By Ensign Peter Lee, Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs
PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen interested in completing civilian apprenticeship requirements can do so through the United Service Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP). As of Feb. 23, USMAP is helping more than 40,000 service members earn their professional certificates.
USMAP works with the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) to provide nationally recognized apprenticeship programs that result in journeyman-level Certificates of Completion for members of the sea services. During their apprenticeship, military members further their professional development through documented work experiences while performing their regular military duties. Earning this DoL Journeyman Certificate is free and normally does not require working additional off-duty hours.
"It's about quantifying what you've accomplished," said Tom Smith, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) Enlisted Learning and Development coordinator. "Service members are already doing the work; it's just a matter of documenting what they do. Now they have their work 'on the record' and an apprenticeship completed has additional recognized accomplishments, which looks good to promotion boards. Certifications can also open doors once one decides to hang up the uniform."
USMAP is a registered apprenticeship program which provides formalized and structured training. It combines on-the-job training (OJT) and related technical instruction in which the apprentice would receive practical and technical training. All the individual is required to do is regularly document the hours worked in the various skill areas either in a hard-copy log or through the Web and have it verified by their supervisor. In addition, the service member submits a report every six months, and a final report once all OJT is complete.
"Each apprenticeship requires anywhere between 2,000 and 10,000 hours of on-the-job work and training," said Marybeth Whitney, USMAP registrar. "Working a typical 40-hour week, an individual can complete an apprenticeship within a year. The 123 trades available range from aircraft mechanic to X-ray equipment tester and over 96 percent of Navy enlisted rates, 85 percent of Coast Guard enlisted rates, and 232 Marine Corps military occupational specialties are eligible for these programs."
USMAP's apprenticeship programs apply to virtually all members of the sea services, including those who have been serving for several years.
"Pre-registration credits can be awarded to those who have time-in-service and can even be applied towards college credits", added Smith. "The maximum credit a service member could possibly receive is 50 percent of the required OJT. For example, an E-6 with ten years of service and is interested in an 8,000-hour program can receive a maximum of 4,000 credits towards their apprenticeship, cutting their requirements for hours of logged OTJ in half."
Since 1976, USMAP, a program managed by NETC, has awarded nearly 37,000 certificates.
"The program continues to grow within the military while maintaining its recognition in the civilian sector," added Whitney. "The certificates provide the civilian sector a way to translate what military members are doing within their jobs."
Any active duty Sailor, Marine, or Coast Guardsmen can become an apprentice as long as they have been designated in a rating, have sufficient time to complete the program while on active duty, possess a high school diploma or GED, and the selected trade must be their primary job at their command.
"No service member, either officer and enlisted, should cheat themselves out of this program," said Ken Ledbetter, USMAP marketing and outreach coordinator. "Anyone can do it but to further one's work expertise takes that extra motivation. Each trade program is tailored to enhance knowledge of that job and an individual's enthusiasm to be a professional does not go unnoticed. They owe it to themselves."
For more information about the United Service Military Apprenticeship Program, visit https://usmap.cnet.navy.mil.
For more information about the Naval Education and Training Command, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/.
USMAP Helps Hawaii Service Members Earn Certifications
Story Number: NNS100505-17 Release Date: 5/5/2010 9:49:00 PM 0 Comments
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Wallace Ciccarelli Jr., Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Hawaii
PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (NNS) -- Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam held a class May 3-4 to inform service members about the benefits of the United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP).
"The programs gives the military member the opportunity while active to complete their apprenticeship and journeyman certificate just like their civilian counterparts," said Kenneth Leadbetter, market outreach coordinator for USMAPS.
As of May 3, the program has helped more than 45,000 service members earn their professional certification administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) for free.
"This is a very easy program to get involved with," said Navy Counselor 1st Class Kurt Strouhschein, assigned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. "It can help those individually by using their work experience in competing in today's very competitive job market."
USMAP works with the DoL to provide nationally recognized apprenticeship programs that result in journeyman-level certificates of completion for all active-duty Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel with a high-school diploma or general education degree.
