The Guard Apprenticeship Program Initiative (GAPI) is a National Guard program that provides opportunities for Army National Guard (ARNG) and Reserve Component (RC) Soldiers to attain national occupational skill certification through civilian job apprenticeships. GAPI capitalizes on a Soldier's Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) skills to achieve national certification and draw a civilian income while simultaneously allowing the Soldier to receive GI Bill benefits.
Military skills that are registered apprenticeship occupations include mechanics, medical technicians, therapists, truck drivers, construction engineers, website developers, law enforcement/military police officers, culinary artists/cooks and many more. An apprenticeship combines classroom studies with on-the-job training supervised by a trade professional or supervisor. Like a college education, apprenticeship training takes one to five years to complete or 2,000 documented work hours to become fully qualified in the occupation or trade. Completion of an apprenticeship results in nationally recognized certification of apprenticeship in a specific skill.
The program prepares Soldiers for a potential lifelong career and reduces employer recruiting and training costs. GAPI also contributes to the quality of ARNG Soldiers by educating military personnel in order to develop a more mission-capable force.
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