Title: Platoon Sergeant

State Role Title: Security Officer III

Hiring Range: Minimum Starting Salary of $49,000

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Department of Military Affairs

Location: Commonwealth Challenge

Agency Website: DMA

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Mission of the Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy is to intervene in the lives of 16-18 year old teenagers by providing the values, skills, education, and self-discipline needed to produce responsible, productive citizens, and to do so in a highly structured learning environment.

The Platoon Sergeant will:

Supervise cadets at the Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy which assists at-risk Virginia youth in developing skills and abilities, using the 8 core components necessary to become productive citizens through focusing upon the physical, emotional, and educational needs of the youth in a highly structured learning environment, sponsored by the Virginia National Guard.

Other duties include: disciplinary actions, recommendations for awards for cadets; providing crisis intervention, counseling, physical training, ensuring the safety and security of cadets, instructing and leading military subjects including drill and ceremony and physical training for self and cadet.

Minimum Qualifications

Working knowledge of principles, practices, procedures and techniques of FM22-5 (Drill and Ceremony);

Must be adept at providing counseling to cadets when required to improve behavior;

Ability to supervise, communicate, interpret regulations and exercise independent judgment in enforcing rules and regulations;

Must have team building and team management skills, ability to enforce discipline, safety, and security in a fair and consistent manner;

Ability to provide effective leadership;

Ability to recognize and defuse potentially volatile situations;

Ability to develop approaches to sensitive issues;

Must have patience, tolerance, and flexibility;

Ability to learn and apply agency policy rules, Cadet Handbook, and follow written and verbal instructions;

Must be willing and able to work alternate work schedules, weekends, holidays, and overtime;

Must have a valid Virginia Driver’s License with an acceptable driving record.

Additional Considerations

Class B Commercial Driver's License (CDL) preferred.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

These positions are restricted, meaning the funding for these jobs are non-general and/or non-recurring.

Employment offers may be subject to any of the following:
o Extensive criminal background check
o Pre-employment drug screening
o Employment reference checks
o Virginia DMV Driver Alert System
o Pre-employment physical examination

Must have a valid Virginia Driver’s License and be able and willing to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License within 11 months of hire.

The Department of Military Affairs is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all persons and applicants, without regard to age, color, disability, gender, national origin, political affiliation, genetic information, race, religion, sexual orientation, sex (including pregnancy) or veteran status. DMA encourages and invites minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply.

We are a “Virginia Values Veterans” (V3) certified state agency that provides hiring preference to Veterans and Members of the Virginia National Guard in support of Executive Order 29, (2010). If you are a Veteran or Virginia National Guard Member, we urge you to respond accordingly on your state application and/or resume.

AmeriCorps and Peace Corps and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

The application must be detailed and fully completed. All employment and periods of unemployment (if applicable) must be listed within the application; either on an attached resume, or manually listed in the “Relevant Work History” section. Each application is reviewed for documentation that shows the applicant meets the minimum and preferred qualifications stated in the job announcement. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided on the application, therefore, it is essential to fully complete each section of the application and provide descriptive information. Submitting an incomplete state application, or a state application lacking in detail, may result in your non-selection. This website will provide a confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted for consideration.

This job is a civilian position and does not require military service (including commission and enlistment).

Contact Information

Name: Loreley A. Leabhart

Phone: (804) 313-1694

Email: loreley.a.leabhart2.nfg@army.mil

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.