"With my retirement at the end of this year, this program gives me a better chance, not only to compete for a job at the Pearl Harbor Navy Shipyard, but also gives me the leverage to negotiate for higher pay," said Machinery Repairman 1st Class Charles Urban, assigned to USS Hopper (DDG 70).
During their apprenticeship, military members further their professional development through documented work experiences while performing their regular military duties without requiring any additional off-duty work.
USMAP requires service members to log all on-the-job training (OJT) hours to get credit for their work. Registered members may choose to record their hours online or through paper records by request. Both reports must be submitted to their records account on the website or by mail weekly, monthly and semi-annually. Each report requires a signature from someone in the member's chain of command to verify the hours.
"Coming out today gave me way more information than the Internet," said Sonar Technician Seaman James Breen, assigned to USS Lake Erie (CG 70). "Now I know that I can transfer all my work experience and [earn certifications] that people don't see as Navy experience but job experience."
Naval Education and Training command (NETC) recommends interested service members to sign up as soon as possible to receive credit for their OJT hours. Higher-ranking service members signing up for USMAP can receive a waiver to receive up to 50 percent of their OJT requirements.
According to the Department of Labor, every 2,000 OJT hours equals 144 hours of classroom instruction. Most certifications require 2,000 to 10,000 hours of OJT. An average Sailor doing a usual eight-hour work day five times a week can complete 2,000 hours every year. Some vocational oriented colleges even offer college credits for completed apprenticeships.
Vickyrun
May 3, 2010
Mary, Proud Mom of Nick
Story Number: NNS100505-17 Release Date: 5/5/2010 9:49:00 PM 0 Comments
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Wallace Ciccarelli Jr., Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Hawaii
PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (NNS) -- Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam held a class May 3-4 to inform service members about the benefits of the United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP).
"The programs gives the military member the opportunity while active to complete their apprenticeship and journeyman certificate just like their civilian counterparts," said Kenneth Leadbetter, market outreach coordinator for USMAPS.
As of May 3, the program has helped more than 45,000 service members earn their professional certification administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) for free.
"This is a very easy program to get involved with," said Navy Counselor 1st Class Kurt Strouhschein, assigned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. "It can help those individually by using their work experience in competing in today's very competitive job market."
USMAP works with the DoL to provide nationally recognized apprenticeship programs that result in journeyman-level certificates of completion for all active-duty Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel with a high-school diploma or general education degree.
"With my retirement at the end of this year, this program gives me a better chance, not only to compete for a job at the Pearl Harbor Navy Shipyard, but also gives me the leverage to negotiate for higher pay," said Machinery Repairman 1st Class Charles Urban, assigned to USS Hopper (DDG 70).
During their apprenticeship, military members further their professional development through documented work experiences while performing their regular military duties without requiring any additional off-duty work.
USMAP requires service members to log all on-the-job training (OJT) hours to get credit for their work. Registered members may choose to record their hours online or through paper records by request. Both reports must be submitted to their records account on the website or by mail weekly, monthly and semi-annually. Each report requires a signature from someone in the member's chain of command to verify the hours.
"Coming out today gave me way more information than the Internet," said Sonar Technician Seaman James Breen, assigned to USS Lake Erie (CG 70). "Now I know that I can transfer all my work experience and [earn certifications] that people don't see as Navy experience but job experience."
Naval Education and Training command (NETC) recommends interested service members to sign up as soon as possible to receive credit for their OJT hours. Higher-ranking service members signing up for USMAP can receive a waiver to receive up to 50 percent of their OJT requirements.
According to the Department of Labor, every 2,000 OJT hours equals 144 hours of classroom instruction. Most certifications require 2,000 to 10,000 hours of OJT. An average Sailor doing a usual eight-hour work day five times a week can complete 2,000 hours every year. Some vocational oriented colleges even offer college credits for completed apprenticeships.
For more news from Commander Navy Region Hawaii, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnrhawaii/.
May 6, 2010