Aiming Higher: Mississippi Recruiter Surpasses 100 to Lead the Air National Guard

If you ever beat Tech. Sgt. Michael Evans at something, know he’ll come back for a chance to even the score.
Evans, a production recruiter with the Mississippi Air National Guard Recruiting Flight, enlisted 110 applicants between Oct. 1, 2025 and Sept. 30, 2026, setting a record for Air National Guard recruiting as the first recruiter to exceed 100 enlistments.
His actual goal? Thirty-six.
In fiscal year 2025, Evans enlisted 78 Airmen into the Mississippi Air National Guard, primarily for the 172nd Airlift Wing in Jackson, earning him the No. 2 spot in the nation for Air National Guard recruiters. It also got him a seat at the table for the Blue Suit Award, a prestigious U.S. Air Force recruiting award for top performers in the field.
Had he enlisted four more, he would have been the top Air National Guard recruiter for the year.
“I set out to get 100 because Tech. Sgt. Alexis Yates, an Ohio [Air National Guard] recruiter, beat me last year with 81.” said Evans. “That gave me the motivation to chase a higher goal for myself.”
In fiscal year 2026, he not only exceeded his and Yates’ record; he became the No. 1 Air National Guard recruiter in the nation.
“I was getting to work early every morning, leaving the office late every evening to try to accommodate as many applicants and their schedules as I could.”
According to Evans, he set out to accomplish this feat to prove it to himself but also to put Mississippi in the spotlight.
“Being able to do this for Mississippi made me proud,” said Evans. “I love giving back, and we have a great state, so I’m proud to showcase that.”
Evans has always taken pride in his work. And he’s never been a quitter.
Evans was a maintenance crew chief before he was a recruiter. After doing his research and speaking with his peers, he decided he could make a greater impact as a recruiter. He completed his application, got a call for an interview, dressed in his cleaned-pressed blues, and waited to hear back. He was not selected. This happened three more times.
“I interviewed five times before I got selected for this job. I knew recruiting would be the gateway to giving back and helping everyone see what the military had to offer,” he said. “Those interviews were certainly a learning experience, and I gained a lot from going through them.”
Something shifted for Evans. He began refining himself and his knowledge to ensure his next interview would be so good the board couldn't tell him no. And it worked. Evans joined the Mississippi Air National Guard recruiting team in August 2023.
Evans began to show promise almost immediately, enlisting 48 Airmen in fiscal year 2024, 12 more than the required 36.
Evans’ success is impressive, but his impact with his applicants is the real gem.
“He explained a lot of the details I didn’t understand. He made the process easier for me. Even with obstacles, he encouraged me to continue to try,” said Airman 1st Class Markaylah Felton, 172nd Services Flight.
“Sgt. Evans was always easy to get in contact with,” said Airman 1st Class Bayli Barnes, 172nd Services Flight. “I was really nervous at first, but he kind of helped to ease my nerves.”
Evans was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his outstanding achievement, alongside Staff Sgt. Kemi Olagbegi, who was awarded the Air and Space Commendation Medal for her exceptional contributions as a recruiting administrative assistant.
“Kemi streamlines the process from start to finish,” said Evans. “She makes things run smoother and faster and she checks for mistakes. Teamwork makes the dream work.”
All in all, the love of the game is what keeps Evans going.
“I’ve always been good at communicating with people, building relationships, and helping individuals find opportunities,” Evans said. “I feel that if you love what you do, it will never feel like work. I have a lot of fun doing my job. I love giving people something positive to believe in and showing them a path that could change their lives forever.”

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