Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC) hosts Palomar High School's Navy Internship, School to Career Program graduation ceremony Dec. 9 at SWRMC's training facility. The graduation marked the successful completion of the program for 27 Palomar High School interns and their active duty military mentors. "I see exceptional value in this program because it is helping young men and women become self-sufficient when needed, team players, and preparing them for expected and unexpected challenges that they are bound to face as they become productive members of our society," said SWRMC Command Master Chief Dexter A. Watson. Students enrolled in the program gain real life experience at SWRMC working with their active duty military mentor. Their experience at SWRMC complements the instruction they receive from their school, including: development of jobs skills, theory of proper workplace behavior, and expectations and effective business-like skills. Interns enter into a contract with the school, and are held accountable to dress standards, behavior standards, academic standards, attendance standards and job-based evaluation expectations that must be maintained throughout the program. "I hope that today's graduates have learned the importance of discipline, determination, reliability, and commitment and how important those qualities are to everything they are going to need to do to be successful in life," said Tom Phillips Jr, school to career program manager. After completing the internship portion of their contract, interns continue the program by updating their resumes, writing their program assessment essays, turning in their gear, clearing their attendance requirements, studying for and taking their finals, district-wide performance tasks, and completing their community service requirements. The program also offers benefits for the military volunteers who mentor the interns. "Sailors have the opportunity to provide guidance and watch their proteges flourish throughout this process," said Watson. "This inspires the Sailors to continue their mentorship and extend a helping hand to others outside the lifelines of the program and the Navy." Palomar's nationally renowned, and award-winning, Navy Internship Program is recognized as one of the best School to Career programs in the country. The School to Work Opportunities Act of 1994 established federal government's focus on local community efforts to provide work-based learning opportunities to students, regardless of their academic or economic situation. SWRMC has been in partnership for over 20 continuous years and provides opportunities for students and SWRMC mentors. SWRMC's mission is, "Our uniquely qualified team provides superior ship maintenance, modernization, technical support, and training for the Pacific Fleet." For more information about SWRMC please visit http://www.swrmc.navy.mil/.

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