The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding marks 100th anniversary

The Apprentice School at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division, Newport News, Va., marked its 100th anniversary on July 1.

The school opened at the end of World War I to recruit, train, and develop shipbuilders. Today the curriculum includes advanced digital shipbuilding concepts and technology to support the company’s integration of digital technology across the shipyard.

In its history, the school has produced more than 10,800 graduates who have designed and built ships for the U.S. Navy. It accepts about 225 apprentices per year, offering four- to eight-year, tuition-free apprenticeships in 19 trades and eight optional advanced programs. Apprentices work a 40-hour week and are paid for all work, including time spent in academic classes.