Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) observed National Intern Day on July 29 by shining a spotlight on depot employees who joined Team Tobyhanna through internship programs.

The Pathways Program provides streamlined Federal employment opportunities for students near graduation and recent graduates. Current students can participate in the Internship Program for temporary summer jobs while recent graduates can apply for permanent jobs at Tobyhanna.

Scott Corti, an Information Technology (IT) trainee in the Production Engineering Directorate, joined Team Tobyhanna last October after a neighbor encouraged him to seek federal employment.

“I always wanted to serve in the military, and I have a medical condition that kept me from enlisting.  After hearing about how great Tobyhanna is, I applied to serve as a civilian,” adding that the depot’s location was also a benefit for him.

“Because my family is very important to me, I wanted to remain in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  My position at Tobyhanna allows me to do that and also have a true purpose in my work.”

As an IT trainee, Corti works with senior IT specialists to ensure the security of military information systems.  He says the position is a perfect match for his outside of work pursuits.

“My grandfather bought me a computer when I was four years old and they’ve [computers] have been my hobby ever since.  It was really exciting to be able to translate my interest into a profession.”

Corti will graduate with his Bachelor’s Degree from Wilkes University this fall and looks forward to a long career with the depot.

“I enjoy government service and believe I can make a difference as part of Team Tobyhanna.”

Hannah Gaul, a logistics management specialist in the Production Management Directorate, also finds gratification in her role in the Sustainment Planning Division (SPD).

“The positive culture and mission focus here are my favorite things about being a part of Team Tobyhanna,” she said.  “I know what we do matters.”

As a student at the University of Scranton, Gaul gravitated towards marketing and operations management – fields that aligned with her interest in customer service.  The Pathways program allowed her to intern at Tobyhanna during her senior year of college.  She says the experience prepared her well for a full-time position in SPD.

“Being enrolled in college courses while simultaneously interning at Tobyhanna allowed me to connect my learning experiences in the classroom directly to the workplace,” adding that she was grateful the University’s career development office shared depot career opportunities with students. 

Business development is a main focus for SPD, with Gaul focusing on the development of public-private partnerships (P3s).  P3s allow the Department of Defense to leverage unique capabilities available in the private sector to support operational readiness in the most effective and efficient fashion.

In the future, Hannah hopes to gain her Project Management Professional certification and expand her ability to support production management requirements across the depot.

Chris Urban and Anthony Bojnowski are both interns in the Systems Integration and Support (SIS) Directorate, supporting refinishing operations on a variety of military assets.  While working in a similar capacity, they are in different stages of their intern experience. 

Urban, a senior Corporate Communications major at Penn State’s Scranton campus, expects to graduate in the spring.  Although he’s been working in a field different from his planned career, he says the experience has been extremely valuable.

“Before my internship, I didn’t even know Tobyhanna existed.  Working here as an intern has helped me understand how the business works on the shop floor and, since I plan to work here after graduation, I believe that will benefit me no matter what position I end up in.”  Bojnowski agreed.

“Everything I am learning here is truly beneficial and I know I will use it later in life.” 

Still a high school student, Bojnowski entered the Pathways Program to expand his industrial skill set.  A student at the Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center, he plans to work as a licensed electrician in the future.

Both interns lauded the internship program and, specifically, the SIS leadership for facilitating such an incredible experience for students.

“The team and leadership here is great,” Urban said. Students interested in future internship opportunities with Team Tobyhanna can apply through USAJobs at www.usajobs.gov. For more information, students can visit the Office of Personnel Management website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/students-recent-graduates/