Training tomorrow’s workforce of skilled artisans and engineers is a leading priority of America’s public and private shipyards. It takes an average of six to eight years to train a fully qualified shipyard worker to the level of journeyman mechanic, technically skilled to work on nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers. The average age of a shipyard worker is about 45 years, and 33 percent of shipyard workers are over the age of 50. To meet this challenge head on, the naval shipyards, under the guidance of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), are rejuvenating the skilled workforce base through the shipyard apprentice program. The congressionally supported shipyard apprentice program for blue-collar production trades is a subset of the shipyard workforce revitalization program…