Munson command team helps Leavenworth High School students prepare for workforce
Bilderback, who attended Leavenworth High School during her junior and senior years as a member of a military family at Fort Leavenworth, returned alongside Munson Senior Enlisted Advisor Sgt. Maj. Devon S. Woodard to help the school's juniors practice job interviewing with prospective employers.
“It was really special to return to my former high school with Sgt. Maj. Woodard and pour back into the school that gave so much to me,” Bilderback said. “As I spoke with the students, I was impressed by their maturity and by how thoughtfully they answered the questions.”
The mock interviews were for an introductory unit in the school’s required financial literacy course, according to Leavenworth High School Career and Technical Education Coordinator Gelia Dodin.
“In the state of Kansas, all of our juniors are required to take a class called financial literacy,” Dodin said. “Our introductory unit is all about how to get a job.”
Throughout the unit, students learned how to complete employment applications and tax forms, understand paychecks, write cover letters without relying on artificial intelligence and tailor resumes to specific jobs.
Dodin said that this is the second year Leavenworth High School has conducted the mock interview exercise, but the participating junior class is the first required to complete the financial literacy course for graduation.
Woodard asked students to discuss their goals, strengths, problem-solving skills and ability to perform under pressure.
“It is especially good for them to talk to adults they have never met before, because that is what an actual interview is like.” Woodard said.
The leaders also spoke with students about their own paths after high school, demonstrating that careers do not always follow the same route.
As a Leavenworth High School junior, Bilderback began considering Army ROTC as a way to attend college. High school students who apply for ROTC are eligible for scholarships covering up to the full cost of tuition based on merit and grades, plus $420 per month for personal expenses and $1,200 per year for books. Bilderback earned a four-year ROTC scholarship, studied biomedical engineering at Marquette University and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army.
“When I realized I could get a college education and continue to compete in sports for free – it was a no brainer – why not give it a try?,” Bilderback said. “I thought I would serve my initial obligation and get out. I even had orders to leave the Army in 2015, but for a number of reasons, I decided to stay.”
Woodard, however, did not envision an Army career when he was a high school junior. He initially attended college for a year before joining the Army. He said military service helped him develop focus, establish goals and pursue additional education including a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration, and a Master of Science in Management.
Together, their experiences showed students that some careers begin with a plan while others take shape as people encounter new opportunities.
Bilderback, who now holds multiple degrees including a Master of Healthcare Administration, and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies, said engagement beyond the installation helps military leaders better understand and serve the communities surrounding them.
“The military is a representation of our society; we are part of the community,” Bilderback said. “The better we understand the community we support, the better we can tailor that support to its needs. It is important for people to see military members interacting in the community and recognize that we are people and neighbors, too.”
Dodin said the community participation in the mock interviews, which also included other sectors of the local community, was essential because it connected students with professionals who make hiring decisions and understand what employers seek in prospective employees.
For Bilderback, the event brought her personal and professional journeys together: a former military-connected student returned as an Army Medicine leader and healthcare administrator to help today’s students take their next steps.
Through outreach activities such as the mock interviews, Munson leaders and staff strengthen relationships beyond the health center while investing in the community they are privileged to serve.
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