On March 28, the inaugural class of four students graduated from the North Texas Job Corps Advanced Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics training program. The graduation ceremony was held at US Aviation Academy, a Texas airline business that has partnered with North Texas Job Corps.

“These four graduates have been immediately connected to employers that need specialized positions in the mechanical aviation industry,” said Thony Martino, Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps program. “In turn, these employers have been connected to the opportunity to fill their immediate workforce needs. With future classes graduating from the program, these companies can find their next employees for years to come.”

The four students who graduated during the ceremony are Johnathan Guerrero, Camron Ervin, Gabriel Perez and Daniel Darnaye-Grebongo. These graduates have already drawn interest from major airline employers, including AAR Inc., GE Aerospace, US Aviation Academy and PSA Airlines.

“We are all incredibly proud of what these four students have accomplished through this advanced training,” said Bobby Brown, Center Director for North Texas Job Corps. “We know the potential that every Job Corps student possesses, and it’s exciting for their employers to fully realize it.”

Through the Advanced Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics training program, students operate on jet and piston aircraft, gaining skills in replacing and repairing aircraft parts, as well as diagnosing mechanical and electrical problems. This is a fast-track program with 12 months of instruction in general, airframe and powerplant courses, and the training area is offered exclusively at North Texas Job Corps Center.