Getting a job after leaving armed service is sometimes easier said than done. Some carmakers, like Ford, GM, and Toyota have already established job training or hiring programs to make transition easier, and now it’s BMW’s turn. Together with the Universal Technical Institute, BMW has opened a job training school for US Marines at Camp Pendleton, called MSTEP for Military Service Technician Education Program.
A 16-week training program starts on February 26th, with a pilot group of nine students. After they graduate from the program, BMW will help them find work at its dealerships; there are already more than 14,000 BMW technicians in the US, but there is a need for more manufacturer-trained technicians. The program’s BMW-specific curriculum is specialized for Camp Pendleton, with a workshop setting providing hours of hands-on training.
“BMW is honored to be working with the Marine Corps and helping provide service members with great professional opportunities to support their transition to civilian life,” said Bernard Kuhnt, President and CEO of BMW of North America. “The skillset these men and women will bring to our dealerships is invaluable. Aside from their unwavering team spirit and discipline, many are already highly specialized in some of the most sophisticated technologies, giving them all the right foundations for a successful automotive career. It is now our turn to serve them with MSTEP.”
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