Recruiter focuses on air reserve technician Published Nov. 7, 2009 By Senior Airman Andrew Davis 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind., -- Covering a five state region, including Indiana, Master Sgt. Gary Garnto has his hands full; traveling quarterly to meet with commanders, potential recruits, hiring officials, and coordinating with civilian personnel lists from five separate states. Sergeant Garnto is the sole Midwest Air Force Reserve Technician recruiter. A former security forces member of 15 years, Sergeant Garnto got into recruiting eight years ago and was recently assigned as the ART recruiter. "I recruit for the Air Force Reserve Technician Program, which is personnel that are in the Air Force Reserve but also hold a federal job position on base as well," said Sergeant Garnto. "They are typically folks just coming into the Reserve, whether they are members from other branches or Airmen leaving active duty that are looking to stay in the federal system. " Sergeant Garnto goes above and beyond what a normal recruiter does; helping personnel throughout the hiring process, making sure applicants turn in the best package possible and drastically improving their chances of getting a job. "They (applicants) can apply through USAJOBS.gov by themselves, but without an ART recruiter they don't have that person diving through their package and checking on it," said Sergeant Garnto. "They can't always call these places and check up on the status, but I can, I basically oversee their package and the entire hiring process. "Really one of my main jobs is to ensure their package is the best one they can turn in. Reviewing it if it needs some corrections or work I'll tell them that and give them advice on what to change here and there to make it a better package for a higher rating. The higher rating the better chance they have of getting hired," he added. The speeding up and simplifying of the hiring process is one of the main perks of utilizing an ART recruiter to find a federal job. "If you compare them (applicants) to applying just through USA jobs to say guy who is already in the Reserve coming to me and applies it is by far faster and simpler," said Sergeant Garnto. "I send their package directly to the special examining unit in Georgia. Where it's a long process through USA Jobs, but with me within a week or so we can have your package sent out to the SEU and from there it's a more simple process." "Optimally we would like to hire fully qualified folks coming off of active duty or folks already doing the job in the Reserve," said Sergeant Garnto. "But we also have the opportunity to hire folks coming right off the street. "But they have to know that they are required to join the Reserve. They can get rated and get a tentative job offer but without being in the Air Force Reserves these ART slots are not available to be accepted until they are physically qualified to become a member of the Air Force Reserve," added the sergeant. For more information, on ART career opportunities contact Master Sgt. Gary Garnto at (618) 593-1526 or via e-mail at gary.garnto-02@scott.af.mil.
