TOWER BARRACKS, Germany - U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria has offered a variety of apprenticeship positions since 1998, and now, more than 10 years since their first electrician apprentice, a new electrician apprentice joins the team.
Lukas Fischer, the incoming electrician apprentice, took part in an official signing ceremony May 22, and he will begin his apprenticeship Sept. 1.
Fisher was welcomed to the workforce by the deputy to the garrison commander, Dwayne D. Key II; the acting director of Directorate of Public Works, Benjamin M. Witt; Fischer’s future apprenticeship trainer and acting chief of utilities for Tower and Rose barracks, Werner Stein; director of Military Programs, Michele Crawford; and guest of honor, the first electrician apprentice of USAG Bavaria, Joschua Sperber. He was accompanied by his parents Manuela and Manfred.
“We are wholly invested in seeking, attracting and acquiring new young talent that will help us serve this great community of 40,000 Soldiers, Family members, retirees and civilians in the future,” said Key during the onboarding. “Our motto here is ‘Better in Bavaria.’ That means we're going to take care of you always. You're going to have a productive, safe, healthy work environment, so your life is better in Bavaria. And then everything that you do is going to make these Soldiers, these Families – all these people here, their lives – better in Bavaria.”
An apprenticeship in the German system allows apprentices to obtain on-the-job training while also attending a vocational school. The program provides an innovative way to supplement and rejuvenate the host nation segment of the garrison workforce.
“I really got interested in working here on the installation through my father, because he also works here,” said Fischer. “And then I did an internship here, and that only strengthened my opinion that I wanted to start working here.
“The work environment here is simply something special,” Fischer continued. “And everyone was super nice and polite. It made me feel welcome straight away.”
“It is amazing that you've chosen to start your career with the Army,” said Witt. “As you come (into the installation you see) the Army's values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. And it's a great way as you come in to be reminded about our connection to the community and who we are, the values that we have.
“I really do appreciate that you're continuing your family legacy,” Witt continued. “And I am really happy that you're starting with us.”
Sperber was the first electrician apprentice and started working with DPW in 2011.
“It was a great honor for me to be here today at the signing of our newest apprentice's employment contract,” he said. “I myself started as electrician with USAG Bavaria because my father told me at the time that work in the installation was actually quite extensive in terms of the tasks we had, and that's why I thought it would actually be quite interesting and that you actually get more variety with USAG Bavaria than in the companies outside.”
Stein, Fischer’s apprenticeship trainer, encouraged him to always keep evolving and keep learning.
“We have a career ladder here,” said Stein. “Joschua Sperber started here as an apprentice and is now an engineering technician. You start your career here as an electrician, but you can jump up higher until maybe one day you have my position. It's possible.”
Stein himself has been working for USAG Bavaria for 23 years and was already the apprenticeship trainer for Sperber 10 years ago.
For a list of American job opportunities and German job and apprenticeship opportunities, visit https://home.army.mil/bavaria/index.php/employment.
Social Sharing