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Air National Guard uses virtual reality to bring in potential recruits at Snake River Stampede

The Guard is looking to bolster its ranks, and they're doing so with the help of a 24-foot tall mobile trailer, complete with the virtual reality stations.

NAMPA, Idaho — The Air National Guard is looking for a few - actually nearly 200 - good men and women. 

If you've been to the Snake River Stampede, you might have seen them there looking for potential recruits in a unique way. They’re using virtual reality to give folks a glimpse in a day of the life of a National Guard Airman. 

Michele Hostler, the tour manager from Jacob’s Eye marketing firm, gave KTVB a tour of what’s known as the National Asset, a 24-foot mobile trailer that travels around the nation to help recruit folks for the Air National Guard. 

“On the asset we have three different virtual reality opportunities,“ Hostler said. “One is the virtual reality flight simulator, a uniform challenge and what we call a desert hawk game.” 

RELATED: Idaho National Guard soldiers take part in large-scale training exercises in California

The virtual reality scenarios gives potential recruits a chance to experience what airmen go through without leaving their seat.

“We’re hiring for a lot of positions, the majority of our positions are going to be for the aircraft, because in the state of Idaho we actually operate the A-10 Warthog and maintain and operate that mission full time,” said Idaho Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. David Anderson. “But we also have jobs in human resources, firefighting, communications as well as Cyber Warfare.”

The Air National Guard is a reserve component of the Air Force, and officials say they are looking for recruits who are motivated and want to serve their country.

Currently, there are 190 open positions with the Air Guard.

RELATED: ‘It’s top-notch, edge of your seat’: Snake River Stampede back for its 104th year

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