ADA, OH (WLIO) - A group of local college students got a peek behind the curtain today to find out what it's like to be a member of the Secret Service.
The United States Secret Service visited the campus of Ohio Northern University to conduct a series of simulation training exercises on real-life scenarios. Students volunteered and participated in the scenarios and learned about the security measures the Secret Service takes in all kinds of tense situations.
"We had scenarios running from a kind of an overzealous crowd, to a hazmat situation, to a protester attacking a supporter, to finally the actual protectee being attacked by, you know a role player," stated Andrea Domachowski, career services director at Ohio Northern University.
Approximately 40% of the workforce in the Secret Service is projected to retire by next year, so the up-close experience for college students coming into the workforce presented a special opportunity.
"This is definitely valuable. It gives me connections to go on, it gives me connections to not only the people who are currently working but people who are passionate about it or even interested in it. And just getting to have that conversation as well as seeing what my possible career options would be," said Samantha Roth, criminal justice and sociology major.
Following the simulation exercises, the Secret Service also provided recruiting opportunities for interested students.
