Getting your first job can be a harrowing experience, especially if you need more skills to secure a quality position.
Luckily, teens have job training options, with many individuals and organizations committed to helping the next generation find quality careers. For example, HireSmart Cares, a nonprofit dedicated to providing the nation’s youth with outside-the-box skills, helps teens land better-paying jobs through innovative programs, such as high school training for drone operations.
The Power of Drones in Career Development
In 2023, HireSmart Cares made an initial contribution of $4,000 to help launch a drone program at Madison County High School (MCHS) in Danielsville, Georgia. Building on that success, the organization increased this initial funding by $5,500 in 2024, bringing the total investment to $9,500. This financial support enabled equipment purchases, provided expert instruction, and allowed students to gain practical experience with drone technology — a sector poised for growth across industries like agriculture, real estate, law enforcement, and film production.
The program, led by the JROTC (U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) at MCHS, introduces students to drones and gives them hands-on training, making the learning experience both engaging and career-focused.
Expanding Career Opportunities through Drones
With support from HireSmart, the drone program has drawn immense interest, with 90 of the 139 JROTC cadets signing up and 40 additional students outside the program. According to its instructors and organizers, the program has made great progress in opening the students’ eyes to the vast career opportunities associated with drone technology.
Students are trained to run drone missions, use coordinates for mapping, and even pick up and deliver packages while integrating skills such as programming, grid coordinate usage, and teamwork. According to JROTC First Sergeant Francisco Ramey, “We want to teach them how to set up command centers and how to set up relays. It’s going to be great.”
During one training session, students smile and enjoy themselves as they see their hometown as the birds do, the football field beneath to the east, the county courthouse to the west. An adult along for the session asks a student to zoom in on his bald spot, and they share a laugh as his gray head comes sharply into focus from high above.
“It was so cool to see the video quality and features that the drone camera had,” said one student. “The drone was away from us, but we could see our faces so clearly. It made me realize that it could be something I would be interested in doing for my career.”
Connecting Students with Real-world Applications
As an experienced drone operator, Ramey is consulting with other JROTC drone programs to ensure a smooth rollout at MCHS. Students will have the chance to apply their skills in various real-world scenarios. The JROTC program will also take cadets on trips to explore career paths in drone technology, including a planned visit to the Florida Naval Air Station in Pensacola.
Ramey emphasized the growing need for drone operators in a variety of fields and explained that the skills learned in the program will be valuable in sectors like aeronautics, information technology, and firefighting. “This is not going anywhere,” he said, underscoring the importance of developing these skills early on.
Ramey described the importance of shaping young leaders who are prepared to excel in their personal and professional lives. Programs like the drone initiative help students build technical skills and gain confidence in their abilities to take on new challenges and improve the world around them.
For more information on HireSmart Cares, visit hiresmartcares.org.
Published By: Aize Perez
