I am one of many young adults that has been given the chance to participate in the DND Summer Youth Employment Program (YEP). This program helps students ranging from high school juniors (15 years) to recent university (24 years) graduates gain valuable job experience and develop work skills in many areas needed for future employment. YEP is able to link small to medium sized establishments with young, enthusiastic students during summer break while providing some much needed financial assistance to those students. The program also aids young adults with skills needed to adapt to a quickly evolving labour market. YEP is not just limited geographically to within Canada but is run Europe wide. I have had the amazing opportunity to participate in the program at the Operation Support Hub (OSH(E)) located in Cologne Germany, a small Canadian military unit based at Wahn Air Force Base (Luftwaffenkaserne). My coworkers consist of eight Military members; four of which are long term postings and four Technical Assistance Visit (TAV) tasks. Working within this diverse group has helped me to improve both as a team player and ethically by showing me how effortlessly they work together. I am currently employed as a warehouse custodian, but this doesn't just limit me to sweeping and lifting! I have received a wide range of knowledge and experience; for example, we have a weekly safety briefing, which informs and demonstrates various safety procedures. Each member takes a turn conducting these briefings; I was given the chance to present a lecture on the proper use and safety considerations involved when using a ladder. Opportunities like this greatly enhance my ability to prepare and present a briefing and increase my knowledge of how to advise and coach co-workers both through hands-on and verbal presentations.
I was also given responsibility to organize, clean, and stock the unit’s work environments. There are two building in which the OSH(E) conducts its business and my duties included archiving files in accordance with DND regulations, organizing and cataloging inventory, as well as maintaining proper building maintenance in each of these locations. Luckily, I have had several amazing co-workers coaching me on how to do all of this in accordance with DND standards. I was also able to receive a Defence Learning Network (DLN) registration. Through this on-line learning site I was able to do courses on many different military policies and procedures. I completed a total of twelve on-line courses receiving certificates for each and thereby adding to my resume. Some of these certificates include Preventing Workplace Violence, Civilians in Defence, and Intro to Mentoring. I have also completed the St John Ambulance Military First Aid Course. Outside of the office I have also had numerous educational experiences resulting from this placement. One such opportunity included a trip to the newly refurbished base museum which focuses on the history of the German military since the establishment of this base 200 years ago this year. Not only were my colleagues and I excited about the museum tour but the guides were also very happy to have Canadians inside the museum as there was a section related to the Canadian military activities in the Cologne area during both World Wars. The museum holds military uniforms, weaponry, aircraft and planning documents used at this base over its 200 year history. YEP has been a fantastic opportunity that I’m sure will benefit me greatly in both my future career as well as my personal development for many years to come. I am grateful to the many military folks and program organizers for guiding and assisting me through this amazing adventure.
Summer Youth Employment Program (YEP) participant, Sean May, instructs members of OSH(E) on ladder safety during one of the Hubs weekly safety briefings.