Air Force Recruiter running to educate others

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Chance Babin
  • Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas --  

An Air Force recruiter has devised an innovative way to educate his fellow recruiters about recruiting squadron locations around the world.

Tech. Sgt. Jason Beaucage, assigned to the 341st Recruiting Squadron as the San Antonio Military Entrance Processing Station liaison supervisor, runs each day in honor of a different Air Force Recruiting Service group or squadron. He calls it a virtual tour of AFRS.

For example, to honor the 311th RCS, he will run 3.11 miles for the day. After he runs, he posts information on the squadron, including location and leadership details, to the Recruiting Service 5/6 and the AFRS Top III Facebook pages.

Beaucage said he came up with the idea to help young recruiters who are at their first duty station as a recruiter.

“I think it’s important Tier-1 recruiters know this information because they need to know about the organization they represent,” he said. “A lot of Tier-1 recruiters may not know that there are 65 MEPS and they aren’t just limited to health professions or a squadron-level role. The goal is to help Tier-1 recruiters learn where they might be stationed next.”

After each run, Beaucage uploads a biography of the group or squadron commander, the unit’s fact sheet and other relevant information, including where the MEPS stations are for that organization.

The recruiter said in addition to helping educate young recruiters on the geography of AFRS, he has helped boost his own fitness.

“This is absolutely about self-motivation as well,” he said. “Since I am posting this daily, my expectation is to continue to run daily until I have finished with all the squadrons. By the time I am done, I will have run about 130 miles. Since a lot of us aren’t able to get out much for physical fitness during the COVID-19 pandemic, this holds me accountable. Who knows, it might motivate someone else to get out and run as well.”

Since starting this program in early July, Beaucage has run about 40 miles. He said he doesn’t even know if his leadership is aware of what he is doing, but he hopes he can help young recruiters.

“If even one person reaches out to say this helped them in any way, I will consider it a success,” he said.