Photo By Amy Phillips | On Aug. 5, 2015, fifteen local youth employed via the second annual Summer Hire...... read more read more
FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. – On Aug. 5, 2015, fifteen local youth employed via the second annual Summer Hire Program were honored at a ceremony and received Army Certificates of Appreciation from the Garrison Commander, Col. Jan C. Norris. This program provided participants hands-on job experiences and exposure to a wide range of work environments while earning a salary.
“It was better than I’d expected,” said 20-year-old Hope Duke. “I expected it to be drabby and boring but it was fun!”
Participants ranged from 15 to 24 years old and live at FHL or in nearby off-post communities.
Supervisors mentored participants in Army values such as responsibility, flexibility and resiliency. The participants supported 15 programs in all and worked at the Bowling Center, the Hacienda, the recycling plant, the library and the police department to name a few. Some of the skills they learned include accounting, food preparation, warehouse organization and hotel operations.
However, the youth were not the only ones who learned a thing or two.
Vicky Moore with the Human Resource said her summer hire, 21-year-old Lauren Grant, “… challenged me to be a better worker, supervisor. She reminded me of why I love the Army.”
During the award ceremony, the summer hires were described by supervisors the as “hard chargers,” “flexible,” and “exhibited great team work.”
Some impressed their supervisors so much that they were hired as regular employees.
“We won the lottery when we got Hope,” exclaimed Suzanne Troop, manager of the historic Hacienda. “I’m keeping her!”
Several summer hires were employed last summer but for most it was their first time working at FHL. Among the group was Carolina Otuafi who is hearing impaired.
Carolina came to the Summer Hire Program with the expectation that it would be difficult. She worked at the library, the Hacienda and the Chapel.
“This is the first time she’s ever worked in an all-hearing environment so it was difficult,” said Carolina’s mother Valencia. “But they all were very accommodating … they spoke slowly so she could read their lips and they wrote things down.”
Carolina said she learned a lot from Soldiers and her supervisor, Melinda Bonner, who manages the FHL Library. The highlight of her experience was meeting Soldiers, seeing their smiles and making her feel welcomed. She said it has been a great learning experience and encourages others with disabilities to try out the program.
The annual Fort Hunter Liggett Summer Hire Program is sponsored by the Family, Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Directorate and is open to the public - provided that there is funding. Jobs are announced on the USAJOBS website (www.usajobs.com) around May. The six-week-long program begins in June and ends in August.
This program is a way FHL gives back to the community that is very supportive of the troops and their families.
“Thank you to the parents who encouraged their children to participate in this mutually beneficial program,” said Norris. “They provided much needed help during our peak training period.”
| Date Taken: | 08.06.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.11.2015 15:06 |
| Story ID: | 172778 |
| Location: | JOLON, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 259 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Summer hires saves the day!, by Amy Phillips, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT