Apprenticeship Testimonials

Hear from current apprentices about their experience in the NAL Technical Apprenticeship program.

“A friend of mine who was an operator in assembly for the Salem plant told me about the program while I was looking for scholarships for college. The NAL Technical Apprenticeship is a little chaotic at times, but overall it has given me the degree and experience to prepare me for a career in the technical field. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from the apprenticeship is commitment and job planning. I’ve learned to be a good student and follow a plan to become an efficient worker.”

Nick Palmer
3rd year Apprentice
Anticipated graduation, May 2019

“I think the NAL Technical Apprenticeship is a great opportunity for someone coming out of high school and isn’t sure they want to go to college. My favorite part of the apprenticeship program is the ability to go to school without having to give up so much time for work. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from this apprenticeship is how to balance school and work effectively.”

Hudson Garrison
3rd year Apprentice
Anticipated graduation, May 2019 

“My favorite part of this experience is being a tech in different departments and getting to understand the process of building parts. I was surprised to find how much people are willing to help you and how much you can learn and experience through this apprenticeship. Some of the top benefits of the apprenticeship are getting a degree and certificates at no cost to you, and being able to test out different jobs to see what’s best for you. I wasn’t sure about the NAL apprenticeship in the beginning but now that I’m almost done, I’m so glad I did it. It was a great experience.”

Dylan Woodrow
3rd year Apprentice
Anticipated graduation, May 2019

“When I first heard about the NAL Technical Apprenticeship, I had not thought about my long-term career goals and decided that it would be an amazing opportunity to apply for. Apprenticeships are underutilized in America and I think we would benefit from them being the standard in specialized jobs.”

Devin Martin
3rd year Apprentice
Anticipated graduation, May 2019

“I first learned about the NAL Technical Apprenticeship from a family friend who works at NAL. My favorite part of the program is meeting all the technicians and making friends. One thing that surprised me about the apprenticeship is how helpful everyone is and how willing they are to help me learn and succeed. The top benefits I see of this apprenticeship are getting a degree at no cost, learning about new and upcoming manufacturing machines, and doing something new every day.”

Cody Myles
1st year Apprentice
Anticipated graduation, May 2021

“I first learned about the NAL Technical Apprenticeship from a family member who had seen a Facebook ad detailing the ICATT partnership. I was working part-time at a fast food chain and was looking for a way to better secure my then still unclear future when I decided to apply for the apprenticeship.

The NAL Technical Apprenticeship has been an absolute blast so far. The mix of school and work keeps me on my toes and keeps it from getting stale. My favorite part of the apprenticeship has been the fact that through hands-on learning, working with machines has become second nature and I feel accomplished whenever I get to fix something.

The top benefits I see of the apprenticeship program are the complete coverage of college education fees and the guarantee of a full-time job after the initial schooling.

The year you finish high school can be exciting, knowing life is about to really start, but the thought of having to fight for a position in the industry seems nearly impossible. For many, there is simply no way to go straight from high school to college due to lack of funds. I feel that this apprenticeship is really the key to breaking through that obstacle now presented in life. They offer the schooling and the work needed to stay ahead of the curve and there is nothing better than peace of mind about one’s future.”

Christopher Hart
1st year Apprentice
Anticipated graduation, May 2021