MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- For active duty Marines and sailors who are considering a career in their present occupational field when they transition out of the military, there is a program available for enlisted personnel that may certify them for the experience they have already obtained.
The United Services Military Apprenticeship Program is a registered apprenticeship program that awards job certification to individuals through documented on-the-job training in a particular military trade or skills area.
Service members enrolled in the program must complete a required number of hours, ranging from 2,000 - 10,000, and chart them daily in a work experience logbook, which must then be signed by three members within their chain of command. After they have completed their required number of hours, they are awarded with a Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship by the Department of Labor.
In order to qualify for the program, all applicants must be an active duty enlisted Marine, sailor or coast guardsmen; have a high school diploma or GED; be designated in a job specialty, rating or military occupational specialty; and meet the registration requirements for that particular trade.
If eligible, service members may be certified within 125 different skill areas, such as refrigeration mechanic, photographer, dental assistant, aircraft mechanic or computer programmer.
"Some of the more popular trades that Marines will pursue are the refrigeration mechanic, or police officer for military policemen," said Jan Wilson, education counselor for the Depot Education Office. "For our sailor population, many of them can be certified as pharmacy technicians, paramedics, or pharmacy assistants."
Since its inception 20 years ago, the USMAP and has awarded more than 20,000 journeyman certificates.
According to Wilson, obtaining job certification through the program not only helps service members gain additional knowledge and experience in their skill area, but may also make them more marketable for future employment.
"Not everyone is interested in attending college," she said. "So, for military members who are transitioning out of the military, this, frankly, allows them to be more marketable when they get out. They have proven journeyman status in a skill area or trade, and they have an official record of the amount of time they have worked in that skill area. This certainly has proven to be marketable as they transition out of the military."
Individuals who successfully complete the USMAP are known as "the most highly skilled craftsmen in the industry," said Steven Opitz, USMAP team leader for the DOL.
"I've had sailors write to me after retiring from the Navy and tell me the certification made a $12,000 difference in starting salary," said Peggy Johnson, Chief of Naval Education and Training USMAP administrator. "One Navy cook was hired to work in the kitchens at a Marriott hotel, at a 40 percent higher rate of pay based upon his professional certification."
The length of on-the-job training varies from one - four years, and up to 50 percent credit may be awarded to service members based on prior work experience in the applicable trade.
Master Sgt. Julia Deloach, procurement chief for the Regional Contracting Office, found out about the program after having already served in her occupational field for 12 years.
"I started October of 2001, but based on my experience and because I had 12 years of contracting experience, I got credited for half of my requirements," said Deloach, who is a little less than 200 hours shy of completing her Purchasing Agent certification through the program.
Deloach said earning certification through the program is easy because you are getting credit for the job you are already doing.
"You literally get credit for coming to work and doing your job. That's how you get the hours," she said. "It doesn't require any extra off-duty hours of study time or class time. It's come to work, do your job and account for your hours. It's one of the easiest certificates you can possibly get. Bottom line."
Job certification is also a plus for junior service members who plan to stay in the military.
"It would make younger Marines just more competitive with pros and cons, fit reps, all the way up," added Deloach.
Wilson encourages all military personnel to take advantage of the USMAP, and will even offer to conduct a tailored professional military education about the program for any unit aboard the Depot, upon request.
Anyone interested in the program should contact the Education Office at 228-2152.
For a list of approved trades, visit www.cnet.navy.mil/nnaps.