A month ago, Austin Mullins started a unique career development program to learn key skills associated with interior systems construction. Now, Austin is one of 15 men and women who just completed a four-week training boot camp to develop interior systems carpenters for the Tennessee construction community. The Interior Systems Boot Camp, presented at the Oak Ridge Training Center of the Mid-South Carpenters’ Training Trust Fund (MSCTTF), is a month-long program for new interior systems apprentices, meant to teach the basics of interior systems, which these carpenters will need to excel on an interior systems job and be better prepared for the work.

The draw for participants: If they achieved perfect attendance, they would be considered a second-year apprentice upon completion and would be guaranteed a job at the end of the boot camp. Students trained in safety (OSHA 10), measuring, material handling, correct fastening procedures, building muscle memory of screw placement and depth, correct cutting procedures for sheetrock and metal studs/track, wall layout, wall construction, aerial lift, and other pertinent building skills.

“The goal of the program is to accommodate our Interior System contractors with skilled professionals,” said Rickey Moore, Executive Director of the MSCTTF. “It was a great success because all the participants who started the program finished, and everyone was placed on a job. The challenge for this program is to be as successful throughout the five states serviced by union carpenters from the Southeastern Carpenters Regional Council (SECRC), just as it was here in Oak Ridge."

By the way, Austin also is the quickest draw of the group, winning a skills contest by successfully installing the most screws - 26 - in 60 seconds. That earned him a battery-powered screw gun, an impact driver, and a rotary zip, provided by the SECRC.

Congratulations to all of our graduates! Front row L to R: Director of Training Rickey Moore, James Griffin, Training Coordinator Floyd Sharp, Edwin Irizarry, Morgan Powell, Ellice Shen, Anthony Vann, Justin White, Andrew Zimmerman, Local 50 Business Rep Billy McCall. Back Row L to R: Kyle Armstrong, Jakota Baird, William Clore, Edgar Martin, Jimmy Mendoza, Austin Mullins, Erich Nischan, and Micah Sawyer.