Spreading the Army’s story
Area station commander loves what he does

By Mark Mitchell

This is where he belongs. He’s owned his own business, he’s served as a paramedic, but in the end, the Army is right for him. He’s Sergeant First Class John Zimmerman, and he recently added Station Commander of the U.S. Army Recruiting Station in Boone to his job title.

Sgt. 1st Class John Zimmerman recently took over as the Station Commander of the U.S. Army Recruiting Station in Boone. Photo by Mark Mitchell

“I’m proud to be here, and proud to serve,” said Zimmerman, “and not only does that make me strong, but it makes me Army strong.”

Zimmerman came here in late October of 2007, taking on the responsibilities of Station Commander and also that of Senior Army Reserve Recruiter for Western North Carolina. His path to this point has included many turns and twists, but always, he knew he was an Army man.

“I first joined the Army in 1988 as a combat medical specialist,” said Zimmerman. “I was part of Desert Storm and then did a tour in Fort Hood, Texas. I went back to Kuwait in 1993 for a training mission. Once I went off active duty, I went straight to to the Army Reserve. Following that, I worked as a paramedic for three years, and then owned a mobile car washing business. I also worked with International Paper.

“In the back of my mind, however, I knew I was most happy when I was in the Army. I even had a family friend tell me that the happiest he had ever seen me was when I was in the Army. I agreed and went to recruiting school. I started in Texas and then worked for more than four years in Asheville before coming here.”

Zimmerman recruits reserves while the Boone recruiting station’s recruiter deals with actives. However, as Station Commander, Zimmerman also recruits actives.

Zimmerman said the Boone recruiting station, which opened in July of this year, was needed because the nearest recruiting station in his U.S. ARB-Columbia Battalion was located in Hickory. Another reason was that the area was a semi-untapped market.

“There just wasn’t enough exposure to the Army in the area,” Zimmerman said. “I want to bring a knowledge of the Army’s potential opportunities to the area.”

The new Station Commander said he has many goals for the new Boone recruiting station, including dispelling any misconceptions about the Army.

“I want to establish good community relations between the community and the Army,” Zimmerman said. “We want to offer Watauga High School and ASU students and members of the community with an alternate means for them to reach their goals. There was an old commercial that stated that the Army was a great place to start, and it is.

“We as recruiters have a lot to offer in terms of opportunities. The Army offers job security like no one else. I tell people that the Army has been in business for more than 230 years, and has never had a lay-off period. Today’s Army is not your father’s Army. It is a highly professional organization with probably the best all-around benefits’ package. Civilian benefits’ packages can’t touch it. We can give direction and motivation to individuals, including those going to college, who may not otherwise have a game plan for their future success.”

Zimmerman said what he wants is just 30 minutes of time with someone who may be interested.

“I just want to show the Army’s professionalism and its potential career opportunities,” Zimmerman said. “We can offer a career opportunity that looks better than anything else on a resume that will follow someone for life.”

In asking for that 30 minutes, Zimmerman also mentions a misconception.

“People say don’t sign anything at a recruiting station,” the Station Commander said. “The reality is we provide knowledge and determine eligibility, but you don’t sign legally-binding paperwork here. That paperwork is done in Charlotte at the Military Entrance Processing Station.”

Zimmerman, who married his wife Kimberly recently in Asheville, said he loves what he does and loves his life and would be nowhere else.

“It is so important to be where you should doing what you love,” said Zimmerman. “A career as a recruiter is interesting because a lot of people equate recruiters to liars or used car salesmen. I encourage my recruiter, and all recruiters, to utilize all regulations and all resources at their disposal to not only tell the truth, but to show the truth in writing. I sleep very comfortably at night knowing this.”