After he graduates from Hephzibah High School, Barry Johnson wants to join the Marine Corps.

On March 12, Johnson got the chance to talk to some Fort Gordon Marines through the High School/High Tech program through Georgia Department of Labor Vocational Rehabilitation.

"It made me see what it's like," said Johnson.

Not only did he get a chance to find out about the job, but he had the chance to interact with Marines.

"We allowed him to talk with Marines. They told him the ups and downs. He got a more per- sonal side to it," said Sgt. Travis Wilson.

Four high school students visited Fort Gordon on March 12 and spent part of the day job shadowing military personnel.

"This is a comprehensive community program that gives kids the chance to see the jobs," said Senita Thomas with the labor department.

About 150 students in 12 Richmond and Columbia County schools participate in the program, and despite some of the students expressing interest in careers such as modeling, all job shadow candidates were placed this year, said Thomas.

Ashley Gray, another Hephzibah High School student, Aaron Mitchell, a Cross Creek High School student, and Marvin Ferguson, a Glenn Hills High School student spent several hours in different parts of Fort Gordon.

Gray wanted to learn about computers, and Mitchell spent the morning at Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center. Ferguson is interested in repairing vehicles.

Joyce Robinson, a Hephzibah High School teacher, chaperoned the trip. She said the program is a good one.

"This gives them the chance to see the type of career they'd like and find out what's involved," she said.

"Sometimes, students think they want to pursue one career, but then after seeing what's involved, they realize they don't," she said.