After only 6 months at Ford, Cody Guernsey was promoted from temporary part-time to full-time at Rawsonville Components Plant in February, and while he was excited about continuing his work at Ford, there was something he wanted to do first – serve his country.
Nineteen-year-old Guernsey is training to become a Marine. At the beginning of April, he reported to boot camp on Parris Island, SC.
“It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do. My great grandfather was a Marine.”
Guernsey’s contract will take five years to complete, but he plans on transitioning back into civilian life and returning to Rawsonville after his service. That’s why his Ford training is so important to him.
Permanent UAW-Ford employees who choose to serve in the Armed Forces of the U.S are able to return to Ford after service and can gain credit to their Ford seniority for their period of service, up to 8 years unless additional criteria are met.
Guernsey was interested and he’s thinking ahead – after he’s finished with his enlistment, he plans to enter the skilled trades at Ford.
Three standardized classes of the UAW-Ford Industrial Readiness Certificate Program are required to earn a position on the facility’s Apprentice Eligibility List. “I’ve already finished one and I have two more to finish and I plan to finish them as soon as I get out of basic training,” he said.
Guernsey will serve his country while continuing to move up the skilled trades list at the same time, and he hopes to eventually become an electrician or a pipefitter when he returns to Ford. Guernsey says this kind of job gives employees in-demand skills and could offer him additional options even into retirement.