In the midst of a recession, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine is helping thousands of families stay afloat.
Roughly 4,400 people work at the yard repairing submarines for America’s Navy. Several hundred more are expected to be hired by years end.
“It takes a village to repair submarines so we have all the mechanical trades such as the ship fitting, pipe fitting, machining, painting, blasting, electrician, electronics,” said Navy Capt. Bryant Fuller, Commander of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
Established in 1800, the historic shipyard has employed generations of families. For more than 200 years, skilled craftsmen have found work and created the foundations of a community here.
Now, thanks to a heavy workload and the expectation that many workers will retire over the next decade, a hiring surge is underway. More than 100 new apprentices entered training earlier this month and Navy officials say 250 additional civilian positions will need to be filled by year end.
“We have a lot more people apply for the jobs than we’re actually able to hire,” said Capt. Fuller. “The good news for us is it enables us to really hire the best and the brightest and that’s what we need. We have very challenging, technically skilled positions and we need the best possible people we can to work on that. So, it does enable us to really pick the cream of the crop.”
In an economy where good jobs are hard to find, the shipyard offers full-time work and benefits.
Recent college graduate Skylar Latourneau, who was born and raised in Eliot, Maine, is among the newest hires.
“It was really difficult finding a job and I have a lot of friends I graduated with in college who are still looking for work,” said Latourneau, who is well aware of the competition he faced to become an apprentice at the shipyard. “So I feel very lucky and I know that everyone I was hired along with also feels very fortunate.”
The shipyard, with a payroll of roughly $400 million, draws employees from surrounding states.
“All surrounding towns, all the way up to Portland, an hour and half away, they all come down here for work and stuff,” said new apprentice James Mullins who recently completed his service in the armed forces. “I’m also serving my country in a different way now. I got out of the Navy and now I’m serving again. I was trying to look for that and I found it again at the shipyard.”
There is a shared sense of commitment and camaraderie among the sailors and civilians at the yard. Both serve a common purpose. Generations of sailors have protected America’s shores while generations of craftsmen have worked to ensure America’s sailors are safe.
“You can feel a lot of pride in everything you do,” said Chris Lapiana, an apprentice welder. “Building a quality product just to get those boys back- it’s a good feeling.”
For more information on jobs at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard:
www.usajobs.gov