The Pacific Region Exchanges are celebrating the completion of the 2026 Summer Hire Program.
Nearly 65 high school students across Korea, Japan and Okinawa participated in the program this year: 42 in Okinawa facilities, 15 in Korea facilities and 6 from Japan facilities. Students are hired to work in Exchange facilities, gaining retail experience and learning about how the Exchange serves those who serve.
The program provides job experience to military and civilian dependents and builds an understanding of the Exchange’s mission and military community support. Students take away a real-world level of responsibility, workplace confidence, foundational job skills and a connection to the mission of supporting the military.
“With this program, the students are able to get that behind-the-scenes picture,” said Col. Jason Beck, the Exchange’s Pacific Region commander. “A lot of these students have been customers for life. They come from military, contractor and government civilian employee families. I look back at my own kids, who were both born in Korea on a military installation, and they were Exchange customers before they even knew it. This gives us the opportunity to show them the moving parts and everything that it takes to get that Snickers bar from a warehouse in California to the shelf in Okinawa.”
The Exchange benefits, too, through brand and community engagement; future workforce pipeline; leadership development opportunities; support for Exchange core values; and increased operational capabilities and efficiencies.
“In the students, we look for reliability, a positive attitude and team mindset,” said Ikuko Dillon, the Okinawa Human Resources manager. “These qualities help them blend in seamlessly with the store teams.”
Students take all mandatory training before starting. They also take safety and HR training as well. In addition, students participate in typhoon safety, stockroom training, loss prevention and sales floor etiquette.
The students work in areas where they can interact with customers, such as the shoe department, health and beauty, toys or with MILITARY STAR card ambassadors.
“I definitely recommend this program to students as it is very important to get experience in working a real job,” said Haley Mitchell, daughter of Sgt. Maj. Edward Mitchell with the Eighth Army. “I learned about hard work as an Exchange associate and will take this valuable tool into my future as a young adult studying in college to become a part of the military workforce.”
The summer hire program started in 2019 at Humphreys at the request of the Eighth Army commander and garrison commander. The demand for more spouse and military family member hiring was a part of initiatives by Eighth Army leadership to make Korea an assignment of choice.
In 2025, command groups from Okinawa, Yokota Air Base and Camp Zama requested the program be expanded to include installations such as Camp Foster and Kadena, Yokota and Misawa Air Bases.
“The summer hire program represents one of the most meaningful ways that we invest in the military community,” said Amanda Hartfield, Pacific Region senior vice president. “By providing students with hands on experience, mentorship, and leadership, we are helping prepare the next generation for success while living the mission of family serving family.”
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