Eric Walton’s Future Put on Hold as Potomac Job Corps Faces Closure
When Eric Walton first arrived at the Potomac Job Corps Center, he had a clear vision: build a future with Amtrak—ideally as an assistant conductor or red cap, working directly with the public. He enrolled in the TCU/IAM Advanced Transportation training program, determined to gain the skills he needed for a lasting career.
What he didn’t expect was how quickly that future would be thrown into doubt.
“Job Corps and the TCU program gave me a second chance at having a successful career—without the stress and debt of going to college,” Eric shared. “Now I’m just trying to figure out what happens next.”
The news that Potomac Job Corps is scheduled to close before Eric completes his training has left him—and many others—uncertain and frustrated.
“I’ve learned a lot through the TCU program, and not just from the regular curriculum,” he said. “The instructors supported me in developing my social skills, financial literacy, and employability. They helped me grow into someone who’s ready to work. Now, I might not get to finish what I started.”
One of Eric’s greatest personal wins through the program was building confidence.
“This program helped me come out of my shell. That’s so important for the kind of career I want with Amtrak—where interacting with people is everything.”
But now, instead of preparing for interviews and job offers, Eric is preparing for the possibility that the center may shut down before he graduates.
The TCU/IAM program placed hundreds of young adults into good-paying, union-backed jobs in transportation—often for those who didn’t see college as the right path. For students like Eric, it’s more than a training program; it’s a life-changing opportunity that can’t simply be replicated elsewhere.
“We need programs like this,” Eric said. “They give people like me a real shot. Without it, I honestly don’t know where I’d be.”
The future Eric envisioned is still possible—but only if the program that’s helping him build it is allowed to continue.
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