Ep. 152: Col. Kristin Saling, Acting Director, Innovation Directorate, U.S. Army Recruiting Command: Rethinking DoD Talent Access with Freelance and Flexible Models

Leaders, 

In this episode, we reconnect with Kris Saling, Acting Director of the Innovation Directorate at U.S. Army Recruiting Command, who we first met on a Department of Defense-hosted panel at SXSW. Kris is a remarkable force in talent innovation, formerly serving as Chief Analytics Officer in the Army Talent Management Task Force. She’s leading efforts to modernize and reshape how the U.S. Army recruits and retains talent, using freelance platforms and data-driven approaches to address gaps in recruitment and workforce development.

In our discussion, Kris highlights the parallels between large corporations and the Department of Defense in handling talent needs, particularly around trust, transparency, and adapting to rapid changes. We explore how the U.S. Army missed its recruitment target by 15,000 soldiers last year and why the biggest workforce challenge lies not at the top or bottom but in the middle ranks, where motivation and promotion remain obstacles. The U.S. Army is now exploring the use of freelance platform models to bring in specialized talent and efficiently distribute human capital resources. By implementing a flexible freelance model, the Army and DoD hope to achieve greater agility, cost savings, and access to the specialized skills critical to maintaining strategic advantage in an evolving landscape.

Key Takeaways:

1. The U.S. Army faces a major recruitment gap, with targets missed by 15,000 Soldiers in 2023. 

2. Trust and transparency are key to attracting talent, as recruits desire greater control and visibility in their career pathways.

3. Freelance platforms like GigEagle are being explored by the U.S. Army, enabling the Department of Defense to engage talent for short-term, specialized projects, a shift that could redefine recruitment.

4. There is a shortage of senior personnel in the US Army due to a lack of junior positions, highlighting the need for talent management and development.

5. Implementing a freelance model in the US Army and DOD can provide cost savings and access to specialized skills.

6. Identity management and trust issues are obstacles to adopting a freelance workforce.