to do great things for her country in the years to come.
Anthony D Buchanan
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