|
Fourteen young adults from the Ready 2 Work program visited Joint
Base Langley-Eustis to learn about U.S. Army career opportunities,
July 14, 2017.
Ready 2 Work is a six-week work program,
hosted by VersAbility Resources and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the
Virginia Peninsula. The program teaches students how to write
resumes, conduct job interviews and research about career
opportunities available to them.
|
July 14, 2017 - Students from the Ready 2 Work program climb aboard
the U.S. Army Vessel Brandy Station, during a visit to Joint Base
Langley-Eustis, VA. During their visit, program participants learned
how Third Port supports the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Teresa Cleveland)
|
Individuals in the program range from 15 to 21 years old and
either face intellectual developmental disabilities on a variety of
levels, or are considered “at risk” by the Newport News school
system.
Some of those include students who are deaf or hard
of hearing, so sign language interpreters were provided by Newport
News Public Schools and worked with briefers during the visit.
“The staff here at Fort Eustis did an awesome job with making
sure accommodations were met for all the students,” said Karen King,
Newport News Public Schools sign language interpreter. “The exposure
was awesome to not only have someone there giving a lecture, but
also to have the hands-on capabilities and the opportunity to touch
the different objects and connect their sign with an actual object.”
VersAbility Resources, which serves over 1,400 individuals and
their families each year, builds partnerships with companies to
provide jobs for people with disabilities. Many of these career
opportunities allow those with disabilities to work alongside
enlisted and civilian personnel at various military installations.
“We decided to come to Fort Eustis because it is important
for organizations off base and the installation to work together so
we can have a more unified community,” said Kendra Wormley,
VersAbility Resources senior operations manager. “With this program
we’re trying to help the students with different job skills and this
visit offered another understanding of the things they can do in the
future.”
During their visit, the students took a tour of U.S.
Army Vessel Brandy Station at Third Port, to learn how the port
supports the local community. The group also visited 1st Battalion,
210th Aviation Regiment, 128th Aviation Brigade, where they learned
about weapon systems on Army aircraft, sat in simulators and
operated cameras in AH-64 Apache helicopters.
|
July 14, 2017 - U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Edmar DeJesus, 1st
Battalion, 210th Aviation Regiment, 128th Aviation Brigade AH-64D
Apache helicopter instructor, helps Barry Brown, Ready 2 Work
program participant, operate a camera in an AH-64D Apache helicopter
at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA. Ready 2 Work is a six-week work
program, which teaches students how to write resumes, conduct job
interviews and learn about career opportunities available to them. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Teresa Cleveland)
|
“I think they really enjoyed getting into the helicopters
and (having that hands-on) experience,” said Wormley. “We
knew coming to Fort Eustis would be a great way to expose
our students to the military and get another side of what
the Army does on land, in the air and in the water.”
Visitors from the Ready 2 Work program finished their tour
with a trip to the U.S. Army Transportation Museum to learn
about the history of Army capabilities and thanked Soldiers
one last time for guiding them throughout the day.
By U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Teresa Cleveland
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2017
Comment on this article |
