OSWEGO – Oswego Health and the U.S. Army are finding common ground through the U.S. Army’s Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) Program during a cooperative signing event held yesterday in downtown Oswego, Thursday, August 18.
Attendees at the event included Vice President of Human Resources at Oswego Health Marq Brown, Army Recruiting Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel John R. Dickens, Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow, as well as SUNY Oswego student Jacques Anugaus.
The PaYS program is an enlistment option and recruiting initiative for future Soldiers, ROTC cadets and their families. By joining the PaYS program, the Army is reassuring parents and potential recruits of their long-term investments in their sons and daughters though education and training.
Partnering corporate and state agencies such as Oswego Health, guarantee soldiers and ROTC cadets enrolled in the program, five job interviews upon completion of their service requirements.
Brown talked about the opportunity this program will have and the benefit the community will receive in partnering with the PaYS Program.
“The Army did approach me about the program. When I learned about the program I thought it was a no-brainer for Oswego Health,” Brown said. “We are always looking to build pipelines of talent both inside and outside the organization. So this partnership with the PaYS Program is a win/win for both Oswego Health and these future soldiers and ROTC cadets. It provides another pipeline for healthcare talent in our community and at the same time offers career pathways for soldiers exiting the Army.”
Lieutenant Colonel John R. Dickens also spoke about the overall value partnering with Oswego Health will carry for post-military employment goals.
“Oswego Health is building on a value-based connection with the Army by joining other American corporations and public sector agencies in a partnership for your success that is simply often referred to as the PaYS Program. At the core of the PaYS Program is our shared concern of educating and preparing people for an uncertain future in a highly competitive work environment,’’ Dickens said.
“This is much more than a recruiting tool or a retention tool. It’s an opportunity for the Army and for our partners to build a network of highly qualified potential candidates for the benefit of each organization, and to connect and learn about each other at a community level. The more we can close the gap between our community and our soldiers the stronger we are able to become. I understand at Oswego Health it’s about opportunity; opportunity for personal development, opportunity for growth, and opportunity for success. We look forward to this partnership that we will formalize today.”
The City of Oswego formed a partnership with the Army’s PaYS Program three-years-ago, Barlow speaking of the advantage of having prior military join the city’s workforce; saying the city is always looking to recruit former military for police officer and firefighter positions.
“It’s certainly mutually beneficial. It gives our Army Veterans and those coming out of the military service an easy pass to opportunity here locally in Oswego, and guarantee’s them job opportunities and interviews so that they can make that transition a little bit easier and still be able to work when they’re coming fresh out of service. And of course mutually beneficial because the employer gets solid, credible new employee for their organization,” Barlow said. “It really is a great program, and I’m so proud of Oswego Health to look into this program and partner to join city Government in this program so that we can put more of our local military veterans to work right here in the City of Oswego.” Barlow said.
Anugaus is currently attending SUNY Oswego. He plans to join the Army as soon as possible with the intent to finish his college career while serving in the armed forces. Anugaus sang the National Anthem for the start of the event.
“Because of the PaYS Program, the military is just like…in and of itself – is a great program to go into especially as a young man myself,” Anugaus said. “College, I think it takes away too much from the actual experience of what the world has to offer. The military gives you just that; allows you to travel around the world, being in the best shape in your life, gives you college and a education, so I figured it’s one of the best places I can be in, especially right now.”
Barlow was presented with a Syracuse Battalion Company Coin for his partnership and continued support of the PaYS Program.
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