business backgrounder | education & workforce and one from the U . S . Department of Labor — as well as an associate degree in technical arts from Olympic College , which oversees the academic portion of the program .
At a time when employers are struggling to find enough workers , this 120-year-old program may serve as a model for other industries .
“ The apprenticeship program is one of the most practical and sound training systems available to develop individuals into skilled journey-level workers ,” said Reuben Farley , director of the program .
a comprehensive curriculum
The apprenticeship program has grown and evolved throughout its 120-year history . Olympic College , which serves about 13,000 students throughout Kitsap and Mason counties , developed the current curriculum in collaboration with shipyard leadership . Courses include everything from college-level physics and technical drawing to business English and organizational leadership and resource management .
“ We want students to be quantitatively literate so when they analyze a problem and send it up to
“ We teach them how to lead . That starts with being able to lead yourself first .”
— Reuben Farley , apprenticeship program director , PSNS & IMF
an engineer , it ’ s respected and understood ,” said Bob Abel , professor of applied physics at Olympic College , who has taught in the program for 25 years .
Equally as important as the subjects students learn , however , are the problem-solving and critical-thinking skills they acquire along the way .
“ The shipyard wants apprentices to be able to think and ask questions ,” Abel said . “ The curriculum is designed to create workers who don ’ t just do what they ’ re told , but at the same time know when to do what they ’ re told .”
The program takes four years to complete . During the first three years , students take classes for two weeks and then work on the docks for two weeks . The fourth year consists entirely of on-the-job training . The shipyard covers the cost of tuition and pays a full wage to students throughout the duration of their apprenticeship . “ It ’ s a rigorous program ,” Abel said . “ These folks earn their degrees . There ’ s no doubt about that .” When they graduate , students are fully prepared and certified to work in one of 26 trades , which include machinist , painter , rigger , shipwright , high-voltage electrician and toolmaker . They also have developed the skills and knowledge needed to advance to supervisory and management positions with the shipyard should they choose to do so .
“ Most of the civilian management at the shipyard went through the program ,” Abel said . “ We ’ re not just preparing them for their trade .”
The program serves as the model for other naval apprenticeship programs across the country . In 2010 , PSNS & IMF and Olympic College won the Excellence in Apprenticeship Award for Outstanding Partnership at the Pacific Northwest Apprenticeship Education Conference , and in 2017 , Olympic College won the Outstanding College / Corporate Partnership Award from the American Association of Community Colleges in recognition of the program ’ s success .
learning to lead
Farley , the apprenticeship program ’ s current director , graduated from the program in 2002 . Two weeks before his first day of classes , he was managing a bar and restaurant .
“ I had just had my first child and bought a house close to the shipyard ,” Farley said . “ I was looking for a stable career . This was an opportunity to come into something with zero knowledge . Within four years , I was making a pretty good wage .” winter 2022 35