For the first time in a decade, the Delaware National Guard has a recruiting center in Dover.
Major General Frank Vavala, the Delaware National Guard's Adjutant General, and Dover Mayor Carleton Carey helped the Guard officially open its new recruiting home on Route 13 just north of Division Street Wednesday.
"It's important for us to have a presence in each one of the communities we serve. And since we really didn't have a real physical presence here in the City of Dover, the first city in the First State, we felt it very important to have a location here," said Maj. General Vavala.
[caption id="attachment_30841" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Lt. Col. Valentine Miller, Maj. General Frank Vavala and Dover Mayor Carelton Carey officially (left to right) open the news Delaware National Guard Dover recruiting center." ]
The facility replaces a Dover Mall kiosk that had been the National Guard’s only recruiting presence in the state capital since the Guard left the Hasslet Armory about 10 years ago.
Maj. General Vavala calls it a significant upgrade from the constraints of recruiting at a mall.
"In this location, we’ve got somewhere where they can come, they can sit down, we can talk to them about what we have to offer and physically be able to provide the necessary support to be able to encourage them to join our Delaware National Guard," said Maj. General Vavala.
Delaware’s Army National Guard Recruiting commander, Lt. Colonel Valentine Miller says the new center is also more visible and should help the reach more potential recruits in Dover.
"What we’ve gained from this is that we are centrally located. We’re right by Wesley College. We’re [right] by Delaware State University, Wilmington College and Del Tech, which are our target market. And we can provide them and their students, opportunities to let them know about the education benefits if you are part of the Guard,” said Lt. Col. Miller.
[caption id="attachment_30844" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Delaware National Guard officials expect the new recruiting center along Route 13 will bring the Guard greater visibility in the state capital." ]
The Guard spent nearly 15 thousand dollars to renovate the 15 hundred square foot space it is leasing. It will be home to four recruiters, an iPad information kiosk and six gaming stations.
The center was open during renovations and has attracted 45 recruits in the first 6 months of 2012.
Statewide, Maj General Vavala says recruiting efforts are yielding the needed results.
"We're pretty close to 100 percent strength in our Army National Guard and about 95 percent strength in our Air National Guard," said Vavala
Beyond recruiting, Lt. Col. Miller says the new center will also help the Guard by strengthening its ties to the community, especially local businesses. Lt. Col Miller hopes that will help current Guard members when it comes to finding work.
"As they see that we are here, they may be willing to hire some of our soldiers that have the skills and [other] things they are looking for in their employees," said Lt. Col. Miller. "As you know, times are hard and a lot of our soldiers are looking for jobs."