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curriculum, hands-on exercises, and assessments to ensure that students grasp the concepts being taught.?He said ?these competencies are the basis of how we assess incoming personnel to determine their quali cations and wage rates.? HII makes sure new employees meet its standards before putting them to work in operations. ?We want to maintain consistent quality,? Lotshaw said. ?If someone doesn?t meet expectations, we ask why.? HII has training programs for all its crafts, and employees get paid while they?re being trained. ?As an example, our ship  tter training programs are three years in length, and at the end of it, you?ll be making about $50,000 a year including bene ts,? Lotshaw said. ?In comparison, a teacher starting out makes much less and can have $80,000 in college loans.?The company looks for a pyramid of skills. Lotshaw said ?it starts with the basics: can the candidate show up on time, can we rely on them, are they drug free? Can they talk to others respectfully, can they take direction?? Those are life skills required in any business, he noted. ?From there, we?re concerned about whether they do basic math, read and follow written instructions.? Lotshaw continued, saying ?we have signi cant gaps in our educational systems today. But if you meet our basic quali cations, we?re going to want to talk to you.? He said today?s young people are strong in computers and other technology. ?While entry-level craftsmen don?t spend much time on computers, as people move up the ranks, they spend more and more time on them.? Someone in a skilled trade who also knows computers is an all- around, valuable player, he said. HII has worked with local community colleges and technical schools, advising the schools what it expects in terms of education,? Lotshaw said. ?On occasion, we?ve www.marinelink.com MN 37