By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

Brent Thomas has never stopped learning new things by changing new jobs and going new directions.
Still young at 19, Thomas sees a positive outlook from this approach. He takes it upon not as a weakness but to gain more knowledge and prepare for the future.
It must be this kind of attitude that he was able to get into the apprenticeship program at Camp Katuu under the wings of the United States Civic Action Team being funded by the Palau Community Action Agency for many years.
It is in fact this positive outlook in life that PCAA wants to have from its students not only for the program to be able to attain its goal but also for the apprentices to be successful.
Thomas is just one of 14 limited Palauans who are absorbed by this program.
After finishing elementary in Ngchesar, Thomas spent two years at Palau Mission Academy and graduated at Palau High School in 2005.
After high school, he worked with G&C, which serves as an underground service contractor for Palau National Communications Corporation.
Before he was accepted into the apprenticeship program, he quit as a sales manager for a United Paint.
"I was encouraged by Gov. Duane Hideo of Ngchesar. I wanted mechanics because my father is a mechanic and so I knew a lot about this kind of job," he said.
This April 14, however, Thomas will be leaving for US Marines after he passed last year the ASVAB test.
There in the marines, Thomas would continue to pursue his passion in his chosen field as an Aviation Mechanic, which would be a high level dream that he promised to achieve.
During a visit at Camp Katuu, where three of the apprentices were having their graduation in other field, TSgt Richard Johnson, lead mechanic of the US Navy CT 07-03 headed by Capt. Ryan Walinski, says the apprentices help rebuild engine, body repair and learn to fix mechanical troubles and put in new spare parts to the cars.
The students have also the opportunity to use the video library to familiarize themselves about machines and mechanical terms as part of their theoretical learning process but most of the time they spend on practical work.
All of them undergo 12 months on the job training with payments more than enough to sustain themselves, especially the bachelors.
SMSgt. John Gibson explained that although there is no age limit for any aspirant to become an apprentice, there is a qualification process for all applicants.
All graduates are given certifications that would prove they completed the apprenticeship program but such certificate is not a government license that could be use for business purposes.
The certificate’s main purpose is for recommendation for and agency, private or public, that would help the graduates find their jobs.
The apprenticeship program is composed of eight career fields in mechanics, structures, steelworker, plumber, electrician, equipment operator, administrator and medical assistant.
"We are having fun while working, overhauling, repair and everything about heavy equipment repair and maintenance, Thomas said.
Sharon Tesei has her owned story to tell while having fun while working.
The 47-year old Tesei, who is a mother of two, worked as a cashier for three years at Asanuma Enterprises as an office clerk before starting just last Jan. 29 for the program.
She learned about the program from a friend.
Tesei studied at Marianas High School in Saipan from 1979-82. She worked as a bank teller at the defunct Bank of Palau, T&O Store and another store in T-Dock.
Her instructor, TSgt Shawn Lindsey said Tesei’s responsibilities include conducting inventory for supplies and as a n administrative specialist, she does the government purchasing card paper work, impress fund (using a card) and SF44 (a term for purchase order).
"She maintains historical database and she’s a little bit challenge because this is different from her previous work but she’s come a long way for a couple of months. She tracks all 27 staff members of the camp," said Linsey.
Lindsey said that the program is doing quite well with more money and supplies to accommodate more applications.
Jason Roman is one of the new additions. He said he is just with the program for three days during the interview.
He was unemployed for two years one of the recent graduates encouraged him to join and he decided to be skilled to find a job as a construction worker.
"They said it’s a good program. I’d like to do both builder and steel worker," said Roman, who was with JOB Corp in Clear Field, Utah for five years doing carpentry and landscaping.
He came back to Palau in 2004.
The current crop includes four builders Bobby Cyrillo, Jason Roman, Dee-jay Rengulbai and John Thing; three equipment operators Maurice Takeo, Daily Ueti and Alder Santos; one electrician Shelton Ilemelong; two mechanics Brent Thomas and Louis Gellys; one medical assistant Yosko Aichi; one administrative assistant Sharon Tesei; two vacancies (steel worker and utilities).
The newly graduates are Singichi Etpison (builder), Fonda Ngirmidol (builder) and Ryoichi Alfonsius (utilities).
PCAA staff Irung Ikeda said the apprenticeship program started since the 1970s.
Early graduates are now working in Congress in the executive branch, in other government offices, like at the Palau Visitor’s Authority, national hospital and mostly in the private sector.
Latest count showed that a total of 220 have graduated from the program since its inception in 1978 starting as a US fund grant under the CETA Program (The Kennedy Center and Schools: Changing Education Through the Arts.