![[Image description: A MCC member uses a hand drill to build a fence, wearing their MCC sweatshirt and hard hat.]](https://cdn.firespring.com/images/75c58c4a-833e-450f-8301-9062d1b0fc18.jpg)
What are the benefits of service?
A term of service with AmeriCorps comes with a variety of benefits! Below are some of the many perks of joining MCC.
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AmeriCorps Segal Education Award
This is awarded to all members after a successful term of service. It is a monetary award that is uploaded into your AmeriCorps portal up to 30 days after you successfully complete your term of service. The amount ranges from $1,000 - $7,000 depending on the length of your term. It can be used to pay off student loans, pay for future education including trade schools, or many other types of educational expenses. Many colleges will also partially or fully match these funds.
Check out our Alumni Resources page to learn more about the Education Award!
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Loan Forbearance
Many Student loans can be put in forbearance while serving with AmeriCorps! Forbearance is temporarily postponing your obligation to make payments on your student loan. As an AmeriCorps member you may be eligible for forbearance on your qualified student loans during your term of service.
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Personal & Professional Development
Gain leadership, technical, teamwork, and problem solving skills that are transferable to a wide variety of careers.
Utilize the Alumni Resources Page to help you leverage your service to gain future employment.
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Professional Networking
MCC crews work with a wide variety of federal, state, non-profit, and tribal project partners. We ensure our crews have the necessary tools to navigate these relationships. We also encourage our members and leaders to network with these individuals for future career opportunities. Maintaining a level of professionalism with our partners is key to our success and maintaining the standard of MCC work in the field.
Our partners are very invested in hiring MCC Alumni!
Find out more about our partners and who you could be working with here.
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Federal Hiring & Resume Training
At the end of their term, leaders and members receive training on resume building and how to apply for state and federal jobs. MCC will help you communicate to future employers the value of the transferable skills you gained while serving with AmeriCorps. Many of the connections crews make over the course of their season become vital in their future employment prospects.
Utilize the Alumni Resources Page to help you leverage your service to gain future employment.
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Work in a Small Team Based Environment
MCC is a crew-based experience. Corps Members will serve their term of service in a crew with five to seven other Corps Members that will develop into a well-integrated team. Many alumni say serving, living, and working within a small crew was one of the major highlights of serving with MCC. The crew structure allows Corps Members to grow together and experience the satisfaction of working as high-performing team.
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Community Spaces
We currently offer two community spaces, Corps Members of Color and LGBTQIA2+ Corps Members, to build community, connection, and support during the season. The groups come together for an annual campout and are open to all participants who identify within the respective community.
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Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority
Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority allows qualified AmeriCorps alumni with adequate hours served on public lands to apply for federal jobs (Forest Service, Park Service, Bureau of Land Management) as a "merit candidate." This means that these eligible members can apply for federal positions in the same applicant pool as other federal employees and may not have to compete with the general public. It greatly increases the chances of being hired.
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Join an Alumni Network
After a successful term of service with MCC, you will join a network of 5,000+ alumni in a wide variety of careers. In addition, you will join over 1 million AmeriCorps alumni who have served in various programs nationwide. This network can open up career opportunities and create continued connection with other service members.
In addition to the benefits listed above, as a leader or member with MCC you stand to gain a wide variety of skills:
