WE KEEP THEM FIT TO FIGHT!

The Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF) Apprentice Program is a successful partnership between the Shipyard, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and Honolulu Community College (HCC).  Graduating Apprentices earn an Associate’s Degree in Applied Trades, and a certificate from the DOL.  An overview of the program’s history follows:

• The Pearl Harbor Navy Yard initiated a new training program in 1920 with the hiring of two students to work and train as apprentices.  Dating back to the craft guilds of the Middle Ages, the apprenticeship concept had been utilized by the other U.S. Navy Shipyards for years, but was new to the Shipyard at Pearl Harbor.

• During the first 12 years of the Shipyard’s existence, a ready supply of skilled craftsmen became increasingly difficult to find.  The obvious answer was to train local talent to become the skilled workforce needed to keep the Pacific Fleet “fit to fight.”

• The Pearl Harbor Navy Yard Apprentice Program graduated its first apprentice class in 1924.  Apprentice classes in the early years of the program had only five to 15 members.  During World War II, the number swelled to hundreds of apprentices per class.  Since 1924, more than 5,600 men and women have completed the program.   

• In the early 1940s, minimum wage was 40 cents per hour.  In 1945, the pay for a journeyman machinist was $1.45/hr.  By 1963, first-year apprentices were earning $1.99/hr., plus fringe benefits.  Today, starting pay as an apprentice is approximately $20.03/hr.  After completing the four-year program, new Shipyard “journeyworkers” now earn approximately $30.81/hr.  Other benefits include sick leave, annual leave, federal holidays, health insurance, life insurance, and a retirement plan. 

 

• The Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Apprentice Program is the ultimate opportunity to “earn while you learn” and make a decent wage.  The program includes full-time employment, hands-on training, and a tuition-free, Applied Trades degree from Honolulu Community College (HCC).  During the rigorous four-year program, each apprentice receives a minimum of 7,200 hours of training in three areas: on-the-job training; trade theory; and academic study.

 

• Throughout their four-year apprenticeship, apprentices are guided through the program by their trade’s apprentice instructor and the Trade Apprentice Coordinator (TAC), as well as mechanics within their trade.  The apprentice instructors teach and mentor each apprentice in shop trade theory and practice.  TACs act as a direct link between the apprentices and shop management.  Apprentices, working alongside skilled mechanics within their shops, gain knowledge and experience to continue to keep the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard “No Ka Oi.”

 

• The Shipyard’s Apprentice Program is and has always been known for developing skilled journeyworkers, but it also develops future leaders.  Many leadership positions in the Shipyard are held by former apprentice graduates.  Advancement opportunities include Supervisor, Instructor, Planner, and, ultimately, Shop Superintendent. 

 

TRADES:  PHNSY & IMF supports the 27 trade occupations listed below.  Openings in the trades vary from year to year.  Hired apprentices are tested and assigned to the trade in which they will specialize.

 

• STRUCTURAL SHOP:  Sheetmetal Mechanic, Shipfitter, Welder
• MECHANICAL SHOP:  Machinist, Marine Machinery Mechanic
• ELECTRICAL SHOP:  Calibration, Electrician, Electronics Mechanic
• PIPE SHOP:  Insulator, Pipefitter, Electrician, Production  Machinery Mechanic, Toolroom Mechanic,  Electronic Industrial Controls Mechanic, Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic
• COATING & SERVICES SHOP: Fabric Worker, Painter-Blaster, Plastic Fabricator, Shipwright
• TEMPORARY SERVICES SHOP: Electrician, Industrial Equipment Mechanic, Pipefitter, Sheetmetal
• RIGGING & EQUIPMENT OPERATIONS:  Rigger
• CRANE MAINTENANCE:  Electrician, Heavy Mobile Equipment Mechanic
• QUALITY ASSURANCE:  Metals Inspector 

 

ELIGIBILTY:  All perspective candidates for the PHNSY & IMF Apprentice Program must:

 

• Be a United States citizen
• Be 18 years of age on or before January 22, 2018 
• Have graduated with a High School diploma or GED equivalent
• Take and pass the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) exam       
• Be registered for the Selective Service (Males born after December 31, 1959)
• Be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance
• Pass medical requirements  

 

For more information, call us at (808) 474-9216.

 

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 Frequently Asked Questions
Click on a question to view its answer.

• What trades are offered for the apprentice program? 

• How do I apply for PHNSY & IMF’s Apprenticeship Program?  

• How can I determine if I submitted my resume correctly?  

• What if I forgot my USAJOBS or Application Manager username and/or password?  

• Is a placement test required?  

