(JACKSONVILLE, Florida) Mr. Jonathan Tucker is a 20 year six foot student hailed from Greenville,
N. Carolina. Jonathan attended Mallard Creek High School and later enrolled at Central Piedmont Community College located in Charlotte, North Carolina on a basketball scholarship. Jonathan was headed to a world of basketball but lost his college scholarship and was uncertain about what he wanted to do next.

A relative recommended Job Corps to Jonathan, it was an opportunity to have the career and lifestyle he never thought he could have after dropping out of college. While at the Jacksonville Job Corps Center he chose the Computer Services Technology Trade and excelled in it. Realizing that the Military was one the five Career Paths offered at the center he decided to take the ASVAB to get into the United States Navy. Jonathan not only completed his trade but was admitted into the United States Navy. “I could not have done this without my instructor and staff members at Job Corps, everyone from the classroom to the dorms helped me to succeed”. Job Corps provided the opportunity for me to fulfill my dream. I am grateful for the opportunity that this program gives to students.

Jonathan is currently at the Navy Boot Camp in Great Lakes, Ill. For his basic training. The Job Corps program offers the following 5 career paths:

• Advance Career Training
• Employment
• Advance Training
• Apprenticeships
• Military

The Job Corps Program understands that the economy will need every Job Corps graduate, but they will have to have the right education, technical training and 21st Century skills.

Jacksonville Job Corps center trains about 425 students per year. The young men and women study to become: carpenters, electricians, certified nurse assistants, office administrators, pharmacy, Computer and HVAC technicians and other professionals. The center’s top priority is to teach eligible young people the skills they need to become employable and to help place them into meaningful careers. It is self-evident that Job Corps works…..and it works for our community.