MILLINGTON, Tenn. — Joining the Navy Reserve is a great option for people who want to serve their country, while also pursuing a civilian career. However, if there comes a time when a career on active duty sounds appealing, there are several opportunities that exist for Reserve sailors to make the switch. One of those opportunities recruiting.
The Canvasser Recruiter (CANREC) Program gives Reserve Sailors a chance to be a Reservist recruiter for five years. The program is available to both enlisted and officers and affords Sailors an opportunity for community involvement while also supporting the Navy’s mission.
Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Randy Isom, assigned to Commander, Navy Recruiting Command here, has been travelling to Navy Operational Support Centers (NOSC) across the nation to educate Reserve Sailors about this opportunity.
“We found out that a lot of Reservists were interested in recall orders, but they just didn’t know about the CANREC opportunity,” said Isom. “This is why we are trying to spread the word as much as possible.”
Navy Recruiting Command is looking for individuals who are highly motivated and passionate about being recruiters. The goal is to not just fill quotas, but to find the best and most fully qualified applicants. Reserve Sailors are normally familiar with the civilian job market, and when talking to potential Sailors, their understanding of both worlds can offer a new perspective.
“CANREC is actually a really big help because their input and their contributions are critical to the overall mission of the Navy,” said Isom.
Qualifications for the CANREC program include; must be an active Selected Reservist at the time of recall, eligible for Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders, and meet rank requirements - E-4 to E-6 for enlisted and O-3 or below for officers.
Selected Sailors are sent to Pensacola, Florida, for a 25-day recruiting skills course covering public speaking, prospecting, marketing and more.
“If someone is interested in CANREC then they should get a hold of us,” said Bob Stolt, program manager for CANREC contracts. “We actually have funds to PCS sailors. So, if they are in the middle of nowhere and are interested in going somewhere like Florida then we can try to get them out there. They can go on their initial set of orders and we can try to have them stay for up to five years.”
For more information on CANREC, see BUPERS instruction 1001.40 or contact your local Navy Reservist Recruiter at your NOSC.
Navy Recruiting Command consists of a command headquarters, three Navy Recruiting Regions, 16 Navy Recruiting Districts and 10 Navy Talent Acquisition Groups that serve more than 1,330 recruiting stations across the world. Their combined goal is to attract the highest quality candidates to ensure the ongoing success of America’s Navy. For more news from Commander, Navy Recruiting Command, go to www.cnrc.navy.mil. Follow Navy Recruiting on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NavyRecruiting, and on Twitter and Instagram at @USNRecruiter.
Rear Adm. Richard S. Lofgren serves as the Acting Chief of Navy Reserve and Acting Commander, Navy Reserve Force. In this role, he provides strategic leadership and oversight for Navy Reserve personnel and operations worldwide, supporting the readiness and integration of Reserve forces across the fleet. A Surface Warfare Officer, Rear Adm. Lofgren brings extensive operational and command experience across maritime expeditionary, coastal riverine, and surface warfare missions, including service in senior leadership roles supporting U.S. naval operations in multiple geographic combatant commands. His career reflects a sustained commitment to operational excellence, leadership development, and the effective employment of Navy Reserve forces in support of national security objectives.
Rear Adm. Luke Frost is a Surface Warfare Officer with extensive operational, command, and strategic leadership experience across the fleet. He has served in senior command roles at sea and ashore, including command of major surface combatants and amphibious forces operating throughout the Central Command and Indo-Pacific areas of responsibility. As a Flag Officer, Rear Adm. Frost served as Director, Reserve Warfare (OPNAV N0959) on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations, where he provided oversight and strategic guidance for Reserve force integration and readiness. His career reflects a deep commitment to warfighting excellence, joint operations, and the effective employment of naval forces in support of U.S. national security objectives.
Rear Admiral John Saccomando is a Naval Aviator with extensive operational, command, and strategic leadership experience across both active and reserve components. He has served in multiple senior command and flag assignments supporting naval aviation, expeditionary operations, and installation readiness, including leadership roles within U.S. Fleet Forces and Naval Air Forces Atlantic. A combat-experienced aviator, Rear Adm. Saccomando brings deep expertise in joint operations, force integration, and operational readiness, reflecting a sustained commitment to advancing naval capabilities and supporting U.S. national security objectives worldwide.
Rear Adm. Greg Emery is a Navy Reserve flag officer with extensive leadership experience across naval oceanography, intelligence, and information warfare. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he has served in a wide range of operational, command, and staff assignments supporting global naval and joint operations, including senior leadership roles within Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Rear Adm. Emery brings deep expertise in intelligence integration, operational support, and information warfare, reflecting a sustained commitment to advancing decision advantage and mission readiness across the fleet.
Force Master Chief Nicole C. Rios serves as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of Navy Reserve, advising on the readiness, welfare, and professional development of approximately 59,000 Reserve Component Sailors supporting Navy, Marine Corps, and joint operations worldwide. A seasoned Command Master Chief, she brings extensive experience across aviation, expeditionary, and information warfare communities, with senior enlisted leadership assignments at the unit, regional, and force levels. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to Sailor advocacy, operational readiness, and the effective integration of Navy Reserve forces in support of national defense objectives.
Command Master Chief Lyons brings extensive operational and shore-based leadership experience across aviation, logistics, manpower, and readiness organizations within the Navy Reserve enterprise. Selected as a Command Master Chief in 2016, he has served in senior enlisted leadership roles at Navy Operational Support Center Pearl Harbor, Navy Personnel Command, Maritime Support Wing, Fleet Readiness Center Mid-West, and currently serves as the Command Master Chief for Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command. An Aviation Warfare Specialist, he is recognized for sustained excellence in leadership and readiness, earning multiple personal, joint, and unit awards throughout his career.
Command Master Chief Louvier enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1997 and brings extensive aviation maintenance and readiness leadership experience across multiple Fleet Logistics, Strike Fighter, Helicopter, and Reserve aviation commands. Selected as a Command Master Chief in 2015, he has served in senior enlisted leadership roles at VR-56, Commander, Tactical Support Wing, Fleet Readiness Center Reserve Mid-West, and currently serves as the Command Master Chief for Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve. An Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist, he is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy and multiple executive leadership programs and has earned numerous personal and unit awards for sustained excellence in leadership and mission readiness.
Master Chief Jerry E. Dotson was born in Garden Grove, California, and raised in Sacramento. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 29, 2002, and completed recruit training and Electrician’s Mate “A” School in Great Lakes, Illinois. His career spans operational, reserve, aviation, and senior enlisted leadership assignments, and he currently serves as the Command Master Chief for Commander, Naval Information Force Reserve.