KMC students invited to Job Shadow Day

by Rena Palmer

Contributing writer

Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe staff, along with their 86th Airlift Wing counterparts and all KMC military and civilian organizations, will observe Job Shadow Day Thursday.

The program invites students to see firsthand how the skills learned in school relate to the workplace. 

Also known as “Bring Your Sons and Daughters to Work Day,” Job Shadow Day is led by the National Job Shadow Coalition and is an academically motivating activity designed to give children the unique opportunity of an up-close look at the world of work. 

Beginning with a nation-wide kickoff Feb. 2 and continuing throughout the school year, students across America will “shadow” workplace mentors as they go through a normal day on the job.

All Department of Defense and home-schooled students are invited to attend various events throughout the KMC in an effort to provide our young people with an opportunity to see how skills learned in the classroom are put to use in the workplace.

The goal is to help young people explore firsthand the skills and education needed to succeed in today’s and future job markets and to encourage positive relationships between KMC students and the military community. 

Job Shadow Day in the KMC gives children a chance to explore various careers beyond what their parents may do for a living.

KMC students have an advantage over their stateside peers as they can gain firsthand hand knowledge of international relations and customs, which is an invaluable skill as we progress in a mass globalization effort. 

Many units have enthusiastically volunteered to invite students to visit their facilities.

A complete list of participating units and Job Shadow Day activities can be found in the sliding billboard on each homepage of the KMC School Web sites or the Kaiserslautern DSO Web site at www.kais-dso.eu.dodea.edu/.

Job Shadow Day events will begin at 8 a.m. and will end at noon.

All students need to be returned to school by 1 p.m., which allows families to enjoy lunch together and provides an opportunity to discuss their Job Shadow Day experience.

If parents would like their students to eat lunch at school they must be returned in time for their regularly scheduled lunch period. 

Parents should obtain their supervisor’s approval before bringing their child to the workplace and coordinate with unit POCs regarding public events that offer only limited attendance.

For questions regarding Job Shadow Day 2010, contact our office at 489-6771 or e-mail us at 86MSG.SLO@ramstein.af.mil. 

If you would like to learn more about job shadowing, visit the Job Shadow Day Web site at www.jobshadow.org.