WHCA Recruiting Video (1992) Ready to Receive

     

WHCA Recruitement Video (1992)
Type of Activity	WHCA Recruiting video
Location
Location	Washington DC
Date of Activity	1992
Coordinates	38°53′52″N 77°02′11″W

 

Ever since its inception, and officially formed by the War Department on 25 March 1942 during the Roosevelt Administration, the mission of WHCA was to provide primer communications for the President of the United States,

The Unit was activated under the Military District of Washington to provide normal and emergency communications requirements in support of the President. Initially named the White House Signal Detachment (WHSD) consisting of 32 people provided mobile radio, teletype, telephone, and cryptographic aids in the White House and at the Presidential Retreat Shangri-La, now known as Camp David.

WHSD wasn’t even a real agency for the first three months of its life. Rather, it was an unofficial collection of the U.S. Army whose low-profile mission was to provide secure lines of communication for the president during World War II. Officially activated in March 1942, WHSD has since undergone two name changes and a couple of shifts in oversight. During the Eisenhower administration WHSD was renamed the White House Army Service Agency (WHASA)

In June of 1962, a review of the organizational arrangements by which the Communications needs ln the White House were being met and the review suggested certain changes involving Department of Defense support. It was believed that these changes would facilitate the White House operations. The White House Communications Agency (WHCA), as it has been known since 1962, is a “joint service agency” staffed by all branches of the armed forces, as well as a handful of civilians. Recruiting qualified personnel was always a huge problem, because of the sensitive nature of the assignment WHCA formed recruiting teams and sent them to many bases in the US and overseas,

I reported into Ft. Monmouth and started training as a Microwave Radio Repairman in April 1965. Several weeks before I completed training, I was interviewed by a recruiting team from the White House Communications Agency (WHCA). Normally these teams were comprised of an Trip Officer and three enlisted members knowledgeable of the MOS’s needed by the Agency. After reviewing hundreds of 201 files, a handful of students were selected to be interviewed. I returned the next day and was told that I had been selected.

 Passing a polygraph examination was required and your background needed to be squeaky clean and have ZERO deceptions with your answers, you can't get offended or flinch even when they ask you insane questions about your character or lifestyle. I remember the first time through the test I had no deceptions, and the examiner asked the last question “have you told the truth to all of the previous questions”? Well the machine went wild, so after some consultation with the examiner, I re-took the test and passed.

Then an extensive background investigation was conducted, even for those of us who already had security clearances, my WHCA contact told me that only 1 of 3 make it through the screening.

Reportable items included within the Interview , but are not limited to, were as follows: 

-Adverse involvement with law enforcement agencies to include arrests, fines, speeding tickets and parking tickets

-Negative Counseling or Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) punishment

-Security Incidents/Infractions

-Court Summons

-Credit judgments, bankruptcy filings, repossessions, or late payments

-Association with foreign nationals (not previously reported or a change in contact relationship/frequency)

-Foreign Travel (NLT 30 days prior to travel)

-Change in marital status -Legal name change

The background investigation actually took about six months with Investigators interviewing references and traveling to my hometown talking to my neighbors

I was ultimately selected and was transferred to WHCA in Washington DC. It was November of 1965 when my experiences with WHCA began. 

When I reported for duty in 1965 WHCA had a total of 450 people assigned. I quickly found out that it was a very unique organization, no uniforms, civilian status, and an assignment that was unlimited in length. 

There was a different set of rules for the old timers who were there . They served the President with excellent service longevity which seemed more valuable then. The term “WHCA Baby” was coined for homesteaders. Many folks arrived from AIT as E-3’s and stayed an entire career. Only a few were promoted to E-9, many hit ceiling at E-8 and had choice to return to Army and attend SGM Academy, but many deserving troops just retired and moved on to great second careers . I ended up serving nine years at four duty stations, but I know serval people who served twenty years in WHCA. 

Civilian status is a very interesting situation when you are told to “blend in” and you are  assigned to a military installation. It was my honor to serve in WHCA for over nine years, and although I worked on a Naval Support Facility, Coast Guard Station, Marine Corp Air Station, and Air Force Base, I was never required to wear a uniform. 

Today uniform policy differs from section to section as members are required to wear uniforms while they are at their duty station. However, when traveling on a support trip, civilian attire is worn. 

WHCAs mission has constantly grown over the years by adding new responsibilities such as the Photo Lab, the Audio/Video Section, the Carpenter Shop (building all Presidential podiums),  AG, Financial, Transporters, Logisticians, Sheet Metal workers, Multimedia Specialists, and Intelligence, Finance, Logistics, and Military Intelligence fields, as well all other activities as directed by the White House Military Aides Office (WHMO). By 1990 the Agency had grown to over 1000 service members and civilians.

WHCA would constantly send out four men recruiting teams to various military installations worldwide looking for potential personal with needed MOS’s. Military training schools were prime targets for finding qualified targets. Recruiting qualified individuals had become so difficult that recruitment became a priority. WHCA produced video’s like this one, Ready To Receive, as an attempt to stimulate interest in active units within all branches of the military and Reserve units. Soliciting applications became the preferred way of recruitment in WHCA.

WHCA Headquarters Building (Front Entrance)

WHCA Headquarters Building (Rear Entrance) 

WHCA is currently accepting applications from personnel on active duty in the grades of E4 with less than eight years in service (on a case-by-case basis) and grades of E5 to E6 with less than 15 years in service. for a 5 year tour. But people would leave early do to dropping packets for varies things. Now it's policy to stay at WHCA for a minimum of 3 years, for all branches. Currently there is a recruiter assigned to each branch of the service with a defined application process for each branch.

A typical Army Application package would contain:

• Application (SSQ)
• Last three NCOERs or Counseling Statements
• Last three APFT (with body fat worksheet if applicable)
• Current SRB

Everyone selected to work at WHCA receives special duty assignment pay and a civilian clothing allowance. They serve a minimum of three years in a presidential support duty and are eligible to earn the Presidential Service Badge. WHCA trains and works with cutting-edge communications and media technology.