In 2004 the national American Petroleum Institute joined with the new Job Corps Facility in Carville, LA to provide basic oilfield training to young adults, ages 16 to 24. Students receive about 150 hours of classroom training in areas such as drilling fluids, pipe handling, casing and cementing, well logging, power systems, instrumentation, HS&E, and blowout prevention. Certifications are provided for OSHA basic safety training, first aid, CPR, marine water survival (H.U.E.T.), and IADC rig pass.
Retired Colonel Herb Fritts opened the Carville Job Corps Academy (CJCA) and John Taylor, an industry veteran, coordinates the oilfield training program. API National recognized a need for prospective oilfield workers to become familiar with the special requirements and responsibilities of entry-level positions before they show up for their first day of work.
While the federal government covers the full cost of training the students, many graduates face job related expenses that can become their next roadblock to employment. Consequently, the program recently created a special assistance fund to help graduates bridge this critical gap to full time employment. API National and API Delta Chapter are each donating $5000 to the fund. We urge industry employers to consider supporting the training program and this crucial fund.
API Delta Chapter was recently appointed to the API Job Corps Advisory Council which governs the program. The Council’s key role is to ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of employers. It will also oversee the appropriate distribution and repayment of the graduate assistance fund. The Council desires to have a wide range of industry representatives involved in its governance.
The Job Corps program was created in 1964 by the Department of Labor to assist disadvantaged youth. This federally funded program trains students for careers in a wide range of industries, including the energy industry (Carville, LA). In addition to academic and vocational training, students also receive instruction in personal hygiene, respect, chain of command, housekeeping, and social skills.
The students receive housing, meals, medical care, and can earn a living allowance during their stay. They can earn a high school diploma or prepare for the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) exam. If you are interested in more information and/or more involvement, please visit the CJCA website at www.carville.jobcorps.gov or contact them at 225-642-2444. Let’s help this Federal program succeed and meet our needs.