What Is the Job Corps Training Program?
The U.S. Department of Labor's Job Corps program helps to identify at-risk youth and provide them with a structure that promotes academic and vocational education. Formed in 1964, the Corps removes at-risk youth from their neighborhoods to study in residential facilities where they can focus on education and career development in an environment structured to promote success.
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Course Structure
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Students remain in Job Corps for six months to two years depending on the vocation for which they train. During the first two months in the Corps, students concentrate on developing skills that promote personal responsibility, polishing job-hunting skills and creating a plan that outlines their educational goals and schedules. In the second phase of Corps training, students concentrate on academic and vocational skills simultaneously, working to earn a General Education Degree as well as job skills. After a student completes his education, the Corps helps him locate his first job, provides support to establish a place to live and transportation to and from work and responds to support requests from graduates.
Application Requirements
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Application to Job Corps is limited to students deemed at risk. Students must be between the ages of 16 and 24 years old, registered for Selective Service if male, and a U.S. citizen or legal resident. Applicants must be low-income individuals, defined as those who are disabled, homeless, receiving public assistance or earning less than 70 percent of the federal poverty level. In addition to meeting financial eligibility requirements, students must be high school dropouts, lacking in basic academic and vocational skills, homeless, a parent or a runaway or foster child.
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Financial incentives
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Students who train with the Corps and live in residential training facilities are also provided with minimal financial incentives to remain in training. At time of publication, upon joining the Corps, students receive a one-time arrive pay bonus of $25. Each student receive a biweekly basic living allowance that ranges from $25 to $50, depending upon how far a student is into her training. Students with children receive an additional $5 to $15 allotment for basic living costs. Transition payments that range from $250 for earning a GED to $1,200 for earning a GED and completing Job Corps training are also provided as incentives to finish the program.
Vocations Offered
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Many employers turn to Job Corps to help fill vacancies for skilled positions with trained workers. The Corps provides training in areas such as manufacturing, automotive repair, construction, health care, homeland security, hospitality, information technology, renewable energy and resources, finance and business, retail sales and transportation. All career training areas and vocations may not be available at all training centers, however.
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