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Lab seeking applicants for machinist apprenticeship program

Applications are being accepted through Friday for the Laboratory's Machinist Apprenticeship Program. Selected individuals will begin their apprenticeships on Aug. 16.

The Lab, in collaboration with Northern New Mexico Community College in Española, offers the program, which provides machinist apprentices with a combination of classroom instruction and on-the-job training in machine tool operations, said Patrick Martinez of Weapon Materials and Manufacturing (ESA-WMM), coordinator of the program.

Nine people have graduated from the program and eight are now working as machinists at the Lab.

The Machinist Apprenticeship Program is open to all Laboratory workers and nonLab individuals and the class is limited to eight. While in the program, machinist apprentices earn a salary in accordance with the program's salary schedule.

The Lab resurrected a machinist apprentice program four years ago to meet an increased need for qualified machinists at the Lab, Martinez explained. The class that begins this fall will be the fifth under the program.

Individuals who complete the program will receive nationally recognized journeymen certificates from the New Mexico State Apprenticeship Council. Some may even be hired as full-time regular machinists at the Lab.

Lab workers interested in applying for the program must be at least 18 years old, a United States citizen and able to obtain a Q clearance. There are other application requirements as well.

For more information, contact Mollie Spaulding of ESA-WMM at 7-9979 or write to mspaulding@lanl.gov by electronic mail. Application information can be submitted to Spaulding at Mail Stop D471.

Also, read about the Machinist Apprenticeship Program in the September 2000 issue of Reflections magazine. (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)

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