  
Q: What trades are offered for the apprentice program?
Students are selected for various blue-collar trades listed below:                                                                                                        

Air Conditioning and Refrigeration:  Installs, troubleshoots, maintains, and repairs air conditioning and refrigeration systems aboard submarines, surface crafts, and ashore to include, but not limited to chillers, refrigeration plants, dehumidifiers, and dehydrators.  Fabricates temporary cooling manifolds to support repairs of shipboard systems.  Accomplish vacuum and pressure tests of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration systems.  Conducts operational testing of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration systems. 

Electrician:  Construct, remove/install, test, troubleshoot, maintain and repair various electrical wiring systems and components, electrical controls, electrically-operated equipment or instruments; light and heavy electrical machinery. Install, maintain and remove temporary electrical and casualty control systems. May be assigned to shop work, crane electrical work, surface craft, or submarine non-nuclear/nuclear electrical work.

Electronic Industrial Controls Mechanic: Provides a comprehensive equipment maintenance program to ensure support needs are continuously met.  Performs periodic maintenance; uses the latest technology to troubleshoot, repair, align and test Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) equipment throughout the shipyard such as mills, lathes, electric discharge machines and water jet cutting machines. Uses schematic diagrams and various types of test equipment including oscilloscopes, multi-meters and integrated circuit testers.

Electronic Measurement Equipment Mechanic: Inspect, troubleshoot, repair, overhaul, modify, test, align, measure, and calibrate complex electrical/electronic/electro-mechanical/physical-dimensional/mechanical test instruments and equipment.

Electronics Mechanic: Install, troubleshoot, repair and test shipboard electronic equipment and systems including radar, sonar, fire control, communications, and radio. Manufacture, repair, and test various sonar transducers and arrays.

Fabric Worker: Plan, design, layout, construct, and install containments using clear PVC sheeting, herculite, and other flexible materials. Reupholster furniture, manufacture tool bags, banners, tents, leather articles, items of canvas, naugahyde, herculite and linen.

Heavy Mobile Equipment Mechanic: Maintain heavy mobile cranes and equipment. Repair and modify combustion powered heavy-duty vehicles and heavy mobile equipment such as portal, truck, and floating cranes. Disassemble, repair, and modify heavy-duty engines, transmissions, and heavy-duty drive and brake systems. Troubleshoot causes of malfunction, and determine the best repair methods on complex mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic control systems.

Industrial Equipment Mechanic: Overhaul, operate, repair, and perform operational maintenance and security checks on stationary equipment situated on various graving docks, floating docks, marine railways, and caissons. Equipment, maintained and operated, is located dockside or afloat. Equipment includes various types of pumps, flooding gates, flooding valves, capstans, winches, motor, and other related equipment needed to provide the necessary docking services.

Insulator: Measure, fabricate, remove and install insulation materials on steam turbines, distillation plants, refrigeration plants, ventilation ducts, and other submarine or surface craft piping and component systems to prevent heat loss, to minimize condensation, and to protect personnel from extreme temperatures.

Machinist: Manufacture and/or refurbish ship parts/components using machinery such as lathes, milling machines, boring machines, drilling presses, and computer numerical controlled machines. Disassemble, inspect, repair, machine, reassemble, and test components such as valves, compressors, shafting, pumps, and hydraulic equipment.

Marine Machinery Mechanic: Involves the use of the latest technology to install, remove, test, overhaul, and repair the main propulsion machinery, pumps, valves, steam turbines, engines, pumps, and propeller shafts on submarines and surface craft. Optically align and test steam/gas turbines, internal combustion engines, reduction gears, propeller shafts, pumps, valves, auxiliary engines, masts and antennas, torpedo tubes and associated ordnance equipment, and other shipboard components.

Metals Inspector: Perform Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) of welds and other components on surface craft and submarines. Use visual, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, eddy current, radiography, and ultrasonic-testing methods to inspect work accomplished by welders, shipfitters, pipefitters, riggers, marine machinery mechanics, and machinists. Inspect existing shipboard components to determine if repair or replacement is required due to wear and fatigue.

Painter-Blaster: Prepare surfaces for paints by sandblasting, and sanding. Apply paints, powder coating, or flame spray to preserve metal, wood, or sheet metal surfaces using paint brushes, spray pumps, and/or rollers.

Pipefitter: Remove, repair, install, test/flush, and silver braze piping to all propulsion, auxiliary, and weapons systems aboard submarines and surface craft. Manufacture, install, repair, maintain, and remove all ship-to-shore temporary piping services.

Plastic Fabricator: Remove, layout, manufacture, and reinstall hull insulation. Perform Portsmouth plug encapsulation and pre-pots using polyurethane. Apply Plastisol coating to various metal items. Various rubber applications. Remove, layout, and install sound vibration damping tiles. Fabricate acrylic and polycarbonate plastic sheets and round stock. Install laminate composites to wood and metal items. Work with high pressure laminates. Prep, layout, and install Terrazzo, vinyl tile, rubber matting, carpet, and ceramic tile flooring on decking. Build wooden molds, work platforms, stairs, crates, and boxes. Work with reinforced fiberglass objects using fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin.

