Warner Robins is a city founded by the military aircraft industry surrounding Robins Air Force Base (RAFB). Today, RAFB employs more than 19,000 civilians and plays an invaluable and integral role in the vibrancy of this growing central Georgia city. In turn, the demand for high quality, skilled labor must be met to keep the city’s main industry running smoothly.

Inevitably, the base experienced a critical shortage in skilled labor for indispensable jobs when aircraft orders increased in the late 1990s. Middle Georgia Technical College was there to meet the challenge. “In October 1998, we formed the Student Career Experiences Program,” says Billy Edenfield, president of Middle Georgia Tech. “This is a cooperative effort between the base and the college that provides students with the academic study and on-the-job training to fill the jobs needed by RAFB.”

After an initial enrollment of 10 students in 1998, the program now has more than 100 students studying aircraft structure, aircraft and power plant mechanics, machine tool mechanics, and electronics programs. The first graduates of the program were hired for full-time employment by the base in October 2000. While graduates may choose to pursue careers with other organizations, most want to work on the base due to the good pay and benefits.

Once students complete the two-year program, they are eligible for employment at the base on a non-competitive basis. After being accepted into the program, students alternate between six months of school and six months of work until they complete 12 months of school and 12 months of job training. Students then spend an additional six months working on-the-job to formally qualify for the position. They must also maintain a “B” average.

“It’s a very intensive program, but it leads to good opportunities in the long run,” says Don Slee, RAFB Program Contract Training Director. The initial feedback from students and RAFB has been exceptionally good, a “win-win” situation for all, according to Slee.

“It took a long time, but it was worth it to earn permanent status on the base,” says Clint Kinard, who was in the inaugural class. Kinard was already in school at MGTC, looking for the right career change and an opportunity to work at the base, when the co-op program was renewed.

“I had recently moved here from Florida, and I knew most of the good jobs were in the aircraft industry,” says Kinard, who works as an aircraft sheet metal mechanic. “I was 30 years old and had worked in construction for a long time. The co-op program gave me a chance to make the change, get a better job and do better for my family.”

Slee says the program attracts a diverse student population of men and women, recent high school graduates and older people looking for a career change. As a result, MGTC has seen enrollment significantly increase in the critical skill areas needed by RAFB. Graduate Elisa Dawson is evidence of the program’s appeal to women looking for a non-traditional vocation and the desire by the students to have the opportunity to work at the base. Part of the first class, Dawson now works as an electronics mechanic.

“At the time, I finally had all my kids enrolled in school, and I decided it was time for me to go, too,” Dawson says. “I had always been fascinated by electronics and decided to go into that.”

Taking part in the co-op program allowed Dawson to get the training that would lead to the perfect position for her at RAFB.

“I work in the same area as I did while in school. I enjoy it. It’s always fascinating and there’s always a challenge. It never gets boring,” she says. “Enrolling in the co-op program has just continued to boost me onward.”