Check Out an Apprenticeship
Looking for ciivilian job experience while you're still active duty? Check out USMAP to further your career goals. The United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) is a formal military training program that provides active duty Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard service members the opportunity to improve their job skills and to complete their civilian apprenticeship requirements while on active duty. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) provides the nationally recognized Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship upon the completion of the program.
DOL is the Federal agency responsible for the administration of the National Apprenticeship System in the United States. USMAP is the registered sponsor for all military apprenticeships. All DOL sponsors have a set of Standards that provide guidelines for Apprenticeships. USMAP’s standards are tailored to fit the military mission.
Have more questions about USMAP? Check out the Q and A below.
What is an Apprenticeship?
Apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction in which workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of a highly-skilled occupation. This is an “earn as you learn” program because you are getting paid to learn a trade. Colleges and vocational schools require that you pay for your training.
What is a Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship?
When you complete your apprenticeship program the U.S. Department of Labor issues a “Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship.” This means that you have completed the industry-wide required number of classroom and on-the-job training requirements for that trade.
What good is a Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship?
While you are in the military, achieving your Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship shows your chain-of-command that you are working to improve yourself. This can help with promotions or job assignments. When you leave the military, that completion certificate places you among the most recognized and highly skilled craft workers in the industry. Having an apprenticeship can mean qualifying for better jobs with significantly higher pay.
What does an apprenticeship trade require?
Each apprenticeship trade requires from 2,000 and 8,000 hours of on-the-job work and formal classroom instruction. Normally the classroom instruction is covered by MOS schools. Working a typical 40-hour week, an individual can complete a 2,000 hour trade within a year.
What are the qualifications to enroll in USMAP?
To qualify for this program, Marines must be in an active duty or Full Time Support (FTS) statuses, have a high school diploma or GED equivalence, and are designated in an MOS. Marines must also have sufficient time to complete the program while on active duty. Retired military and reservists are ineligible.
To determine whether your MOS has an apprenticeship associated with it, go to USMAP website, then select the Trades link, then select the Marine Corps MOS link, then use the dropdown menu to select your MOS number to learn more about apprenticeships available.