With bright banners and a steady buzz of questions and new ideas, Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) turned the parade field in front of Bldg. 1500 into a map of opportunity with the College and Career Fair held Sept. 23. Tables lined with representatives from colleges, universities, U.S. Navy programs and NNSY welcoming Sailors and their dependents. The focus was simple: provide military members and dependents with helpful information to take the next step into education, the Skillbridge Program, apprenticeships, or jobs hiring now. Tables showed Bachelor’s, Master’s, and certificate paths, with fast tracks for working adults. "We have approximately 30 colleges and universities that came out today for our Sailors and their families," said Career Fair Coordinator Navy Career Counselor First Class Christina Sherman. Norfolk State University Military Services and Veterans Affairs Coordinator Shameena Morris added, "We’re here today to show the educational opportunities we offer for active duty military, for those who will be getting out of the military soon, veterans and their dependents who attended the college fair." For some U.S. Navy Officers and Sailors, the career fair gave them the opportunity to look at programs that could benefit themselves and family members wherever they are stationed or located.. NNSY’s Industrial Operations Commanding Officer Capt. Lawrence Brandon is one of them. Brandon said, “As a senior leader for the U.S. Navy, we need to ensure we take care of our Sailors and their needs are met, whether if they are getting out or staying. The college fair is one way that provides an awesome opportunity.” Brandon continued, “There are so many colleges here that have already worked backwards to support the veterans in terms of financial support, military scholarships. They know what the Navy has to offer in terms of GI Bill and tuition assistance.” The information provided during the fair was even personally helpful for Brandon. “As a father, this college fair gave me a chance to connect with these various colleges, universities and NNSY programs to see what’s out there for my children. I just spent some time on one of the tables where they specialize in cybersecurity,” said Brandon. “I have an 18-year-old son playing soccer in Rome. He's very interested in cybersecurity. Rome doesn’t offer cybersecurity degrees, so we're probably going to bring him back to the States after a year to look at a cybersecurity degree, or if he decides to stay in Rome to pursue an online degree in cybersecurity. I talked to a representative from Indiana Tech and they have all of that, easy day for me.” The college fair was also a time for the NNSY People Experience Division (Code 1102) to speak with attendees about programs and job opportunities offered at the shipyard. “We are here to solicit resumes for all the different potential jobs that we're going to direct hire for, as well as promote our Skillbridge program, apprenticeship program and other resources that Sailors and their families could benefit from,” said NNSY People Experience Management Analyst Nicholas Boyle. NNSY's Apprenticeship Program, in partnership with Tidewater Community College (TCC), is designed to attract talented individuals who want to learn a vocation and directly support maintaining and modernizing the U.S. Navy Fleet. Apprentices participate in a rigorous training program combining TCC's academic classes with NNSY’s trade theory training and on-the-job learning experience. All academics are provided during working hours within the program's first year. Skillbridge lets active duty members spend their last months in uniform working with government agencies and other businesses. It is a hands-on internship that can lead straight to a job. Boyle said, "For Navy, specifically, 180 days is authorized by their commanding officer for E5 and below, and for E6 and above, it goes down as low as 90 days or even less." Sailors heard from peers who are already moving forward. "I'm finishing a degree right now in occupational safety,” said NNSY Sonar Technician First Class Joshua Rich. “I was looking to see if there are any resources available for my transition here a little bit, just to better prepare myself for that transition.” NNSY People Experience (Code 1102PE) Management Analyst Carlton Brooks, added, "The college fair today can become a beneficial strategy for the Sailors and their families. It’s events like these that support NNSY’s mission of repairing, modernizing, and inactivating our Navy’s warships and training platform and make us America’s Shipyard.”