When a first year apprentice comes in, you hope they understand the gravity of their apprenticeship. The hallowed seats they represent, the impact it has on a young life, all these things amount to a career filled with opportunity and pride in a person’s work.

A good apprentice must be keen to learn. They must be able to follow instructions and be able to take constructive criticism. They must keep an open mind and learn to grow and be molded by their journeymen. More than anything, they have to prove they have the tenacity of spirit and humility needed to make it through an IBEW/NECA apprenticeship. 

When we think of a good apprentice, we usually imagine someone who is quick to grab a broom in slow times, someone who is always writing down directions, or someone who makes sure they ask questions about anything they don’t understand.

There is something to be said for those of us in the trade who can work hard, learn as much as possible, ands still have a smile and a great attitude at the end of the day. One such apprentice is Marcos Sanchez, who has proven himself to be an exemplary worker, terrific student, and all-around great guy.

An apprentice’s ability to learn and absorb their environment, especially when it is initially a foreign one, is one of the cornerstones of a fresh electrical worker. Crystal Martinez, a second-year apprentice who just finished school for her year, embodies all of these qualities and is the JATC’s pick for Apprentice of the Month.

Apprentices must have a certain constitution when they come through our program. They need to be of strong physical strength, good mental acuity, and, if they are really to go above and beyond, a good sense of humor and personality. This month’s apprentice of the month, fourth year Tony Nguyen, embodies these qualities.

Apprentices of all years should always be looking out for their fellows. Coming into the Union, many apprentices may not fully appreciate all the benefits to which they are entitled. It is a great boon to sisters and brothers when apprentices work together to fully realize how much is possible within the Union. One apprentice that has gone above and beyond with helping his fellow students is Cameron Baker, who recently became a fourth year.

An IBEW apprentice must always remain motivated, eager to learn, and work diligently. There are many other attributes that make for an accomplished apprentice, but few are as incalculable as the ability to be a pleasure to work around and with. This month’s Milwaukee Tools apprentice of the month, Ron Canady, exemplifies the best qualities of such an apprentice.

One of the most important values we as Union members must stress to the upcoming apprentices is involvement with our local. In addition to this, we also want to make sure apprentices are getting active and staying active throughout their apprenticeship.

Each year, Local 340’s fifth year apprentices make their way to performance test to prove their mettle in an all-day evaluation of what they’ve learned in their time with the program. The day consists of six grueling tests that cover conduit bending, motor control circuitry, series/parallel concepts, switch wiring, blueprint reading, and a written exam.

As Union electricians, every journeyperson and apprentice should carry a decent amount of pride about their work. When we install something, we know that it is up to a standard with which unskilled labor can’t possibly compete.

Having a good attitude and a willingness to work are two of the most important facets of any apprentice. Showing up to the job and doing it with a smile isn’t always an easy task, but for Aedrees Ahmadi it is the thing he is known for.