Travel thirty minutes south of Richmond, Virginia and one will arrive at Fort Lee, home of the Combined Arms Support Command and their state of the art U.S. Army Ordnance Corps and School, where NIMS officially accredited the Allied Trade Specialist (91E) training program on April 17, 2013.

More than 500 students attend the 19-week Allied Trade Specialist program annually, with trainees representing the Army, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, and U.S. Marine Corps.  The program focuses on manual and CNC machining skills, as well as welding. 

As students gain knowledge in these skills they are also presented with the opportunity to earn NIMS Credentials.  Our industry credentials not only pertain to their military occupational specialty, but the certifications can also pave a connection when these men and women eventually separate from service to seek careers in the private sector.

In 2012 alone, students took more than 200 NIMS Credentialing Exams, with 85% receiving a passing grade which results in that student being awarded a national skills credential.  Since the school opened in 2009 more than 700 Credentialing Exams were pursued and NIMS is proud to have awarded a variety of credentials to 555 Marines, Reservists, and Soldiers, including:

• CNC Milling: Operations I
• CNC Milling: Programming, Setup & Operations I
• CNC Turning: Operations I
• CNC Turning: Programming, Setup & Operations I
• Drill Press I
• Drill Press II
• Job Planning, Benchwork & Layout I
• Measurement, Materials & Safety I
• Milling I
• Turning Between Centers I
• Turning II

Led by Division Chief Jack Peters, the 91E Program excelled in all areas of evaluation as required by NIMS Accreditation Policy.  On April 10, 2013 NIMS Executive Director traveled to Fort Lee to conduct the On-Site Evaluation for Accreditation Renewal and ultimately gave the Ordnance School the highest ratings in the categories of Program Purpose, Facilities, Equipment / Tooling / Measuring Devices, Program Features, Administration / Management, Instructional Staff, and Trainee Credentialing.

Many congratulations and thanks to everyone at the Allied Trades Specialist (91E) Program, especially Chief Jack Peters, Instructor Terrance Bonine, and Course Manager Sonya Williams. 

Did you know that NIMS accredits educational training programs and company training programs? Look over our accreditation page