Email   Print   Share By Madalene Smith, Sentinel Summer Intern

Facebook Digg Delicious July 26, 2012 | Leisure

Tamira Davis, 16, works at the front desk of the Comanche CDC July 19. As part of Fort Hood’s CYSS Youth HIRED! Apprentice Program, Davis regularly helps with check-ins. Madalene Smith, Sentinel Summer Intern

Kenneth Spiller, 15, plays with Kiresten Palmatier, 5, in the toy kitchens provided at Fort Hood’s Kouma CDC July 19. Spiller acquired the position through Fort Hood’s CYSS HIRED! Apprentice Program. Madalene Smith, Sentinel Summer Intern

Fort Hood’s Child, Youth Schools Services Youth HIRED! Apprentice Program focuses on providing opportunities for youths in the Fort Hood area by helping them develop proper working and interviewing skills.

Chelsey Samide, the director of the HIRED! Apprentice

Program, said the program’s goal is to give military youth valuable job skills.

“We want to strive for excellence, and we want to teach different job skills,” Samide said. “When the youth grow older and get their own businesses, they will know how to manage that business.”

The working atmosphere provided by Fort Hood’s HIRED!

Program for military youth can be seen at first glance, Samide said, noting that the youth can be sure their skills will be put to the test.

While examining the different placement sites of two HIRED! apprentices, Samide explained what was expected of them.

“We expect commitment, dedication, punctuality, a positive attitude and someone that is willing to learn,” she said. “We also want our apprentices to strive for excellence in everything they do.”

Samide stressed that in order to be a HIRED! apprentice, the applicant must be registered with CYSS, between the ages 15-18 and a

current high school student. They must also submit an application, go through an interview and orientation, and take six training courses to better working skills.

Tamira Davis, 16, a senior at Ellison High School, works at the Comanche Child Development Center at the front desk helping with check-in and child care.

“I want to be a teacher, and the HIRED! program will help me gain good experience in working,” Davis said. “The HIRED! program is a great program, and I recommend it to any youth.”

Kenneth Spiller, 15, a sophomore at Ellison High School, works at Kouma Child Development Center helping out at the front desk, in

the kitchen and caring for the children.

“My grandmother told me about the HIRED! program, and when I learned more about it, I thought it would be a great stepping stone in the work force,” Spiller said.

“This program will help me have skills in working with children, and I love it.”

Samide said HIRED! is important to youth, because there will be a lot of jobs out there in the world, and they need to know how to work at any job that they may get.

“We make that the main focus here,” she said.

For more information, visit www.hoodmwr.com/youthHIRED!/ or call 287-6573.