February 19, 2015 -- Numerous occupational professionals aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany conducted a Job Shadowing Day for more than 20 Dougherty County high school students, Feb. 18.
Dressed in business attire, students from the county’s four high schools arrived aboard the installation via a school bus and were transported to several different buildings to learn about assorted careers. The vocations included nursing, radiology, dental hygiene, engineering, telecommunications, criminal justice, computer science, biochemistry, marketing, accounting and welding.
HM3 Carl Sweat, pharmacy technician, Naval Branch Health Clinic, Albany, discussed various types of medicines with a student, while his counterpart, HM3 Nicholas Gilchrist, laboratory technician, NBHC Albany, explained the process of using blood collection tubes.
Sweat characterized his mentoring session with one of the high school students “as pretty awesome. She came in with lots of questions and full of life. We talked about different medications and job opportunities in the Navy. I told her about our officer program and the benefits of serving 20 years in the military.”
The pharmacy technician said he expressed to the student that “it’s a great feeling serving veterans and their spouses as well as active duty and their families, and I let her know that when you see them smile it’s a great feeling to help them out after they have served.
“This program will definitely help these students to know a little more about the military, (the) medical (field), further their education and become better citizens in society even if they don’t join the military,” Sweat said.
Lynn McDonald, registered dental hygienist, NBHC Albany, talked about how she became a hygienist as well as what qualifications and education are needed to become one.
The students, who requested the careers they wanted to shadow, asked questions and listened while their mentors gave tips about training, certifications and other pertinent details for their respective professions.
The specialists were asked to encourage the students to stay in school, make wise choices and achieve good grades.