Maj. Gen. Edward Daly, commanding general, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, welcomes faculty from 40 academic institutions from Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin to the 5th Army Materiel Command 1,000 Interns Academia Day hosted by ASC at the iWireless Cent...

Kimberly Valvo, a programs specialist in the U.S. Army Sustainment Command G-1 (Human Resources), answers questions about the internship program she came to ASC under during the 5th Army Materiel Command Academia Day at the iWireless Center, Moline, ...

Charles Mitchell, deputy chief of staff, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, and Amy DeAnda, logistics management specialist, ASC, discuss career program opportunities within ASC during the 5th Army Materiel Command Academia Day at the iWireless Center, M...

MOLINE, Ill. -- The U.S. Army Sustainment Command hosted the Army Materiel Command 1,000 Intern Initiative Academia Day at the iWireless Center in Moline, Illinois, Sept. 14.

Representatives from 40 academic institutions, some traveling from more than 200 miles away, attended the event which began with welcome remarks from Gen. Dennis Via, AMC commanding general, per a recorded message.

"I want to ensure that you have the tools to educate your students about federal service and employment opportunities with the Army," said Via.

AMC uses Academia Day at the locations of its major commands as a platform to market the AMC 1,000 Intern Initiative and to share information about federal civilian employment with students.

The AMC 1,000 Intern Initiative began in 2015 with the purpose of educating and motivating the younger generation about federal service. The program allows for 1,000 internship opportunities throughout AMC each year.

Maj. Gen. Edward Daly, commanding general, ASC, provided the keynote address.

"We want to make sure that this is focused on two things. One is, we are trying to reinvigorate the motivation and enthusiasm in federal service," said Daly. "The second thing we're trying to do is to help you with the 'how' so you can go back as counselors and leaders to your students and tell them what the roadmap is to make a path into serving in the Department of the Army."

Mike Hutchison, deputy to the commander, ASC, provided a federal employment overview, including information about the benefits of federal employment, the hiring process, and career programs. He emphasized that the Army is looking for talented people.

"We need talent. We need smart people who are willing to work hard and roll up their sleeves and think through difficult problems," said Hutchison. "It is an evolving, ever-changing world, and we need what your kids can bring to the table."

Following the addresses, ASC staff provided workshops about the Pathways Program, a program that offers clear paths to federal internships for students from high school through post-graduate school and to careers for recent graduates, USAJOBS navigation and federal resume writing.

The afternoon culminated with a tour of Rock Island Arsenal and some of its facilities.

"I thank you for the difference that you're making in the careers of these young kids," said Daly. "You are developing, you are training, and you are setting the course for the future generation of our country. That in itself is a huge, huge undertaking and a tremendous responsibility, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for doing that."