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Ivey touts veteran employment, jobs at Austal

Posted by Dale Liesch | Nov 13, 2019 | Latest, News | 0 |

When it came to jobs, Elisha Wright “made a few stops” before settling on a career with Austal in Mobile.

The Dauphin Island resident and Florida native spent eight years in the United States Navy, but wanted to find a way to continue to serve her country.

“This gave me a chance to serve my country in a roundabout way,” she said. “It means a lot because I went from serving on ships to getting to build those ships.”

Wright was one of 30 people who participated in an all-veteran apprenticeship program at Austal — a program Gov. Kay Ivey visited on Wednesday morning.

Two days after Veterans’ Day, Ivey met with members of the apprenticeship group as well as some of the program’s instructors. In a speech underneath a newly christened vessel, Ivey praised Austal for its work with veterans through these kinds of programs.

“I’m so proud Austal pays attention to our veterans,” Ivey said. “Thank you for your service. Alabama has over 400,000 veterans, which means one out of every four of our residents have worn the uniform. I’m proud we have residents dedicated to service.”

Ivey also touted Austal for creating jobs in the state, noting that just under 4,000 employees come to work at the shipyard every day. She told Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle that the shipbuilder had been “a model for the state” in terms of jobs and workforce development.

“It’s all about creating jobs and you have not slowed down,” she added.

The four-year veteran apprenticeship program covers paid training and many of the graduates stay on to work for the shipbuilder. Even those who don’t still leave with a Department of Labor certificate and excellent training, Ryan Lee, Austal’s workforce development manager, said.

“It makes sense for an employer to recruit veterans,” Lee said. “They have a lot of the soft skills you’re looking for. Especially for a Naval shipbuilder, it’s a good fit.”

The current apprenticeship program started in May, and while those in it are paid from the beginning, once they graduate with the certificates, the ones who remain at Austal will make more than the median area income, according to Lee. While the pay rate always changes, he estimated that salaries at Austal run anywhere from $50,000 to $60,000 per year.

Whil this particular program was highlighted because of Veteran’s Day, Lee also noted that Austal has apprenticeship and training programs for non-veterans as well.

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About The Author

Dale Liesch

Dale Liesch

Dale Liesch has been a reporter at Lagniappe since February 2014. He covers all aspects of the city of Mobile, including the mayor, City Council, the Mobile Housing Board of Commissioners, GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico and others. He studied journalism at The University of Alabama and graduated in 2007. He came to Lagniappe, after several years in the newspaper industry. He achieved the position of news editor at The Alexander City Outlook before moving to Virginia and then subsequently moving back a few years later. He has a number of Alabama and Virginia Press association awards to his name. He grew up in the wilderness of Baldwin County, among several different varieties of animals including: dogs, cats, ducks, chickens, a horse and an angry goat. He now lives in the Oakleigh neighborhood of Mobile with his wife, Hillary, and daughter, Joan. The family currently has no goats, angry or otherwise, but is ruled by the whims of two very energetic dogs.

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