FORT RILEY, Kan. -- Fort Riley's HIRED! program is accepting applications from teens who want to get a head start on getting a job through an apprenticeship with the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
Now through April 20, dependents of active duty, retirees or Department of Defense employees, ages 15 to 18, can apply for the summer program and potentially give themselves a competitive edge in the workplace.
"Many employers want experienced employees, but not many teens have the opportunity to get that experience at their age," said Sandy Johnson, school liaison officer, Child Youth and School Services.
By fulfilling prerequisite training and 180 hours of work on an apprenticeship, teens will be eligible for a $500 cash reward, but they don't get an actual hourly wage, Johnson said.
The HIRED! program was established in 2009 by CYSS to help teens get experience they can build on, either to get a job or to prepare for college, she said.
"We try to match a teen with a job that interests them, as best we can," Johnson said.
In the past, the program has hired apprentices for Custer Hill Golf Course, CYSS, child development centers, Army Community Service, swimming pools on post, the Custer Hill Bowling Center and the post library. Johnson said the HIRED! program also is open to exploring new opportunities if a teen has a specific area of interest.
Since 2010, more than 90 Fort Riley teens have participated in the program. This summer, there are apprenticeship opportunities for up to 50 students.
The good news for teens is the program is repeatable. If a teen successfully completes two sessions, the cash bonus is increased to $625 for the third and fourth sessions -- a little incentive for their experience as a HIRED! apprentice.
With 12 weeks in the session, a teen can fulfill the 180 hours by putting in just 15 hours a week, Johnson said.
Rafael Rivera, 18, a senior at Junction City High School in his third session, completed the first two apprentices at Fort Knox, Ky. -- his father's previous duty station.
Rivera will receive the increased cash bonus and also is gaining high school credit through a JCHS senior internship. Additionally, three of six students in the spring session are gaining high school credit while simultaneously participating in the HIRED! program, Johnson said.
Rivera is working with a child nutritionist with CYSS and plans to save his bonus for college this fall, when he begins undergraduate work at Kansas State University for computer science.
"The HIRED! program opened up opportunities for me (by) showing me what's out there. I learned a lot of things that are related to my future career goals, like working with coworkers … you're going to need the people around you," Rivera said.
Johnson said she is hoping teens will take away job experience, but also good work ethic. In gaining these skills, they will have an advantage when competing with other applicants.
"If they do a good job, then they will have opportunity for references in the community who know their work skills and ability to do a good job," Johnson said.
With the successful completion of the apprenticeship, students will get to participate in a quarterly Fort Riley volunteer ceremony.
The summer session runs from May 21 to Aug. 10.
Teens can pick up application packets at 6620 Normandy Drive or the Middle School Teen Center, 5800 Thomas Ave.
For more information, call 785-240-3261.
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