BARSTOW, Calif. -- Regardless of a service member’s long term goals, internships can be a good addition to even the most decorated of résumés.
Although many Marines juggle busy schedules, finding time to complete an internship of their liking might be beneficial to their futures outside the Corps.
“Employers who take new employees under their wing while instructing and coaching them on how to perform their jobs by giving them the benefit of years of experience is usually classified as an internship,” said Francis Villeme, education officer for Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow.
According to the retired Marine gunnery sergeant, there are several different internships available for almost any occupation.
Although there are plenty to go around, the requirements vary for each one, Villeme said.
Some may require no prior training, while others call for college degrees, he added.
Internships provide more options for a Marine transitioning back into the civilian world, especially with the current economic downturn, Villeme explained.
Unemployment is at 10 percent, a 20-year high and more jobs are being lost than created, according to www.cnn.com
In the midst of these problems, internships offer another route toward future opportunities for employment that otherwise may not have come about without one.
“It offers an additional proof on experience within a career field,” Villeme explained. “A good internship covers all elements of a particular employable position and requires an appropriate number of hours in each element.”
For service members, the United Services Military Apprenticeship Program includes ‘on the job training’ for some military occupational specialties and an opportunity to earn a Journeyman Certificate.
A Journeyman Certificate notifies potential employees of your experience level in a specific field.
Occupations such as aircraft mechanic, computer programmer, or electronic technician are all available for OJT with USMAP.
According to www.usmap.cnet.navy.mil, participants must be on active duty in the Marines, Coast Guard, or Navy, have sufficient time to complete the program while on active duty and possess a high school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma.
Building an attractive résumé for future job opportunities is a good idea, especially since most Marines eventually enter the civilian workforce.
“There is a generational shift aimed more toward experimental learning for students,” Villeme explained. “There is a demographic shift altering the world of employment and there is a need for all of us to learn, grow and get a leg up every day.”
For more information regarding internships visit www.internshipprograms.com.