GCC launches ship repair boot camp to obtain skilled workers

Student recruits, Guam Community College representatives, Cabras Marine Corp. representatives, and dignitaries pose for a photo after the official launch of the GCC Ship Repair Transportation Boot Camp on June 3, 2019 at the college’s Multi-Purpose Auditorium. (Contributed Photo)

The Guam Community College and the Cabras Marine Corp. will be conducting a 12-week Ship Repair Transportation Boot Camp, which involves 23 participants who will undergo various trainings all leading up to securing an apprenticeship with the Cabras Marine as professional ship repairers.

The boot camp is 100-percent federally funded by the Career and Technical Education grant and will run from June 3 to Aug. 16.

The GCC, along with Cabras Marine, went through an aggressive recruitment process by conducting informational presentations at various high schools, the Mayor’s Council and media outlets.

The month-and-a-half-long recruitment resulted in the selection of 23 individuals who will take part in the 12-week boot camp. Among these recruits, seven are women. Nineteen of the 23 recruits are unemployed and four out of the 23 are underemployed, according to GCC.

Upon completing the boot camp, 20 of these students will become employed by the Cabras Marine Corp. as apprentices and the remaining three will be alternates, according to a GCC release.

“We’ve often heard employers say that there aren’t any skilled workers out there for certain jobs, such as with ship repairing for example. Then you hear individuals say that there aren’t any jobs out there. What this program does is bridge that gap between employers looking for skilled workers, and individuals who meet our eligibility criteria and who are looking for skilled jobs,” said GCC president and CEO Dr. Mary Okada.

The college will provide the technical skills training in the areas of plumbing, welding and paint/blasting as it relates to boat repair. In turn, Cabras Marine Corp. will provide apprenticeships to 20 individuals under their company.

“This is a win-win situation for everyone,” the GCC statement said.

In addition to participants receiving specific training and landing an apprenticeship, the program will also result in participants obtaining certification in CPR, Basic First Aid, OSHA-10 and National Career Readiness Certification. In addition, each participant will also receive Work Ethic Certification from the “Center for Work Ethic Development”. This is the newest certification course offered by GCC to help employees work on their soft skills., all of which are also essential for the job.

According to Okada, the overall goal of the boot camp is to provide opportunities for non-traditional, unemployed and underemployed individuals to enter these fields by providing them with the highest quality, student-centered education and job training for those specific jobs.

“With GCC possessing the experts in various trades and Cabras in need of skilled workers, it was a perfect match. This is the start of many boot camps with employers where there will be a direct result of employment,” added Okada. (PR)