Change of command embraces tradition, innovation for Air Force Recruiting Service

by Tech. Sgt. Andy Stephens
Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs

10/15/2012 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- Brig. Gen. John P. Horner succeeded Brig. Gen. Balan R. Ayyar as commander, Air Force Recruiting Service in a change of command ceremony at the enlisted club here on Oct. 11. The new commander expressed enthusiasm for his new assignment and credited the hard work and resourcefulness of Air Force recruiters worldwide for continuing to recruit quality Airmen for the world's greatest Air Force.

"I'm both excited and humbled to be entrusted with command of the Air Force Recruiting Service," Horner said. "This is a wonderful organization where leadership is absolutely dependent on teamwork and empowering our recruiters -- some of the most gifted, most inspired people in America's Air Force."

Horner cited the active duty and civil service workforce at San Antonio for their role in supporting more than 1,200 recruiting offices that span from Ramstein Air Base, Germany to Hometown, America. He stated his commitment to upholding the tradition of AFRS - to be the most agile, effective and professional recruiting force in the world.

Horner described the drive for recruiters to balance the innovations of marketing with the steadfast, traditional values of the Air Force that remain appealing to not just the next generation of Airmen, but their families. The pressure on recruiters to find the right skill set for these future Airmen requires balancing the needs of the service with the attributes of the recruit in a challenging new era of national service.

"Whether you are recruiters or support staff, we have all been entrusted to find America's best and brightest and inspire them into service," the general said. "We're going to face many of the same challenges we have before, but this command will always be supportive of its personnel because of the demands that are asked of them. For us, people are our mission. Any new challenges will be met with that trademark dedication and perseverance that motivates tomorrow's Airmen to service today."

While AFRS has traditionally focused on recruiting the best and brightest enlisted applicants who have no prior military service into more than 150 enlisted career fields, AFRS also recruits officer candidates in a variety of unique skills sets such as chaplains and physicians. The command is responsible for accessing 100 percent of the enlisted force, 90 percent of the Air Force's health profession officers, approximately 16 percent of today's overall officer corps and 100 percent of Air Force chaplains. These numbers represent an annual accession average of more than 27,000 enlisted members and 1,000 officers every year.

Horner's previous assignment was at the Pentagon as the Director of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Capabilities, Headquarters U.S. Air Force in Washington, D.C. Among his duties in that assignment, he directed and managed Air Force remotely piloted aircraft and their associated air, space and cyberspace systems.

With today's Air Force recruiting focusing on Airmen well versed in the science, technology, engineering and math of the new technologies, Horner's knowledge of the demands and requirements of cutting-edge technology will translate to how recruiters can reach out and motivate future Airmen.

Horner is the 32nd commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service, which was established in 1954 as the 3,500th U.S. Air Force Recruiting Wing. The name was officially changed to the U.S. Air Force Recruiting Service on July 8, 1959. The command has maintained a San Antonio presence since 1965 at what is now Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.