Dog and musher photo by Alex Bear. Others provided courtesy of Tammy Royal.

It was a long, rewarding weekend for several Alaska Job Corps Center Security and Protective Services students who dedicated their time and effort to helping Iditarod mushers, participants, supporters and spectators at last weekend’s ceremonial start in Anchorage, as well as the official restart of the famous dog-mushing race in Willow.

The student volunteers provided guidance, direction, coordination and security at both locations. On Saturday, March 3, they worked in downtown Anchorage from 3:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Sunday, March 4, they worked in Willow from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Despite the early morning hours, the students found the experience to be both fun and worthwhile.

“I really enjoyed helping out the coordinators and helping put up the starting line sign in Willow,” said Alexander Bear, a Security and Protective Services student. “It was fun and I had a great sense of accomplishment.”

The students worked with Alaska Job Corps Center’s Security and Transportation Supervisor, Tammy Royal, to provide the services and skills they have learned at Alaska Job Corps Center. In busy downtown Anchorage, they ensured that the dog mushers had clear lanes to run in, guided and directed mushers and participants to the appropriate locations and helped provide crowd control. At the official Iditarod restart in Willow, the students also offered their security skills by making sure that spectators were in the correct areas and they again guided mushers and their dogs at the start.

“By volunteering at events like the Iditarod, our students not only help their communities, but they also help themselves fast-track their careers by gaining direct, hands-on experience in their field,” said Malyn Smith, Alaska Job Corps Center Director. “These Security and Protective Services students were able to apply their training while also providing a valuable service to the broader Alaskan community.”

The Alaska Job Corps Center is a federally funded career training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor and managed by Chugach Educational Services, Inc. The Center is committed to providing the highest quality programs for young adults by offering instructions in academics, trades and life skills through innovative methods that respond to the unique individual and group needs of today’s youth.

Story by Carin Meyer, BCL.