Though decades ago, T.J. Smith still remembers the camaraderie and sense of purpose he felt during his time as a member of the Rhode Island Army National Guard.
After years of odd jobs, most recently a part-time gig at a security company, the Providence native was looking for a new career, a place that could offer structure, the chance for advancement he found in military service and, most importantly, a competitive salary.
“I’ve always been a very regimented type of person,” he said. “And I was looking for a change.”
He found it at the Westerly Education Center through its partnership between General Dynamics Electric Boat and the Community College of Rhode Island, enrolling in the maritime painting program.
Though well-versed in the painter’s trade, Smith says the 80-hour, 2½-week program was revelatory. He learned how a submarine’s parts can be broken out and painted and what types of paints are used on different surfaces.
“It was very much hands-on,” he said. “I learned more than I ever knew. It was very eye-opening.”
For many people looking to change careers, the uncertainty and lack of financial resources can be a hurdle. Time is money, and many don’t have much of either to invest. Smith received a $250 weekly stipend, reimbursement for gas mileage and new work boots for his trek from Connecticut, where he lives now, to Westerly.
Opened in 2017, the nonprofit Westerly Education Center is managed by the R.I. Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner. The building was purchased by the Royce Family Fund Inc., previously the site of a 2½-acre abandoned rail yard. After the $5.1 million construction, the nonprofit leased the 34,500-square-foot building to the state for $1 per year for 20 years.
The building is split between its 15 classrooms and a 14,000-square-foot hands-on training facility, the latter including a full-sized mock-up of a submarine hull section.
Shannon Gilkey, the state commissioner of postsecondary education, says the center has trained over 7,000 new Electric Boat employees in maritime manufacturing trades since 2017.
“Many of those new employees will continue their careers with the company in managerial positions and are well positioned for success in earning business degrees,” he said. “[This] workforce pipeline pays dividends over time and requires the investment of postsecondary training, credentials of value and degrees.”
Electric Boat is the primary shipbuilding and submarine manufacturer in the country and often touts its preference to hire veterans. The company offers a generous military leave policy, including paid time off for annual training and continued benefits if employees are recalled to active duty.
In March the center hosted the “Boat for Vets” event, a nightly three-week introductory program in which attendees could experience a “different trade every night,” from pipefitting to electrical work to shipyard testing.
Equidistant from its two facilities in North Kingstown and Groton, Conn., the programs at WEC can pull from a “two-state clientele,” offering Rhode Island jobseekers potential employment in Connecticut and for those living across the border, a position in Rhode Island, said Beth Bailey, OPC director of communications.
“It is a nice fit,” she said.
Electric Boat will be ramping up manufacturing and hiring in the coming years as it continues its work for the federal government. In December, the company was awarded a $5.1 billion defense contract for the construction of the first two Columbia-class submarines. It hired 3,900 new employees in 2022.
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and senior member of the Appropriations Committee, called the partnership between Electric Boat and WEC a “win-win.”
“Westerly Education Center is a terrific resource for veterans looking to transition to a new profession, launch their career, or take the next step up the workplace ladder,” Reed said. “Our veterans bring diverse skills and experience to the table … [and] we’ve got to keep investing in proven, effective job-training programs and workforce development strategies.”
Raymond Ryan, a recruiter for Electric Boat focusing on military veterans, says the company, now 20,000 strong, is expected to hire an additional 10,000 employees over the next decade.
A U.S. Air Force veteran, Ryan says because of the Westerly Education Center’s location between two crucial Electric Boat facilities, the programming created by EB and the center gives veterans the opportunity to explore several careers, while giving the company potential employees with skills that might be lacking in a typical job candidate.
These include working well under pressure, self-discipline and comfort with a top-down organizational structure.
“[Veterans] seem to do really well at Electric Boat. Our rank structure is really familiar to them,” Ryan said. “The transition from military to civilian life is not easy. Many of them have never had a job interview or have written a resume.”
Resumes aside, experience in the armed forces stands out to employers, according to Ryan. “I always say, ‘Veterans are never entry-level,’ ” he said.
For Smith, the experience has given him a second act. He says Electric Boat just sent him a benefits package and an invitation to orientation in Groton.
“It has been awesome,” he said. “And I can’t wait to start.”
