PASCAGOULA, Miss. (WLOX) – Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division congratulated 70 apprentice school graduates during a ceremony at the Pascagoula shipyard on Saturday.
The class completed the Department of Labor-registered program, which combines classroom instruction, paid on-the-job training, and industry-recognized credentials.
Ingalls also recognized Sawyer Briggs as the Overall Apprentice of the Year.
“I’m proud of the journey that has brought me to this point in my career at Ingalls,” Briggs said. “This program prepared me with the skills and confidence needed to build the ships that support our Navy and our nation, and I take great pride in the craftsmanship we deliver every day.”
Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Blanchette also addressed the graduates.
“What they have learned is more than a trade, it is the discipline to do what’s right even when no one is watching,” Blanchette said. “And the timing could not be more important; Our Navy is counting on the commitment and capability they bring to the ships our nation depends on.”
Officials said apprentices receive competitive pay and become eligible for a comprehensive benefits package beginning 30 days after starting the program.
Since its founding in 1952, the Ingalls Apprentice School has graduated more than 4,000 shipbuilders.
Ingalls Shipbuilding, the largest manufacturing employer in Mississippi, has designed, built, and maintained amphibious ships and destroyers for the U.S. Navy for more than 87 years.
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