Two Germans complete three-year IT apprentice program, three more begin

By Mr. William B King, 5th Signal Command Public AffairsOctober 2, 2015

Two Germans complete three-year IT apprentice program, three more begin
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Jimmy L. Hall Jr., commander of 5th Signal Command, and Command Sgt. Maj. Harry Mercado, 5th Signal Command senior enlisted advisor, present certificates to Merlin Haeusner and Jan Sandmaier for successfully completing a three-year apprenticeshi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Two Germans complete three-year IT apprentice program, three more begin
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Jimmy L. Hall Jr., commander of 5th Signal Command, Gerd Drechsler, commander of the 6981st Civilian Support Group, and Command Sgt. Maj. Harry Mercado, 5th Signal Command senior enlisted advisor, inspect the work on a project recently completed... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Two Germans complete three-year IT apprentice program, three more begin
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Jimmy L. Hall Jr., commander of 5th Signal Command, speaks with Gerd Drechsler, commander of the 6981st Civilian Support Group, during a tour of the unit's facilities Sept. 24 at the 6981st CSG headquarters at Germersheim Army Depot. (U.S. Army ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Two Germans complete three-year IT apprentice program, three more begin
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Torsten Wellmann, an IT apprentice with the 6981st Civilian Support Group, assisted by Thomas Pfeiffer, apprentice program manager for the 6981st CSG, places a harness on Col. Jimmy L. Hall Jr., commander of 5th Signal command, before he descends dow... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WIESBADEN, Germany -- Two employees of the 6981st Civilian Support Group recently completed a three-year apprenticeship program and were recognized for their accomplishment at a ceremony Sept. 24 at the 6981st CSG headquarters at Germersheim Army Depot.

Col. Jimmy L. Hall Jr., commander of 5th Signal Command, and Command Sgt. Maj. Harry Mercado, 5th Signal Command senior enlisted advisor, presented certificates and commander's coins to Merlin Haeusner and Jan Sandmaier for their successful completion of the apprentice program.

Hall told the apprentices they were joining an important part of the 5th Signal Command and U.S. Army Europe team and challenged them to uphold the high standards of professionalism set by the 6981st CSG.

"The U.S. Army Europe would not be successful without our Allies, and you're a big part of that," Hall said. "I really appreciate our more than 60 years of partnership."

The 6981st CSG is a U.S. Army unit consisting exclusively of German civilians. The unit provides cost-efficient and high-quality installation work and solutions for passive inside and outside network upgrades, new installations or cable repair, whether it is copper or fiber optics.

The apprentice program is a multi-year program consisting of on-the-job and school vocational training in cooperation with the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce or Chamber of Crafts. Upon completion, apprentices take an examination and get certified as IT specialists, which can then lead to follow-on employment with the 6981st CSG or in the German civilian workforce.

"In Germany the apprenticeship program is called dual system as it is divided into the practical part in the company and a theoretical part in a professional school," said Thomas Pfeiffer, apprentice program manager for the 6981st CSG.

Pfeiffer said Haeusner and Sandmaier have the right skills and attitude to be in the 6981st CSG, but still need to gain some more experience in the field.

"Both were very interested and motivated to learn our profession. They gained experience from training lesson to training lesson and from project to project they supported during their apprentice time," Pfeiffer said.

Haeusner said the program allowed the apprentices to get practical, hands-on training and experience with a variety of IT systems and equipment.

"The best thing is that I learned so much -- fiber optic, copper, IT systems. That's more than any other trainee has learned in my school class," Haeusner said.

After completing the apprentice program Haeusner and Sandmaier both received a one-year follow on contract with the 6981st CSG.

"I will try to stay here, if possible. My co-workers are all really nice, and here you are a part of the team," Haeusner said.

The 6981st CSG has also taken on three new apprentices to begin a program of work and study lasting up to 42 months. Anton Baranowski, one of the new apprentices beginning the program, said the educational opportunities, people and atmosphere at the 6981st CSG are the reasons he applied for the program.

"I want to learn about fiber optics and IT systems -- it's the market of the future, I believe," Baranowski said.

Gerd Drechsler, commander of the 6981st CSG, said the apprentice program is invaluable because it allows the unit to train potential employees to current IT industry and Army standards concurrently.

"The apprentice program allows us to grow our own successors which is even more important as the industries do not train the profession in the way we need it anymore," Drechsler said.

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5th Signal Command's mission is to build, operate and defend network capabilities to enable mission command and create tactical, operational, and strategic flexibility for Army, Joint and Multinational forces in the EUCOM and AFRICOM areas of responsibility.

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