“We’ve worked with other Job Corps trades at the Federal Fire Training Facility on North Island in the past,” advised San Diego Job Corps Floor Covering instructor Joe Binion. “This was the first time we worked at the 32nd Naval Base Federal Fire Station. It’s always beneficial for our students to apply the skills they’re learning at Job Corps to an off-center community service project,” Mr. Binion continued. “It provides our students an opportunity to give back to the community while saving the Navy considerable money in labor costs.”

The Job Corps students, working with Mr. Binion, worked for 5 days at the station, grinding floors, scraping, and taping in preparation for the installation of a new 2,000 square foot epoxy floor.

Twenty-two year old Floor Covering student William Randolph was one of eight Floor Covering students who worked at the station. “I’ve only been in the trade for 6 weeks so it was my first community service project,” Randolph stated. “It was a lot of work but I enjoyed it.” Randolph advised that he learned about Job Corps from his cousin, who recently completed the Floor Covering trade, and works at the Imperial Beach Home Depot store. “I feel like I’m getting good training here for the future. Some of my family members work in the carpet cleaning business and I plan on working with them when I graduate from Job Corps.

Federal Fire Fighter Anthony Glorioso, who is assigned to the 32nd Street station, coordinated Job Corps’ work. “The students worked hard, stayed on task, and did a good job,” he advised. “It certainly helped that they brought all the tools they needed, and knew how to use them. I’d estimate they saved the Navy at least $2,000 in labor costs. I should add that we kept them well fed,” he added with a smile, “which I’m sure they enjoyed.”