INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - An Indianapolis company desperate for highly trained workers is reaching out to high school students desperate for high paying jobs and a future.
It is a one of a kind on the job training program for teenagers who's only option might be a minimum wage dead end jobs.
As soon as Cole McCoy Alexis Bland and Peyton Sams graduate, they intend to go right to work helping repair and maintain commercial and military aircraft, with nothing more than a high school diploma.
Alexis sounded excited, "what I'm saying to myself is a that this is an amazing opportunity. This is a life time opportunity."
Cole was bowled over by the chance to take on a job so big. "It is something more than a job. It is a life style." he said A career? "Yeah a career."
Peyton called the opportunity breathtaking, "you could come here right out of high school. they train you and get you where you want to be," he said.
AAR aircraft services and Decatur Township schools are partners. They are targeting students who need additional training to get good jobs but can't or won't spend years sitting in classes.
Dr. Chris Duzenbery is director of college and career readiness for Decatur township schools. They can have a lot of hands on experiences and be able to gain skills while they are on the job," Duzenbery explained, "instead of sitting in a classroom maybe for years before they get a chance to work.
AAR employs about 550 aircraft maintenance workers. The company says it would hire 75 to 100 more right now, if it could find them.
"We are desperate for new young talent," said AAR Vice President Ryan Goertzen.
AAR's on the job training begins with the unglamorous but critical responsibility of handing plane parts and materials.
If the teens succeed, they are promoted to apprentice technicians and continue learning and hopefully earning required federal certifications.
"3 or 4 years from now these students could be lead technicians on the floor," and according to Goertzen, earning between $60,000 and $80,000 a year.
Alexis saw the potential of a life long career, "there is really not a lot of jobs like this straight out of high school," she said. "A life time job. A life time opportunity, those are pretty rare, very rare," she added.
The job training program is available only to Decatur township school students.
So far, 8 have filled out applications and are waiting to find out if they have a job.
Students with a basic but solid high school education have sky high expectations.