Cadets Explore Career Options at Fishburne Military School

Fishburne Military School Cadets Explore Career Paths

Waynesboro, VA — Fishburne Military School hosted its fifth-annual Career Fair this week. Throughout the week, professionals from a wide variety of fields were invited to share their career

Former FMS Guidance Director, Russ Ingersoll, was on hand this week to help FMS Cadets define their interests during the Career Fair

choices and paths to success with our students.

Although the event was aimed at the junior class, all students were welcomed to attend. “We had seventy-seven cadets attend at least one day of the event, and over a dozen presenters from a wide range of occupations” notes MAJ Val Gochenour (VA), FMS Guidance Director and organizer of this year’s FMS Career Fair. “This event has steadily gained momentum and interest over the years.”

Conference areas and classrooms throughout the Administration Building were given over to presentations and Q&A sessions geared toward supplying cadets with real-world advice and strategies regarding educational choices, career paths and daily life within the given industries. Presenters included local business leaders, area attorneys, law enforcement agents, health professionals, engineers, and military personnel.

FMS Superintendent, CAPTAIN Mark Black, got in on the Career Fair action, educating a rapt group of cadets on life as a Naval Aviator.

“These area professionals were very gracious with their time as they shared their vocations with our students,” explained Gochenour.  “Our goal is to cast a future vision for the Cadets.”

In all, over a dozen different career paths were outlined and explained to the cadets; and, for those still undecided about what path they’d like to pursue, former FMS Guidance Director, Mr. Russ Ingersoll, and Ms. Sara Green (Assistant Director of the University of Virginia’s Career Center) were on hand to lead special discussions about selecting the right career and college.

“In today’s environment,” notes FMS Superintendent, retired Navy CAPTAIN Mark Black, a 1984 graduate of the Virginia Military

Waynesboro Police and SWAT Officers address Cadets’ questions regarding careers in Law Enforcement.

Institute, “a college-prep program really must have a component like this. This enables us to help our students determine in what direction they want to take their academic and post-graduate lives. We would be doing a great disservice to our young men if we were not actively engaged in helping them define their interests and goals.”

Black, himself, acted as a presenter for one block of the Fair, educating young men about the requirements to become a Naval Aviator and the daily challenges and rewards of a career in aviation.

Fishburne Military School is the oldest and smallest of all military schools for boys in Virginia. Its college-prep curriculum is built upon the structure of an Army JROTC program. FMS is designated as a JROTC Honor Unit with Distinction and may nominate qualified candidates to the United States Service Academies. Fishburne hosts one of only four Summer JROTC programs in the nation, accredited by US Army Cadet Command. For more information visit www.fishburne.org.