Y-12 Blog

Eight machinists recently completed the four-year apprentice program, which is a partnership between Consolidated Nuclear Security and the Atomic Trades and Labor Council, with classwork provided by Pellissippi State Technical Community College.

Family, co-workers and management came out recently to congratulate the seventh group of graduates from the Y-12 Apprentice Program. The program, which was reinstated at the site in 2008, has graduated 97 Y-12 employees in various crafts, such as boilermakers, carpenters, electricians, insulators, ironworker/riggers, machinists/millwrights, painters, pipefitters, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics, and welders. Apprentices are paired with qualified craftspeople to gain hands-on experience, and combined with required book work, they are trained to union specifications for journey worker status upon completion of the program.

The graduating class was made up of eight machinists who completed the four-year program, which is a partnership between Consolidated Nuclear Security and the Atomic Trades and Labor Council, with classwork provided by Pellissippi State Community College.

Y-12 Site Manager Bill Tindal applauded the graduates and encouraged them to take the place of their mentors in order to prepare the next generation.

“Y-12 has an enduring mission, and you will help ensure its success. Long after each of us in this room has retired, another generation will be stepping up to ensure our country’s safety and security are preserved through Y-12’s future mission work,” he said. “As you learned from expert craftspeople and journey workers, I hope you’ll be willing to pass along your knowledge and skillsets to the next generation of craft workers.”

Atomic Trades and Labor Council President Mike Thompson pointed to the valuable relationship CNS and the ATLC have created with the Apprentice Program, and he extended thanks to the members of both groups that make up the Y-12 Apprenticeship Committee for all their work.

“This is a great accomplishment for you, CNS, and our union. This is something that can never be taken from you and will provide you a path to a career that you can be proud of,” he said. “I don’t have to tell you how good these jobs are. Take care of them for those who will follow you. As a young man in the late ‘70s and early ’80s, I could only hope for the opportunity that you have had to participate in this program.”

Communications staff members with the flag and certificate from the 39th Commuications Squadron in Turkey.

For almost two years, the Communications group at Y‑12 has sent care packages to coworker Lisa Harris’ son, who serves with the U.S. Air Force. The packages started as a way to make her son and his squadron’s deployment in Turkey more comfortable.

Harris said, “We’ve supported them as often as we can with small items they can carry with them — gum, granola, peanuts, cookies. We sent them things to help take their focus off being away from their families and friends for long periods of time.”

To show their appreciation for the gesture, the squadron sent a flag that was flown in the cockpit of an A‑10 Warthog during a mission. Harris said, “We never expected anything in return. To us, it was the least we could do.” The group plans to continue sending care packages to the 51 members of the Air Force stationed there.

The certificate, photograph and flag are displayed in the group’s area in Jack Case Center.