Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard graduates 142 in Apprentice Graduation Ceremony

A formal ceremony was held Friday, 17 August 2018, at the Hickam Officers Club to graduate 142 Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF) journey workers who completed the Shipyard’s four-year Apprentice Program.

Keynote speaker, Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa, conveyed the relevancy of what is being done in congress and how that effects federal workers in the Indo-Pacific Region. Many of us take for granted the work that is being done in Washington D.C., even though it directly impacts those who work in the Shipyard. Congresswoman Hanabusa encouraged the journey workers to “keep looking forward and work together.” Stating, “the innovation that you share will always go down in history.” She continued saying that the graduates are “a part of one of the most elite working forces that the state of Hawaii has ever seen.”

PHNSY & IMF Commanding Officer, Captain Gregory Burton, highlighted the importance of gained knowledge and experience the graduates successfully achieved in order to continue keeping the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard “No Ka Oi.” He proudly stated, “Today, you have joined a long list of heroes that have breathed life into No Ka Oi, and put new meaning to our moto, We Keep Them Fit To Fight. Each one of you formally takes the place in the legacy, steep in the Shipyard’s core values of honor, courage, commitment, and aloha. And the Navy attributes of integrity, accountability, initiative, and toughness.” Captain Burton concluded his speech to the graduates by stating, “you are ready to enter the workforce as a fully qualified and capable employee.”

The Shipyard’s Apprentice Program is a successful partnership between the PHNSY & IMF, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and Honolulu Community College (HCC). The program includes full-time employment, hands-on training, a tuition-free Associate’s Degree in Applied Trades from Honolulu Community College (HCC), and a certificate from the DOL.