Representatives of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office will sign an agreement next week to provide priority hiring status to qualified Soldiers participating in the Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) Program.

“The U.S. Army is excited to add the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office to its team of corporate partners in the Partnership for Youth Success program,” said Brig. Gen. Leslie Fuller, USAREC Deputy Commanding General (East). “We are so proud of our partnerships like this that enable our recruiters to offer applicants quality employment opportunities during and after their Army service.”

A ceremony regarding the agreement will be held on Tuesday, January 16, 2007, at 4 p.m. at the Sheriff’s Administrative Office, 9th Floor, 201 Poplar Avenue.

“The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is happy to be part of this initiative. We want to always hire quality employees. We are glad to partner with the U.S. Army so the Sheriff’s Office may attract well qualified employees,” said Sheriff Luttrell.

PaYS is a strategic partnership program between the Army and a cross section of U.S. corporations and public sector agencies. The program was developed to help the Army attract, train and deploy talented young people who want to serve their country, but also want to help secure their future success once their Army service is complete.

Under terms of the agreement between USAREC and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, enlistees interested in gaining specific job training and qualifications will receive that training while in the U.S. Army. As part of the enlistment process, recruits sign a statement of understanding of intent to work for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office upon completion of their term of service. As they near the end of their enlistments, the soldiers will have the opportunity to interview with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office for a specific job at a specific location.

Shelby County Sheriff’s Office jobs are scheduled to be available in the Army’s PaYS database soon. For more information, interested applicants may visit their local recruiter or log on to www.armypays.com.

The Army’s list of corporate partners is growing and includes Comcast Cable, Walgreen Company, BellSouth, Caterpillar, HCA, EDS, Lockheed Martin, Sears Logistics Services Inc., State Farm Insurance, John Deere Company, The Pepsi Bottling Group, Goodyear, DELL, and Southwest Airlines.

“Each year thousands of young men and women develop valuable skills and gain experience in a broad spectrum of Army jobs. They are motivated, have professional work habits and high standards of conduct. This partnership is one way we can help ensure our soldiers continue to achieve success after leaving the Army, and that American industry benefits by gaining quality employees,” said Captain Marcellino Neville, Company Commander of the Memphis Army Recruiting Company headquartered in Millington, TN.