ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - A local high school sophomore gained real-world experience this summer at the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security's Multimedia/Visual Information Services Center.
Kamau Olushola was one of 51 teens that participated in the Family and MWR's HIRED! Program summer term.
During the summer, apprentices, ages 15 to 18, work eight-hour shifts, two days a week, assisting with basic, age-appropriate duties.
During Olushola's apprenticeship, he learned about video editing and production. He gained experience by filming the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command's change of command ceremony and editing an installation retirement ceremony.
"He was responsible for creating a story board, shooting footage to match the story board, then editing the final project," said Sean Kief, Olushola's mentor. "He was very professional, very eager to learn. We were short-staffed this summer; Kamau was able to help us."
Olushola said that during the apprenticeship, he learned more about using video editing software like Adobe Primer Pro, and Photoshop. Olushola said before his apprenticeship he taught himself some film and photo editing techniques, because that subject is not taught at his school.
"It was a very productive summer," he said. "I have a better understanding about video editing."
Olushola thanked M/VISC civilians Kief, Mike Brown and Allyn Camp for mentoring him during his apprenticeship. His career goal is to be a film score composer.
Olushola's mother Tamicka Mason, a Communications-Electronics Command Logistics and Readiness Center civilian, said that the apprenticeship helped her son develop confidence.
"He has always had a passion for this, he would make movies at home directing his little brother and sister, working (at M/VISC) was a dream come true, Mason said. "The apprenticeship gave him a realistic picture of what it is like to work. He learned about being accountable for projects and that some projects take extra time."
APG's HIRED! Coordinator Jay McKinney said that Olushola was a great fit for the apprenticeship. He said his goal is to match apprentices with organizations that reflect their career interests.
"I was very impressed with him during the interview. He had an interest and background knowledge of film and photo-editing software," McKinney said. "One advantage of the HIRED! program is that teens get exposed to different careers before they go to college or a trade school."
About HIRED!
The HIRED! program offers a variety of job placements for teens of military and government civilians assigned to APG. To secure apprenticeships, candidates must achieve and maintain a 2.0 grade point average or higher before completing a pre-assessment and interviews with facility managers. Depending on the skills and interest teens show in these interviews, they are placed under the direct supervision of a designated onsite mentor who is responsible for tutoring his or her individual apprentices.
Career options in HIRED! include: education, child and/or youth development, marketing or graphic design, library and information science, food and beverage management, pet care education, information technology, sports studies and sports management. Students may participate in the program twice a year between the ages of 15 and 18.
Additional requirements for students include participating in career-prep enrichment activities like workshops on how to complete financial aid forms and scholarship applications. Students will also be expected to keep a journal of their experience.
"Teens will receive experience that will make them competitive in future job opportunities and college applications."
McKinney said. "They will develop work and life skills, like customer service, and resume writing, that will be applicable to any job they might pursue in the future."
The HIRED! program is accepting teens for the winter term, which starts Dec. 9. During the winter, teens will work three hours a day, five days a week, or on the weekends. To register for the fall term or to find out how to become a mentor, contact McKinney at jay.a.mckinney.naf@mail.mil, or call 410-278-3250.
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