Career Counselor Takes Retention to the Air
SHAPE, Belgium — For U.S. Army Soldiers, the decision to reenlist or transition to civilian life is rarely simple. It requires weighing career goals, family needs and personal aspirations. Enter the Army Career Counselor, who serves as a specialized advisor that guides Soldiers through pivotal moments, outlining reenlistment options, negotiating duty stations and explaining educational benefits. But for Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Carnavale, a Career Counselor assigned to Headquarters, Allied Forces North Battalion (AFNORTH BN), advising Soldiers from behind a desk simply wasn't enough. He wanted to reach them across the airwaves.
Every Friday morning, Carnavale steps up to the mic at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) American Forces Network (AFN) Radio Station to host “Counselor Conversations.” The weekly broadcast features Soldiers, Airmen and civilians who support the military mission, offering a unique platform to share their personal and professional journeys through the service.
The idea for a broadcast had been brewing for years before Carnavale finally got his chance behind the soundboard.
“This is something that I had been wanting to do since 2019,” Carnavale said. “An old brigade commander of mine out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord hosted a weekly podcast out of the brigade headquarters. His show was more geared toward leadership, and he would have weekly guests, and ever since then I’ve been trying to get this off the ground. Luckily, being here presented a real good opportunity for that to come to fruition.”
Carnavale is no stranger to the AFN environment, though his broadcast resume is somewhat unconventional.
“Not officially,” he said when asked about his previous broadcast experience. “I was on an unaccompanied Korea tour back in 2018, and I would sometimes go to the local AFN station to provide the latest and greatest retention updates. It wasn’t as frequent or involved like it is now, though,” said Carnavale.
While a Career Counselor's primary job often entails deciphering complex retention policies to keep the Army’s ranks filled with qualified talent, “Counselor Conversations” focuses heavily on the human element.
Each episode explores a guest's life before military service, the inspiration behind their decision to join, the challenges they have overcome, and their future goals. By highlighting the people behind the uniform, the show fosters connection across the military community and provides a platform for meaningful discussions that inspire and educate the force.
Carnavale finds that the personal interactions that fuel his radio show and guiding Soldiers along their career path to be the most rewarding aspects of his outreach through the airwaves.
“I’d have to say two things," Carnavale explained. "One is being of service to the Soldiers and helping them get what they want. But two is talking to them and hearing their stories.”
Through storytelling, Carnavale hopes to reach Soldiers who might be on the fence about continuing their military careers.
“I hope when they’re listening to or watching the show, they see someone that they can relate to,” he said. “Someone that currently or previously went through something similar, and they gain a sense of commonality, which potentially makes them take another look at continuing their service.”
"Counselor Conversations" broadcasts live on the AFN Go App between 10 and 11 a.m. every Friday or tune in to the Benelux Eagle station to hear him live. The live sessions are also video-recorded and published to the “Counselor Conversations” YouTube channel every Wednesday.
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