Aamco And U.s. Department Of Labor Provide Career Training And Job Opportunities For Disadvantaged Young Adults

EDISON, NEW JERSEY (Monday, February 21, 2000) - The U.S. Department of Labor's Job Corps and AAMCO Transmissions are teaming up to provide job training for disadvantaged young adults - in a brand new facility built specifically to provide specialized transmission training. This program addresses the scarcity of automotive technicians in today's hi-tech society and gives young adults the tools needed to build a successful long-term career with the potential to make over $60,000 a year. More than 28.8 million transmissions were serviced in 1998, driving the call for skilled technicians in this area.
With 118 centers nationwide, Job Corps is the nation's largest and most comprehensive residential education and job training program for at-risk youth, ages 16 to 24. Since 1964, the program has provided more than 1.7 million disadvantaged young people with the integrated academic, vocational, and social skills training they need to gain independence and get quality, long-term jobs or further their education.

The program is the first-of-its-kind in that students will obtain specialized training by a national corporation in an environment that mirrors a real job facility. AAMCO supplies the instructor, equipment, curriculum, and expertise. The Department of Labor covers the cost of students' housing, healthcare, transportation, meals and the training facilities. If students do not have a high school diploma or the equivalent, Job Corps will prepare them to attain their GED - a requirement for all of the training programs.

Using videotapes, classroom instruction and hands-on learning, the students have the opportunity to reach the second level of AAMCO's technician certification by graduation. Adding to the learning process, New Jersey dealers have donated cars, equipment and supplies for training, as well as unlimited time for students to observe work-in-progress at AAMCO centers.

Students can choose where to work following graduation, but AAMCO anticipates that many will advance to career positions at any of the 700-plus centers nationwide. The Department of Labor assists with relocation expenses, and AAMCO dealers pay the cost of tools provided to the students to begin their newfound careers, regardless of where they go.

"As we enter the new millennium, the U.S. Department of Labor is realizing the need to prepare students for the workforce by leading them towards long-term career opportunities - not just jobs," says Lee Mathews, center director of AAMCO Job Corps. "Today, technicians are scarce in all areas; through the new program, we are tapping into an overlooked segment of the population to create a workforce of specialized technicians and start young people out on a career path."

Students cite the value of specialization as a reason for participating in the program. Supervised by Bill Schultz, AAMCO's vice president of technical services, the program took more than a year to develop. AAMCO plans to expand its training program to several other Job Corps locations throughout the country.

AAMCO is the world's largest chain of transmission specialists, with more than 700 franchise locations in the United States and Canada. The centers have served more than 20 million customers since the company's founding in 1963.

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