"The best recruiting tool we have is a reserve [component[ soldier who feels he or she is making a meaningful contribution, being trained well to do the job and relates that satisfaction to friends at work and in the community."– SMA William A. Connelly, Sixth Sergeant Major of the Army***** We have a world-class Army.I don’t think anyone would dispute that statement. We have the best of everything; the best training, the best leaders and the best equipment, but that’s not what makes the United States Army the best.It’s our great soldiers, the young men and women who step forward and volunteer to join a winning team – America’s Army.The first step in building and maintaining our world class Army begins at Army recruiting stations throughout America. Our recruiters are working all day every day ensuring we continue to enlist only the very best and brightest into America’s Army.Our great Army recruiters in the local communities are telling the Army Story.They are mentors, role models for young Americans, and they exemplify Army Values and selfless service to the nation.AUSA is honored to have as our special guests during the 2011 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition three of our very best Army recruiters – the winners of the Recruiter of the Year Competition.Staff Sgt. Adrienne Campuzano is this year’s U.S. Army Recruiter of the Year. She’s a native of Montevallo, Ala., and is a 1995 graduate of Montevallo High School.She enlisted in the Army in November 1995; attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and advanced individual training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas to become a preventive medicine specialist.She is currently assigned to the Salisbury, Md., Recruiting Company, Baltimore Recruiting Battalion.Her awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Kosovo and Iraq Campaign Medals and the Humanitarian Service Medal. She has also been awarded the Army Recruiter Badge with Sapphire and the Air Assault Badge.She is married to Staff Sgt. Edgar Campuzano, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Safety Office at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.Campuzano said that it is hard work that earned her the title. "This means a lot of dedication, a lot of hard work, and a lot of time," she said.Adding, "Recruiting is probably the hardest thing I’ve done in the Army."The Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention NCO of the Year is Sgt. 1st Class Tavia L. Syme.Syme grew up in Columbia Falls, Mont., and enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1989 as an administrative specialist.After a break in service, she returned to the Army Reserve and deployed with her unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2008 she applied and was selected for a recruiting and retention NCO position in the Montana National Guard.She is the mother of three children who have all followed in her footsteps. Her oldest son, Brandon, serves in the U.S. Navy, her daughter, Auttem, and her youngest son, Joseph, serve in the Montana Army National Guard.Her awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal along with the Expert Recruiter Badge and Army National Guard Director’s Recruiting and Retention NCO of the Year Ring.Sgt. 1st Class Daniel R. Lucas Jr. is the U.S. Army Reserve Recruiter of the Year.Lucas enlisted in the West Virginia Army National Guard in April 1997 from Scott Depot, W. Va., and upon completion of initial entry training returned to Scott Depot and was assigned as a utilities equipment repair technician.He is married to the former Patricia Winters and they have three children: Kathryn, manager of a local cosmetics company; Amanda, who is in the Army Reserve and is currently serving in Afghanistan; and David, who is on active duty and has served a short tour in Africa and a year in Iraq.His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army and Reserve Component Achievement Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Bronze Hourglass.In January 2000, he transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve and subsequently attended the basic recruiter course at Fort Jackson, S.C.Lucas is assigned to the 1st Medical Recruiting Battalion, Fort Meade, Md., and his recruiting station recruits only doctors and nurses."We are able to fill most of our foxholes" he said, "but in medical recruiting it’s tougher to get those specialty jobs filled. We have to have more precision to analyze our markets … and pinpoint the individuals we’re going after."These three great noncommissioned officers were selected from thousands of their fellow recruiters – all of whom are serving the nation selflessly during time of war.All three have clearly demonstrated that they are the "Best of the Best."As our special guests at the Annual Meeting, they along with the Drill Sergeants and AIT Platoon Sergeant of the Year will attend all professional development events and receive awards from the Army leadership during the Eisenhower Luncheon on Tues., Oct. 11.AUSA’s Annual Meeting starts bright and early Monday morning Oct. 10, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.Join us for three days of professional development, meet these three NCOs and many other award winning, world-class noncommissioned officers attending this year’s Annual Meeting.Still Serving!