U.S. military leadership and members of BMW North America and Universal Technical Institute (UTI) senior leadership team celebrated the graduation of the first six service members from the inaugural BMW Military Service Technician Education Program (MSTEP) class at Fort Bragg Army Base in North Carolina.
The newly established BMW MSTEP program on Fort Bragg was established in September 2021, and is designed to provide training for new career opportunities for service members trasitioning from service back to civilian life. These career opportunites include automotive technician training.
The graduation event also served as a ribbon cutting ceremony and the official opening of the brand new 4,000 sq. ft. BMW technician training facility on the base.
The graduates completed the 16-week BMW technical education program that teaches a specialized on-base curriculum and hands-on training on diagnostics and technologies unique to the BMW brand. Following graduation and upon leaving the military, BMW will assist the new technicians with employment at authorized U.S. dealers.
“It is an honor to support and serve the men and women of the U.S. military just as they have supported and served so many during the course of their military careers,” said Sebastian Mackensen, president and CEO, BMW of North America. “While the MSTEP program creates a pool of hard working, technically skilled, team-oriented individuals who are ready and able to support our dealer network, it also provides great opportunities for service members returning to civilian life.”
“In a world where technology continues to advance, at UTI, we continually evolve our industry and manufacturer-aligned curriculum and training in partnership with great employers like BMW and military partners like Fort Bragg,” said UTI CEO Jerome Grant. “The MSTEP program on Fort Bragg is an exceptional example of our industry-aligned education model brought to life, and with one of our longest industry partners, which allows us to serve those who have served our country.”
The newly remodeled facility on Fort Bragg includes three work bays/classrooms and an alignment bay all stocked with BMW’s latest tools, diagnostic equipment and a fleet of BMW Group vehicles. All courses are taught by BMW trained instructors that will give service members the skills needed to be a productive BMW technician.
The BMW / UTI MSTEP program on Fort Bragg is an expansion of the BMW STEP program, and BMW of North America’s existing efforts to provide well trained and qualified BMW technicians for its dealer network, while also supporting and providing career opportunities for U.S. service members. The BMW MSTEP program was first launched at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in Southern California in 2018 with UTI, making BMW the first premium automotive brand to open a workshop and training program for military service members directly on a U.S. military base.
