Photo By Staff Sgt. Tegan Kucera | Camp Atterbury is doing its part to help the youths of the local area find their paths...... read more read more
By Spc. Tegan Kucera
Camp Atterbury Public Affairs
CAMP ATTERBURY - In light of January being National Mentoring Month, the military is encouraging troops to take advantage of opportunities to encourage and guide young people to lead successful lives. Right across the street from Camp Atterbury, Soldiers can visit the Job Corps Center and do their part to help the local youth find their career paths in life.
"We all benefit when a student becomes successful because their possibilities then become almost endless," said Jim Hemmelgarn, the community liaison for the Atterbury Job Corps Center.
He said a lot of the Job Corps students become interested in joining the military after working on Camp Atterbury and being around the Soldiers. This past year they have seen a rise in their students joining the military.
"It's mostly because of the personal attention of the Soldiers; a lot of times it can be the very thing a student needs," said Hemmelgarn.
Hemmelgarn said as Camp Atterbury has grown, so has its involvement with Job Corps.
"It allows both of us to expand the respect for each of the facilities. We're somewhat unique because of the location in which we're located. I don't know of another Job Corps that is as closely related," said Hemmelgarn.
Capt. Matthew McGowen, director of the Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation Office for Camp Atterbury, believes it is important for Camp Atterbury to support Job Corps.
"If Camp Atterbury doesn't have the support from the local organizations, then it is going to be hard for us to accomplish our mission," said McGowen.
McGowen visits the Job Corps center on his lunch hour every so often and meets with a student to tutor, mentor or just chat.
"It's what the student wants and it really is about just supporting the students," said McGowen. In the past McGowen volunteered with Big Brother Big Sister, and so was happy to start mentoring again with the Job Corps students.
"The mentor program at Atterbury is designed to foster positive relationships where you can encourage the students in their studies at Job Corps and maybe help tutor them or give them advice on what career path to take," said McGowen.
For him, the biggest difference between Job Corps and Big Brother Big Sister is that in Job Corps he is helping to guide a student onto a career path that may last for life. By mentoring, he gives his time in addition to building a foundation of support.
"I feel really good about it because I always like helping out. I know everybody has different comfort zones on volunteering, but I really like interacting with folks – talking to them and giving them guidance in whatever way I can," said McGowen.
Sgt. 1st Class Autumn Lozier is another Soldier at Camp Atterbury that understands the importance of mentoring young people. Lozier is a paralegal with the Judge Advocates Generals Corps here and she mentors Job Corps students at work. Through the mentoring program, the students work in one department on Camp Atterbury for six weeks and then either move to another department or get placed in a technical school. In the JAG office, most of what the students do is basic office work, but Lozier said they learn more than how to file papers; they learn how to work well with others.
"We teach them how to become more confident with the work environment and we just try to build up their confidence level," said Lozier.
To show that they care, Lozier said she and other mentors often converse with the students about their backgrounds and job aspirations. She even keeps up with many of the young people via e-mail to see how they are doing after their six weeks are over.
"Being in the military, you don't want to see anyone fail because that's not what we're about," said Lozier.
"Without receiving the mentoring, where would they be? It's almost like raising your own kids because you want them to succeed just like your own," said Lozier.
Lozier said one of the most important things the students learn here is that Soldiers help each other because that is what Camp Atterbury is here for. Now, she said, with Soldiers helping the students at Job Corps, Camp Atterbury is helping out the community in a big way.
| Date Taken: | 01.14.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.14.2009 15:08 |
| Story ID: | 28840 |
| Location: | CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 277 |
| Downloads: | 231 |
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