WEBVTT

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All right , well , good morning , team

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Selfridge and welcome to February drill .

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Today we are filming from Building 901 ,

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which is the location of the Selfridge

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Visitor Center , as well as the 127th

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Recruiting Office . As we gather for

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this February drill , I want to take a

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moment to address recruiting and

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retention , which are an essential part

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of our success as an organization . Our

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ability to accomplish the mission

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depends on bringing in talented

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individuals , ensuring our airmen feel

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valued and supported throughout their

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careers , especially through our

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upcoming conversion . Every new recruit

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is critical to our mission's success .

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We always want to add more talented and

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motivated individuals just like you who

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want to make a difference . Recruiting

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is not just the job of our recruiting

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team , it is a wing wide effort . Each

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of you can be an ambassador to the

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Michigan Air National Guard by sharing

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your story and telling people about our

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opportunities . In fact , we've tasked

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all of our commanders to participate in

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recruiting events at least every

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quarter , and we encourage all of you

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to do the same . So if you know someone

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who would make a great addition to the

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127th wing , connect them with our

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recruiting team . You could even be

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eligible for incentives through our

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referral program . For your help in

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pulling great talent into the 127th

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wing , the Michigan National Guard

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offers a $1000 bonus for anyone

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referred to us who joins our team . So

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to be eligible to receive this bonus ,

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the non-prior referral must ship off to

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BMT , and prior service referrals must

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complete their first RSD . And

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retaining our talent at airmen is just

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as important as recruiting new members .

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Your skills and experience are

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invaluable to the mission , and we want

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you to thrive in your career here . So

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retention is not just about staying ,

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it's about feeling connected and

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knowing you're part of a mission that's

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bigger than yourself and knowing that

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your service protects our nation's

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freedom . As I mentioned last month ,

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there are resources in place to support

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your career and your personal

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well-being through professional

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military education opportunities like

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tuition assistance and education

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benefits , career counseling , and

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mentorship programs . We are committed

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to helping you achieve your goals ,

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whether advancing your military career

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or balancing your service with civilian

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life . We also have retention bonuses

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available in the local , critical , and

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highly critical bonus categories .

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Depending on your AFSC , you could be

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eligible for up to a $90,000 bonus if

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fully qualified in a highly critical

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field and a $70,000 bonus if you

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retrain into one . For more details ,

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you can refer to the fiscal year 25

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incentive guidance sent out in October

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for a full list of retention bonuses

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available . It's one of the best ways

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that we retain our people is by

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fostering a positive culture where

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everyone feels valued , so I encourage

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you to be the kind of teammate you'd

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want to work with supportive ,

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collaborative , and encouraging . When

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we care for each other , we build a

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stronger and more resilient wing . So

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leaders and supervisors , please don't

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underestimate the power of recognizing

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your airmen for their hard work . A

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simple thank you or formal recognition

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can make a big difference . So here are

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a few ways that you can contribute to

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our recruiting and retention efforts .

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So share your Michigan National Guard

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story . Be a mentor or support your

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fellow airmen and help them feel

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connected and valued . Take advantage

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of the programs and opportunities

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available to you . Stay engaged , stay

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motivated , and stay on the team . So

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now as we step into February , let's

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renew our commitment to readiness ,

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excellence , and service to our state

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and nation . As we prepare for the

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challenges ahead in 2025 , I want to

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emphasize the importance of maintaining

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our operational readiness and

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professional development through

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refining our skills during training and

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supporting ongoing missions at home and

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abroad . Your dedication to excellence

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and ensure we remain always ready ,

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always there . Additionally , February

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reminds us to prioritize our physical

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and mental well-being . Resilience is a

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cornerstone of our missions success ,

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and I encourage all of you to take

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advantage of available resources to

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support yourself , your families , and

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your teammates . So let's continue

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building our team , retaining our

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talent , and strengthening this wing .

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The strength of the 127th wing lies in

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its people . Each of you is integral to

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our success , and I am proud to serve

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alongside all of you . So let's

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continue to uphold our core values of

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integrity first , service before self ,

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and excellence in all we do . Then have

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a great drill and remember together we

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stand ready to answer the call .