Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing is a prototype training platform for rapidly training skilled workers in key trades such as CNC machining and welding for employment in the defense industry. ATDM was developed as a public-private consortium between the DoD, The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), Danville Community College (DCC), Phillips Corporation, and the Spectrum Group in consultation with the defense industry. IALR is leading a multi-year pilot project to test and evaluate ATDM as a training platform for regional training centers supporting the defense industrial base. The pilot project is funded through the National Imperative for Industrial Skills initiative which was launched in 2020 by the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program Office (IBAS) in the office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.
ATDM is a fast-track, intensive, and target program for training workers to SIB skill gaps rapidly and at scale. Key attributes are:
- Rigorous 4-month training program providing 600+ hours of training
- Students drawn from veterans’ programs, transitioning military, industry, and other recruiting pools of “mature learners”
- Training aligned with national, industry-recognized credentials and certifications
- Curriculum customized to meet the specific skills and needs of defense industry
- Student placement aligned with employment opportunities in defense industry
The FY21 pilot project is training two cohorts of students, beginning in June and November 2021, in CNC machining, welding, metrology, and additive manufacturing. The curriculum is customized to the skills and training needs of the naval shipbuilding and sustainment sector of the SIB. Training takes place in Danville, Virginia.