Three-week welding program brings job offer at Newport News Shipbuilding

sandra.pennecke@insidebiz.com

In just three weeks and for only $250, community college students can get basic welding training and a job offer at Newport News Shipbuilding.

A collaboration between Tidewater Community College and the Virginia Ship Repair Association, the Pre-Hire Marine Skills Training Program started in January. Thomas Nelson and Paul D. Camp community colleges also offer the program.

Todd Estes, interim associate vice president for business and corporate solutions for TCC, said the program falls under the workforce solutions division of the college.

And it's a great solution.

The entry-level program, taught by Vernon Sargent who has been in the shipbuilding industry since the 1970s, is designed to meet the needs of regional shipbuilding and ship repair companies at a time when the workforce is aging.

The classes, which run from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in order to simulate the shipyard's first shift, are at a facility TCC leases from NSC Technologies on Mount Vernon Avenue in the Port Norfolk section of Portsmouth.

"The Pre-Hire Program allows students to get basic trade training in an environment that mimics what they'll see once they're in the yard," said Bill Crow, Virginia Ship Repair Association president. "They learn not just their trade, but also shipyard-specific safety, Navy terminology, industry best-practices, and the type of teamwork that is vital to ship repair work.

"Not only will a student coming out of this program have a step up on other entry-level candidates, but companies hiring out of this program know that they are gaining an employee with industry-basic knowledge and trade skills, as well as proven reliability and accountability," Crow said.

A new class starts each month. The latest one, focused on welding, started June 5.

"It takes inexperienced folks who are interested in getting into the welding field," Estes said, noting 95 percent of the program is practical, hands-on, in-the-booth welding. "The goal is to get through the introductory program and once they complete the program and master the skills they will continue the training in the shipyard."

Randy Ware, 45, of Dendron, spent 21 years in the Army as a nuclear security officer before he retired in 2009. A law enforcement career in the civilian sector followed, but Ware found himself in search of something different.

"I've never welded before and I have no experience," Ware said. "This is an awesome trade to learn."

Feeling both excited and intimidated, Ware said he now has 48 hours of training under his belt and hopes to be offered a job at the conclusion of the program.

Malcolm Johnson, 27, has been juggling three jobs to support his two young children.

When he learned about the welding program, he was anxious to get on board and see where it takes him.

"It's challenging," Johnson said. "But like riding a bike, you just have to learn."

Estes said the program gives students a head start by getting them used to the work environment and helps the shipyard with reduced costs, training and attrition.

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To date, TCC has completed 44 students in the program and of those 70 percent have been hired by the shipyard.

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"Some of the employers we're working with have even taken them into other departments instead of welding," Estes said noting the program is for anyone interested in starting a career or making a career move. "It's an ideal introduction and great for those who have not welded before to get an on ramp into the shipbuilding industry which can turn into a very lucrative career."

The program, said Estes, which may include the employer refunding a portion of the funding to the VSRA upon hiring a candidate, is a great example of a public/private partnership.

"All around, this is a huge win-win for job-seekers, VSRA Member Companies, and the Hampton Roads community as a whole," Crow said. "We're proud to work with our partners at TCC, Thomas Nelson, Paul D. Camp, and VSRA Member Companies like Newport News Shipbuilding to train the next generation of ship repairers."

Another perk is the ability for the student to earn certification through the American Welding Society, which is portable and OSHA 10-hour certification.

The next trade program will start sometime in July and be focused on pipe fitting.

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