Oneonta Job Corps students guard city crosswalks

A group of Oneonta Job Corps Center (OJCC) students is working for the city as crossing guards.

Cadets from the Military Career program at the northern New York state center have been recently posted near two elementary schools.

Their duties are a natural extension of the assistance cadets provide during special Oneonta city events such as community parades.

City officials say the OJCC students work as crossing guards, relieving a shortage of guards at the two elementary schools. Previously, city police have been required to sit at the intersections to serve as crossing guards, taking them away from other duties.

The Oneonta center cadets wear a distinctive desert camouflage uniform, carry a 2-quart canteen and don a reflective vest for their crossing guard duties. They have been serving each school for about a half hour, each afternoon.

The Military Career program was started at the OJCC last year and is designed to augment the standard Job Corps education and training. Cadets in the program work toward becoming eligible to join the Armed Forces by studying the military entrance examination. They also learn skills such as basic first aid, land navigation, search and rescue, disaster shelter management and radio communication.

(3/20/10)

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