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NEWS | Jan. 29, 2021

PSNS & IMF honors Southwest Regional Apprentice Program graduates

By PSNS & IMF Public Affairs PSNS & IMF

The Southwest Regional Apprentice Program graduated 11 apprentices during an outdoor, drive-through commencement ceremony Jan. 28, 2121, in San Diego.

Located in San Diego, the Southwest Regional Apprentice Program includes a combination of classroom instruction and on-the-job training. The program is a partnership among Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Bremerton, Washington; Southwest Regional Maintenance Center in San Diego; Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine; and Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California. Apprentices learn their trades and how to prepare and adapt to the changing environment of fleet maintenance.

The class of 2021 apprentices represent four unique trades and maintained an overall class GPA of 3.23. Each graduate earned their journey-level worker certificates from the Department of Navy and Department of Labor, an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts with an emphasis in Math and Science, and a certificate of proficiency in leadership and supervision from Southwestern College.

Class speaker Juan Garza, a temporary services pipefitter with Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, reflected on his student experience.

“We all started the process together, some of us with little to no work experience in our respective trades,” said Garza. “Our knowledge and skills go far past following procedures. Through training, mock-ups, and on-the-job work experience, we are now capable of repairing, maintaining; and modernizing both surface ships and submarines with first-time quality.”

In addition to the class speaker, two PSNS & IMF graduates received honors for their achievements.

Daniel Goulet, a marine machinery mechanic, was named the Apprentice of the Year by the program’s administration. Sierra Vickers, a temporary services pipefitter, received the Scholastic Achievement Award with a 4.0 GPA.

“As apprentice program graduates, the challenge is on each of you to renew your commitment to keep improving and lead with humility,” said Capt. Jip Mosman, commander, PSNS & IMF, in a letter to the graduating class. “The work we do to maintain and modernize our Navy’s ships and submarines, ensuring they are well equipped, highly capable and ready to operate at sea thousands of miles from home, is imperative to our national security. I expect you to continue to pursue personal and professional excellence through a shared passion to serve the Navy and the Nation while upholding the highest standards.”

Southwest Regional Apprenticeship School began its partnership with PSNS & IMF, SWRMC, Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, and Southwestern College in August 2010. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard joined the partnership in the program’s second year. Five days after the school opened, the first 24 apprentices began classes starting their journey toward becoming journey-level workers.