FORT STEWART, Ga. - Since its inception in 2009, the HIRED! Apprenticeship Program is an opportunity of a lifetime to prepare teenagers from ages 15-18 to help them explore the workforce.
“Working with HIRED! means an opportunity for me to work with youth, which I love and know that they are the future generation and I can help them,” said Keith Murphy, HIRED! coordinator, Fort Stewart Child & Youth & School Services.
According to the HIRED! Guide for Apprentices, the program is designed to aide teenagers into adulthood while enhancing their future goals and plans for their life. There are a plethora of sites in which these apprentices can work such as Child Youth & School Services, Financial Management Division, Information Management Office, Marketing FMWR and the Public Affairs Office. Although these sites are listed, the apprentice must go through an interview process, in which they are asked a series of questions so that the apprentice understands the program’s three main keys that are offered.
The three key points are chances to explore a variety of career fields, the experience of working up close and personal with Fort Stewart staff as well as the opportunity to make a difference in the community and to be a role model for other youth.
“As an apprentice my experience has been more than a pleasurable one getting to know the employers,” said Ericka Comer, HIRED! Apprentice at the Fort Stewart Public Affairs Office. “Their opinions and stories about their work field have been educational at the least. I have gained better knowledge while taking in all the dos and don’ts about the career fields in the Public Affairs Office.”
All Apprentices are eligible to get a stipend when they have fully completed the designated amount of weeks of the HIRED! program. This is an excellent way to consider moving efficiently into the next level of education and vocational-training field.
The HIRED! summer program is 12 weeks long and 360 hours. During the school year, students have to complete 180 hours and each school day the students will complete three hours.
Also, for the HIRED! program, its a requirement of a total of eight hours on a non-school day.
Only when a compassionate term extension is granted by a coordinator, the apprentice may get up to two additional weeks which will accommodate for emergency situations or when a parent is being deployed.
Their performance has to be professional at all times to complete the HIRED! program. Each HIRED! apprentice is different, but should appropriately dress for each unique placement site.
For example, when they work in an office, their appearance must be business attire.
Near the end of the term of the HIRED! program , the coordinator will review what the apprentice has learned, evaluate their level of experience, and talk about any perceived shortcomings of the apprentice and their all around performance in the site.
“The experience that the teens will receive will be priceless,” said Kaytrina Curtis, command information deputy. “They have the opportunity to see the successes, issues and challenges that adults face daily in the work place.”
The HIRED! Apprentice program also hosts a yearly community job fair or partner-up with organizations that conducts job fairs. The requirements are to manage time as well as attendance records. HIRED! teens will be advanced in all of their work force skills learned versus others who had not experienced the HIRED! program.
“This can open many doors in the future for teens who have not yet decided on their plans,” said Maritza Rodriguez, HIRED! apprentice. “Working with the Hired Apprentice Program helps teens realize what a real job force is like and it gives teenagers invaluable experience. As youth, we need a wake up call before reality sets in as we enter the real world.”
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