Building Parts & Confidence: How One NC Apprentice Is Making the Most of Her Training

 “It’s insane seeing a block of metal transform into a detailed part—and knowing that I helped make that happen.”

Kasey Bowhay is a numerical control (NC) programming apprentice in her second year of Spirit’s apprenticeship program and still marvels at what she does every day. The NC department at Spirit is responsible for programming the manufacturing machines to create parts to exact specifications. As an NC apprentice, Kasey is learning to use several complex machines that all create something different—a breadth of knowledge that even full-time NC employees don’t necessarily gain.

Being able to build on her experience and learn things that she might not otherwise get to are two aspects of the program that stand out to Kasey.

“It’s rare for one person to know more than one NC department because typically you get hired into one department, and that’s it,” Kasey shares. “But in this program, we rotate through all eight departments and get to learn so much from so many different people.”

It’s not until the end of the program, when apprentices have gained valuable experience in all areas, that Kasey and her cohort will get placed into their full-time jobs. NC apprentices do have some input into where they prefer to be placed, but Spirit will ultimately assign them to their department based on their skills and the company’s needs. Regardless of where they end up, these apprentices have created a strong foundation of knowledge and positioned themselves to take their careers to the next level.

“To me, this isn’t just a paycheck,” Kasey says. “I want to be proud of what I’m doing, to feel accomplished and like I deserve to be here, and I want to help others. It’s a very male-based career path, and even though I haven’t had any issues, I still feel driven to prove myself to others—and to myself.”

Apprentices can make a real difference in their careers. For Kasey, she’s building more than just parts. She’s building experience in her job, confidence in herself and a future she can rely upon.

Apprentices pursue their passions

Kasey became interested in engineering technology and computer-aided design (CAD) in high school.

“2D just wasn’t my thing, so I took a step back from that in high school and started learning CATIA, which is 3D modeling. And I loved that,” Kasey says. “Then a few years ago, my dad got into NC programming, and the more he shared with me about it, the more I was like, ‘yeah, that’s what I’m trying to do.’”

Kasey’s dad encouraged her to apply to Spirit’s apprenticeship program. When he’s not encouraging her to go after new and exciting career opportunities, Kasey says, he’s providing support and encouragement.

“Whenever I have doubts, he’s like, ‘brush it off, you got this,’” she says.

But in the beginning, even her dad couldn’t provide all of the confidence she needed. “I was scared out of my mind to apply,” she says. “Going from being in school to an actual job is nerve-wracking, and I really didn’t know what to expect.”

To make her experience even more unfamiliar and disconcerting, the NC apprenticeship program didn’t exist before Kasey and her cohort began. They blazed the trail for future apprentices at Spirit. But a year after they began, Kasey and her apprentice colleagues have settled in and continue building experience and confidence every day.

Apprentices get more than training

“What’s really cool is we’re here to just learn. We’re not responsible for producing any parts in the two years of the program,” Kasey says. “When we first started, my manager told us that we’re here to be sponges, to absorb as much as we can. That stuck with me.”

The apprentices attend school at a certified technical institute while getting hands-on, on-the-job training with senior-level technicians. They can go through one of three programs: facilities equipment maintenance electrician, facilities industrial mechanic, or NC programmer. With each, they’ll learn about the diverse equipment required to manufacture advanced aerospace components and are considered full-time employees with access to benefits.

In the NC programmer track, apprentices spend two months in each NC department, rotating through all eight, until the last six months when they’re placed in their full-time department.

“We get to shadow so many people who are very open and want you to be there,” Kasey says. “If you show you also want to be there and go in with a good attitude, they’ll teach you so much.”

And it’s through this support that Kasey has thrived.

“I’m a self-doubter. I question everything,” Kasey shares. “But I feel so much more confident now. I still have a lot to learn—and I hope I keep learning—but I’m getting more and more confident through this program.”

Others have seen Kasey’s growth and leadership, too. She was nominated—and accepted into—the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprentice Trailblazer Initiative. Kasey will join a national network of apprentices from all walks of life to help spread awareness of apprenticeship programs and their benefits. She’ll also enhance her own leadership skills by giving presentations about apprenticeships and spreading advocacy on social media.

Apprentices shape the future

For others who are considering an apprenticeship or who aren’t sure if it’s right for them, Kasey encourages them to go for it. She says there is no reason to be afraid. The right apprenticeship can further people’s skills and build confidence in the meantime.

“I stress about everything,” Kasey says. “But you can’t be afraid to make the jump. At the end of the day, you really don’t know until you try, and I could not be happier with what I’m doing now.”

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about Spirit’s apprenticeship program, learn more here: https://careers.spiritaero.com/apprenticeship