Production Machinery Mechanic: Provides a comprehensive equipment maintenance program to ensure support needs are continuously met.  Performs periodic maintenance, installs and removes shop equipment. Follows  schematics diagrams/drawings to overhaul, troubleshoot, repair and test industrial plant equipment including mills, lathes, presses, compressors, generators and other wood working and metal forming/removing equipment. Equipment are powered by hydraulics, electricity, pneumatic, manual and other mechanical principles.   

Rigger: Select, install, and use cables, ropes and other weight handling gear to lift, move and position heavy loads in crane and critical rigging operations. Use complex multi-point suspension techniques to maneuver over, under, and around obstacles by tilting, dipping and turning suspended loads. Other duties include the fabrication, installation, testing, maintenance, and repair of standing and running rigging, wire cable, or fiber rope articles such as slings, towing bridles, and wire rope nets, lines and centering gear to control all ship movements within the drydock.

Sheet Metal Mechanic: Manufacture, install, repair and modify complex ventilation systems, furniture, light gage bulkheads, lockers, and doors on surface craft, submarines, and in the shop. Removes, installs, maintains, and certifies temporary environmental control ventilation systems. Sketch and layout with an NX4 modeling system to program a numerically- controlled turret punch and plasma-cutting machine prior to manual forming. Manufacture various types of label plates using metal and plastic. Follows structural blueprints. Work with different types of metal including CRES, copper, monel, brass, steel and aluminum.

Shipfitter: Following blueprints, layout, fabricate, install, remove, and repair structural parts on Naval ships and support equipment. Utilizes similar principles as a carpenter while working with Welders to assemble various types of metal plates, beams, angles, and pipes. Shapes materials to conform to existing ship structures. Work may require use of heavy presses, saws, drill press, and assorted pneumatic and standard hand tools (hammer, wrenches, etc.).

Shipwright: Install, maintain, modify and remove all staging associated with ship work. Use transits and levels to establish working lines and reference points. Check vessel alignment during docking evolution. Construct docking blocks and shoring. Other work includes rough and finish woodwork, and building mock-ups.

Toolroom Mechanic: Assures the proper quality tools are available to allow workers to safely, efficiently and effectively accomplish assigned tasks. Performs periodic maintenance, overhauls, troubleshoots, repairs and tests hand held and portable power tools and mechanical/electrical equipment. Inspects and maintains personnel protective equipment such as respirators and fall protection gear. Employs shop's standard operating procedures and operates tool rooms to issue such equipment along with various hand tools and precision measuring equipment.  Maintains record, reports and conducts periodic inventories.

Welder: Join and cut all types of industrial and marine metals using complex welding and thermal cutting processes during the overhaul, repair, and modernization of surface craft and submarines. Join metals using Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, Gas Metal Arc Welding, Laser Welding, and Submerged Arc Welding. Cut metals using oxygen/acetylene, plasma and carbon arcing.

 

 

 

Q: How do I apply for PHNSY & IMF’s Apprenticeship Program?

If eligible, applicants must apply online through USAJOBS.  Locate the announcement by using the "Search for Jobs" feature on the USAJOBS website: www.usajobs.gov.  

 

• On the USAJOBS homepage, sign in or create password if one has not been created
• Build/create your resume then in the “Keyword” block type "Apprentice", and in the “Location” block, type “Honolulu, HI”   
• Open announcement by clicking on Apprentice vacancy
• Click "apply online" button
• On this page select your resume then click "apply for this position now"
• You will be taken to the Application Manager program. Create a password, if one has not been created.    
• Complete the required assessment questionnaire.
• Upload and submit your printed copy of your HCC Placement Test results, and if applicable all military documents; All DD-214's, and if applicable SF-15 Form and VA Letter.    
• Upon completion of your application package, you will receive a confirmation message with your vacancy ID number 

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Q:  How can I determine if I submitted my resume correctly?
Log into Application Manager, click on the job announcement for which you applied and it will state “completed.” 
                                                               
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Q:  What if I forgot my USAJOBS or Application Manager username and/or password?
On the login screen there is a link “forgot user name or password”. Click on the link and it will prompt you to submit your email address. Follow the directions and you will be able to obtain your username and/or password.

NOTE:  The Human Resources Office (HRO) does not have access to your account; therefore, it is imperative that you keep this information for future use. 
                                                               

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Q:  Is a placement test required?
Each individual applying for PHNSY & IMF's Apprentice Program must take the OPM Wage Grade Performance Potential Assessment  exam.  The test will be scheduled after the application period closes.

 

    

 

  

                                                               

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