ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- Twenty high school seniors started their journey toward careers in diesel mechanics and electronics Monday.
The students are part of Anniston Army Depot's Pathways program, which, as its name suggests, provides a way for them to gain education, experience and, one day, a path to a career at the installation.
"The program is tough to get through, so that says you are the best of the best," Jeff Simmons told the students during their orientation session July 19.
Simmons outlined what the future could hold for the students if they are dedicated enough to see it through.
This is the second year of the high school program, since it restarted as Pathways.
The program began in 2001 as a cooperative education program under the Student Educational Employment Program with 24 students. It surged, along with the depot, in response to the war effort, growing to over 100 students before declining as demand for additional workforce slipped.
After pausing the high school component of the program for three years for a reorganization, Pathways restarted in 2015 with 15 students - all in the diesel mechanic program.
This year, they added five students in the electronics program.
The selection process was rigorous and filtered through USA Jobs, where the students became anonymous numbers for the selection committee.
"It's done this way to make sure the process is fair," said Sean Perry, supervisory training instructor for the depot. "There is no nepotism or favoritism. It ensures the best candidates get in."
During the nine-month high school portion of their internship, students will work four hours at ANAD and go to school the rest of the day, completing their coursework in preparation for graduation.
Once they graduate, students who meet established criteria will be asked to continue through the technical college portion.
Of the 15 who completed the high school portion of the program last year, 11 met the criteria and opted to continue in Pathways.
These students will be given tuition assistance to attend Gadsden State Community College and, upon satisfactory completion of the program, will be moved into permanent positions in the ANAD workforce, if positions are available.
"If the depot doesn't have employment available for the students, they have a marketable skill, which makes them valuable in the community," said Perry.
In addition to the journeyman grade portion of the Pathways program, there is an element which enables interns to receive a four-year college degree while working part time for the depot.
Currently, there are seven interns in this portion of the Pathways program, a number which is based off identified positions.
"Offices or organizations on the depot have to identify, up front, that a position will be available when the four-year degree is complete," said Marilyn Futrell Pathways Program coordinator for the depot.
All positions are filled through USA Jobs and are able to utilize veteran's preference, when applicable.
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