Jackson Parish native, Charles “Chase” Garrett II recently celebrated his retirement from United States Military Service after 25 years of distinguished service in the Louisiana and West Virginia National Guard.
Currently living in Hurricane, West Virginia, and married for 18 years to Ashley Renee Garrett, the decorated son of Chuck and Melinda Garrett of Jonesboro is also the father of son Gavin, now a senior at Marshall University, and daughter Alyssa, a senior at Hurricane High School.
Upon graduating from Quitman High School in 2001, Garrett joined the Louisiana National Guard one month later, embarking on a quarter-century career that saw him rise to Production Recruiter, Battalion Operations, Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC), and finally Section Chief, a position he held over the final 7 years of his distinguished career.
Reflecting on his early years, Garrett was quick to express how fortunate he feels to have grown up in Jackson Parish and how much he appreciates his family and friends for their guidance and support.
“It was a blessing growing up in rural Louisiana and working on the family farm with my father and mother. It really grounded me in understanding what a full day’s work looks like. I left Jonesboro with a strong work ethic and the understanding that nothing in life is free and working hard is the only way to get ahead,” said Garrett. “There was also a very solid spiritual foundation set by Beech Springs Baptist Church and Jonesboro United Methodist Church. I was fortunate enough to have many, many family members teach me those bible verses, the fruits of the Spirit, and what it means to be an ambassador for Christ.”
During his military career, Garret was selected as Support Staff Soldier of the Year in 2017 (Operations); promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant in 2018; selected Section Chief of the Year in 2021 and 2023; and spent the last 18 years serving within the Recruiting and Retention Battalion in numerous leadership positions such as Senior Recruiting and Retention NCO, Operations NCO, Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) Guidance Counselor, and Section Chief.
“Serving with both the Louisiana Guard and West Virginia Guard has been an absolute blessing and a very rewarding career,” said Garrett. “There are so many strong, loyal, and patriotic Soldiers I had the blessing of serving beside. They will be truly missed!!
After retiring, Garrett stayed close to his career roots and lifelong passion by continuing to serve his country as an Army contractor training Army National Guard recruiters.
“I really didn’t want to try my hand in a new civilian career after retirement. So I chose a role in training all ARNG (Army National Guard) recruiters as an Army contractor,” said Garrett. “The job helps me feel as though I’m still a part of something bigger than myself. Soldiers take care of Soldiers! …. And I’ve been blessed to have that opportunity to continue serving in a different capacity.
Charles “Chase” Garrett
Education and Professional Experience
CIVILIAN EDUCATION
Quitman High School (2001)
Louisiana Tech University – Bachelor of Science in Business Management (2008)
Mountain State University – Master of Science in Strategic Leadership (2011)
MILITARY EDUCATION
Fort Leonard Wood, MO – Technical Engineer School (2002)
Fort Lee, VA – Petroleum Specialist (2004)
Camp Robinson, AR – Non-Career Recruiter Course (2009)
Fort Indian Town Gap, PA – Warrior Leader Course (2009)
Camp Robinson, AR – Career Recruiter Conversion Course (2011)
Camp Robinson, AR – Recruiting and Retention Senior Leaders Course (2012)
Camp Dawson, WV – Instructor Facilitator Course (2016)
Camp Robinson, AR – MEPS Guidance Counselor Course (2017)
Fort Campbell, KY – Master Leader Course (2018)
Camp Robinson, AR – Recruiter Leader Course (2023)
Fort Bliss, TX – U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (2025)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Louisiana Army National Guard (Traditional Reservist) 2001 – 2008: Served in various technical and operational roles, building a strong foundation in leadership and logistics. Deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2004-2005), contributing to mission success in a high-stress, combat environment
West Virginia Army National Guard (Active Guard Reserve) 2008 – 2026: Production Recruiter (2008-2015) – Led recruitment efforts to meet and exceed monthly enlistment goals, fostering strong community engagement and candidate pipelines. Developed and executed targeted recruitment campaigns, resulting in an increase in qualified candidates. Trained and mentored new recruiters and recruits, enlisting over 100 Soldiers in order to build high-performing teams and enhance overall production efficiency
Battalion Operations NCOIC (2015-2018): Oversaw and coordinated battalion operations, ensuring operational readiness and mission success across multiple units. Managed logistics, personnel, and equipment requirements, optimizing resources to meet operational goals. Played a key role in the planning and execution of training exercises, improving battalion readiness
Section Chief (2018-2025): Supervised and mentored a team of 8-13 recruiters throughout the last seven years, leading them to consistently meet recruitment quotas and set new performance standards. Implemented innovative recruitment strategies, increasing overall enlistment rates
Served as a liaison between senior leadership and recruiters, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and optimizing resource allocation. Developed and facilitated training programs to enhance recruiter performance and retention across three diverse teams / geographical AOs within West Virginia