HIRED! Program gives youth head start

By Angie Thorne, Fort Polk Guardian staff writerMay 24, 2010

HIRED! Program gives youth head start
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT POLK, La. -- In today's world, it's more important than ever for youth to have someone to look up to as they traverse the complicated landscape of life, as well as possible career paths. They need someone to guide and teach those skills in a caring and professional manner. This kind of mentor is what the Fort Polk Child, Youth and School Services HIRED! Program seeks because what interns learn from them goes way beyond job skills.

This apprenticeship program allows youth ages 15-18 to intern for different post agencies to discover the career path that is right for them. The mentors they are paired with guide and teach them everything they need to know about those jobs.

Loretta McGowan, Aca,!A..a workforce preparation specialist for CYSS and lead on the HIRED! Program, said that if mentorsA,A takeA,A thatA,A 18-inchA,A journey from head to heart theyA,A can't goA,A wrong. "They put so much into the program above and beyond their jobs," said McGowan.

The responsibility of mentoring is something the 519th Military Police Battalion, 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, takes seriously. Lt. Col. David J. Detz, 519th MP Bn commander, met with his key mentors and new HIRED! trainees May 4 to introduce them to the ins and outs of what their training over the next few weeks would entail. According to Detz, the Fort Polk Directorate of Emergency Services is a dynamic organization that includes the military police, Criminal Investigation Department and fire department. "We're one big family that works together," said Detz.

He told the interns he wanted them to get excited about what they're doing because they would be working in a variety of different positions from desk duty and patrols to K-9 work and fire training. "You should never have a dull day while you're here," said Detz. One of the HIRED! youth had participated in the program before. Nadia B. Elie, 17, is a senior at Leesville High School. She apprenticed with the 519th last term. "It was a lot of fun. I got to see what goes on in a courtroom," said Elie. She plans to major in criminal justice and felt the opportunity to continue learning about law enforcement was critical to making a final decision about whether she wanted to follow this career path.

Learning policing skills is important, but Elie said that having a good mentor is also crucial. "It's important to have a mentor you can respect because you want somebody to set a good example for you."

Chris Jackson, 16, is also an intern at the 519th. He attends Rosepine High School and said he has always wanted to be a police officer. Jackson said having a good mentor was an important part of HIRED!. "This program is all about learning what our mentors can teach us," said Jackson.

Staff Sgt. Rey Zuniga, traffic accident investigation NCO in charge and 519th mentor, said he sees this as a chance to prevent unfortunate choices. "Most teenagers don't realize the long-lasting effects poor decisions can have on their lives. This is an opportunity to show them things like how drugs and drinking and driving can affect people," said Zuniga. He said the interns get real-world knowledge above and beyond what's actually going on with the job and grounded perspective that allows them to make an informed decision about joining the workforce.

Another 519th mentor, Capt. John Ferrell, provost marshal, went through a similar program when he was a kid. "It was one of the determining factors in my joining the law enforcement field. It's good to see programs like this at Fort Polk so kids can see if they like law enforcement. This gives them a sneak peek into the profession before they jump in feet first to pursue a college degree and job in that field," said Ferrell.

Working with the HIRED! youth is something Capt. Rahsann Jackson, 91st Military Police Detachment commander and program manager for the HIRED! interns, said he considers a privilege because it's a chance to give something back. "It's a powerful act to pass our knowledge on to the next generation. Our enlisted Soldiers and NCOs are the ones that take time out of their schedules and put in the real work with the HIRED! kids. They are excited because it gives them a chance to feel like they have something to share with the rest of the world. Their efforts make this program possible," said Jackson.

Jackson said interns also benefit from the mentor relationship because they are being given a chance to learn something interesting while working with people who want to help them. "I hope this program gives them a chance to feel valued and appreciated. When it's time for them to become employment candidates, they'll have a better chance to find work thanks to the real world skills they have learned here," said Jackson.

He said he feels HIRED! should be a meaningful, emotional experience for these youth. "To reap the true rewards of this program, it's just as important to have had a personal bond with their mentors as it is for them to absorb the educational experience. If they aren't getting that bond, I'm not doing my job," said Jackson.

Detz said each intern is treated as an individual and their interests, home life, experiences and expectations are taken into consideration when matching them up to mentors and jobs.

"We try to make this a one-on-one experience. Captain Jackson looks for Soldiers that want to participate in the program and are interested in the kids being there," said Detz.

He said they also try to teach them Army values. "If becoming a Soldier is something they are considering later on, they have to understand that and accept these values as their own. This program, at least from our perspective, goes way beyond just showing up and having them ride along on patrols. For us, it's demonstrating our values and how we live them every day," said Detz.

He said that by working together, success is possible for all involved. "This is a great partnership between CYSS and the 519th. We want to be good stewards of HIRED! because we know how much work CYSS and the interns have put into this program," said Detz.

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