Travis youth gain job skills through program

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Madelyn Ottem
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Travis youth have an opportunity to get a leg up when applying for college in today's competitive college application environment.

The 60th Force Support Squadron Youth Center is offering a Youth Employment Skills program for Travis dependents in high school. Participants are able to volunteer at a unit on Travis.

The Youth Employment Skills program is intended to equip Travis high school students with real-world job experience, a fund for the college of their choice as well as money that will go toward the support of future youth programs.

"When the students volunteer at different places around Travis, they're not just doing busy work," said Sandra Latchford, Travis youth activities director. "They are working with adults and learning skills that can benefit them in the long run."

Not only will the students have the opportunity to experience specific job skills in a professional environment, they'll also earn $4 an hour for a maximum of $1,000 or 250 hours. The 60th FSS youth programs will earn $2 for every hour a student works.

Elizabeth Hubbard, daughter of Master Sgt. Alan Hubbard and Susan Hubbard, has participated in the program since summer 2011.

The program's organizers work with the participants to get them placed in a career field in which they are interested.

"I've been able to volunteer at Teddy's child watch in David Grant USAF Medical Center," the sophomore said. "I love working with kids and when people have an appointment in the hospital they have the option of dropping off their kids for the duration of the visit."
In addition to DGMC, Hubbard has also volunteered at the Airman & Family Readiness Center and the Youth Center.

"I learned a lot of computer skills at the AFRC that I didn't know before because I had to input a lot of things into the computer," she said.

"We're offering a way for students to use their precious time to look better on a college application because you already have experience working in a specific field," Latchford said.

With Hubbard's dreams of attending college at either UC Berkeley or Stanford and working toward a major in Biology, she appreciates the opportunity to be proactive as a high school student.

"I really love the program," Hubbard said. "It provides an awesome scholarship for earning skills at a real job. Anyone who is interested should definitely participate."
Students are encouraged to participate through all four years of high school. The 12-month period begins June 1 to May 31 every year. To sign up contact Sandra Latchford at 424-5392.