Military children volunteer, earn college money Published April 27, 2006 27th Services Squadron CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Cannon youth programs can help teens earn money toward their college tuition. The Youth Employment Skills (YES) program, funded by Air Force Aid Society, offers high school dependents of active duty military members an opportunity to learn valuable work skills while positively impacting base agencies. High school students, grades nine through 12, attending public, private or home schools may participate in the program, starting as soon as eighth grade is completed. This program allows high school students to “bank” volunteer dollar credits toward their college education at a rate of $4 per hour volunteered. Students may accumulate up to 250 hours during their high school years, a total of $1,000 for tuition, books, fees and other direct educational costs. “It doesn’t take long to get the [250 hours],” said Danny McBride, Cannon’s Youth Center director. Earned funds are held for the students by the Air Force Aid Society until they begin their post-secondary education of college or vocational school. Dependent children of active duty Air Force members are eligible to participate in the YES program. A parent’s retirement or separation from service immediately terminates eligibility for program participation, said Mr. McBride, however all funds the child earns before the parent leaves the military are still available to the child and are held, the same as the funds earned by children of active duty military, in an account until graduation from high school. The Cannon Youth program also benefits from the volunteers by receiving $2 for every hour volunteered by participants. Teens will have input in to how the program’s money is spent, to enhance programs or purchase equipment. Work centers on Cannon may request a YES volunteer by contacting Mr. McBride or Mr. Lionel Alston at 784-2747. Work centers must complete a job description for participating youths and complete a simple time sheet for the participants. Interested teens must also complete enrollment forms for eligibility. “So far we have had kids work at the youth center, the fitness center, marketing and the golf course,” said Mr. McBride, adding that students are almost always able to find something to fit their interests. (Contributions to this article were made by Janet Taylor-Birkey, 27th Fighter Wing Public Affairs)