Corps of Engineers offers internships for Warriors in Transition

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District
Story by Tracy Robillard

Date: 01.25.2012
Posted: 01.25.2012 10:15
News ID: 82804
Barracks construction at Fort Stewart

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Soldiers in Warrior in Transition units at forts Stewart, Benning, Gordon and Bragg now have the option to learn valuable construction and engineering skills through internships with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District.

The internships are offered as part of Operation Warfighter, a temporary assignment internship program developed by the Department of Defense for service members that are recovering at military treatment facilities throughout the U.S. The program provides wounded, ill or injured service members with meaningful activity outside of the hospital environment and offers a supportive means of transition back to the military or civilian workforce.

“Through Operation Warfighter, the Corps of Engineers can give recovering soldiers an opportunity to build their resumes, explore employment interests, develop job skills, and gain valuable federal government work experience that will help them prepare for their futures,” said Doug Saxon, deputy chief of the Corps’ Savannah District construction division.

Saxon and his team initiated the partnership in 2011 with WIT units at Army installations where the Savannah District has construction field offices. Overall, the Savannah District contracts and manages millions of dollars in military construction and provides real estate and environmental services at 11 Army and Air Force installations in Georgia and North Carolina. Of those installations, WIT units are located at Fort Stewart, Ga., Fort Benning, Ga., Fort Gordon, Ga., and Fort Bragg, N.C.

“Operation Warfighter allows the Corps and other participating federal agencies to benefit from each Soldier’s considerable talents, skill sets and dedication,” Saxon said.

Soldiers also benefit from the paid internships by accomplishing goals within their Comprehensive Training Plan and by learning valuable construction-management skills that can translate into jobs in both the private and federal sectors.

Examples of Corps construction projects include barracks; tactical equipment maintenance facilities; training ranges; brigade, battalion and command headquarters; hospitals and clinics; child development centers; fire stations; and roads and infrastructure.

The Corps’ Savannah District is seeking WIT interns to serve a variety of roles at construction field offices. Interns will learn many facets of the career field, such as: safety; quality assurance; civil, mechanical and electrical engineering; schedule monitoring; contract payments and modifications; contract interpretation and enforcement; and public relations. Each intern is assigned a dedicated Corps mentor to coach and guide progress toward the internship goals.

Military members interested in obtaining an internship with the Corps of Engineers Savannah District should contact their local WIT unit coordinator. For additional information about the Savannah District’s construction program, call 912-652-5241, e-mail CESAS-CD@usace.army.mil or visit www.sas.usace.army.mil