Young women and men are encouraged to attend the next Job Corps orientation in Troy to begin a path toward a career.

The orientation will be Thursday, Aug. 28 at 9:00 a.m. at the State Career Center,1023 South Brundidge St.

Job Corps is celebrating its 50th anniversary this August. It was established in 1964 to provide education and training to young adults between the ages 16 and 24. Since its inception, approximately 2.7 million people have successfully completed the program.

Admissions Counselor Valerie Smedley said the organization wants to make young women more aware of the opportunities available to them. She said in the past, the Job Corps has had predominantly male participants.

“When we get females in the orientations, we jump up and down,” Smedley said. “We just don’t get that many.”

Smedley said one of the best opportunities in the program is assistance in the job search.

“We help them find jobs,” Smedley said. “We will help them look for a job before they ever graduate. They can go back to their communities and be productive citizens.”

Job Corps is free, and there is no financial obligation. Programs available include Certified Nursing Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Welding, Carpentry, Plumbing, HVAC, Hotel and Lodging, Material Distribution and Operations, Culinary Arts, Computer Technician, Office Administration, Heavy Equipment Operations and Automobile Technician. Students can earn High School Equivalency or a High School diploma, if needed.

There is no limit to the amount of participants in the orientation. For more information, call (334)-213-2320.