NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –
Students from Central York High School’s Advanced Placement U.S. Government class visited DLA Distribution Headquarters, located in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, April 25 to learn about distribution operations, DLA internship programs and receive a tour of DLA Distribution Susquehanna’s Eastern Distribution Center.
Teacher Karen Hudson was formerly assigned to DLA Distribution’s Expeditionary Manpower Directorate as an Army reservist. She started scheduling the tours for the students four years ago. Hudson believes these visits are a good teaching opportunity for students to learn about government agency’s business processes – as well as available job opportunities.
Upon arrival, DLA Distribution Chief of Staff Perry Knight greeted students. He opened their visit discussing a little about Distribution’s mission, sharing his own career background and emphasizing the importance of considering what their future might look like.
“Everyone sitting in this room is going to contribute something to society,” said Knight. “Each of you can and will make a difference.”
Knight went on to explain that Distribution has job opportunities at all levels. “We need individuals who are intelligent, bright and want to make a difference.”
The students then received information on internship and career path opportunities from Mason Chronister, DLA Distribution Organizational Management employee, and a former participant of the Workforce Recruitment Program. Chronister spoke of the DLA Pathways to Career Excellence Program, a two-year corporate training program designed to train entry-level personnel, and the student internship program, which provides Federal employment opportunities to students who are enrolled in college. He encouraged the students to start looking at usajobs.gov and preparing their resumes, and to not be modest in listing their accomplishments.
The students received a command brief from Future Plans Director Scott Rosbaugh highlighting the overall DLA Distribution mission as well as how DLA interacts with all four branches of the military and other federal agencies to provide support to the Warfighter and Whole of Government.
Rosbaugh explained to the students that he started out the same as them. “I was not sure what I wanted to do with my life. I started my federal career as an intern straight out of college, and 30 years later – here I am.”
Additionally, Rosbaugh said, “The bottom line is that there isn’t a job you cannot find in the federal government. Find something you are passionate about and go make a difference.”
Following the command brief, students traveled to DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, to see logistics in action within the Department of Defense’s largest warehouse, the Eastern Distribution Center. The tour focused on how a major distribution center operates, and students were shown firsthand how the distribution arm of logistics works from customer order to shipment.