Master Sgt. Nick Connery on Military Recruiting Surge, COVID Fallout, and the Rise of Citizen Soldiers

Master Sgt. Nick Connery of the Missouri Army National Guard breaks down a notable rebound in recruiting across the St. Louis and St. Charles regions, highlighting how his team surpassed annual enlistment goals for the first time in years and is on pace to repeat the performance. He points to COVID-era restrictions as a major disruption that limited school access and community outreach, while explaining how recruiters have since adapted by shifting focus toward junior colleges, trade pipelines, and workforce engagement. Connery details the structure of Guard service as a flexible “citizen soldier” model—basic training followed by monthly drill weekends and annual training—emphasizing how it allows service members to maintain civilian careers while still supporting both domestic missions and national defense. Guests: Master Sgt. Nick Connery Hashtags: #ArmyNationalGuard #MilitaryRecruiting #MissouriGuard #CitizenSoldiers #NationalDefense #StLouisNews #Service #Veterans #MemorialDay #MilitaryCareers