Intern Program Deemed First-Year Success

By Kelley Lane-Sivley, Redstone Rocket StaffJuly 10, 2009

On Right Path
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Revitalizing an aging work force is a difficult mission. With the implementation of the Garrison Intern Program in 2009, Redstone is moving toward a smooth transition.

"We have a very successful intern program," Garrison director of human resources Joe Winston said. "Our work force is on the path of meeting our future manpower requirements. Without it I think we would be way behind the power curve."

Even though the first interns under the program began rolling in at the start of fiscal year 2009, the work to get them here began long before.

"It falls under the (Installation Management Command) and Garrison program for work force development and work force revitalization," Winston said. "The push to get new blood, new interns in here, really began in 2007. The big push came this fiscal year to get these hiring actions done."

In order to recruit some of the best and brightest for the Garrison, representatives have traveled to college campuses. They have made multiple visits to the University of Alabama-Huntsville, Alabama A&M University, Oakwood College, Athens State University and the University of North Alabama.

"We attended their career fairs and collected resumes," Theresa Falcetano, supervisory organizational human resources specialist, said. "We brought them back and worked with the CPAC (Civilian Personnel Advisory Center) for the recruiting action to contact the candidates to do the self-assessment. That generated a referral list."

Currently all the available intern openings have been filled. During the first quarter of the next fiscal year, determinations will be made about possible new positions.

"We're putting the brakes on for now," Winston said. "We'll restart recruitment efforts based upon what our attrition rate is going to be and the projected vacancies for FY 2010 on to 2011."

The Garrison Intern Program is modeled after the Department of Army intern program. Interns spend roughly four years in both formal and informal training. While DA interns rotate throughout the entire Army, Garrison interns are rotating throughout the Garrison.

"The rotation program our interns are on is really an enhancement of the Army rotation program that has been there all along," Winston said. "We want to mature these interns so they become qualified in our functional areas."

Some of the interns are entering the Garrison program with graduate degrees. The rest will have the opportunity to pursue one while in the program.

"It's part of the intern program requirement that you pursue a master's degree," Winston said. "This intern program provides for expanded education and training."

They are also getting an education in workplace dynamics. They attend biweekly lunches with speakers to enrich and expand their viewpoints. Quarterly events and meetings put the interns in close contact with Garrison leadership. They are also being paired with a mentor to help guide them on their journey from intern to fully contributing member of Team Redstone, said Glen Reese, organizational resource specialist.

Response within the Garrison to the first crop of interns has been positive. While the program is designed to revitalize the aging work force by adding new people, it has managed to affect some who have been here for years, said Kathy Watkins, lead mentor and senior management consultant for contractor Analytical Services Inc.

"We've been getting a lot of good feedback on the interns," Watkins said. "I think they are revitalizing the existing work force. They have a way of getting people excited about the future."