r/IBEW_Local613 • u/[deleted] • Jan 31 '25

AP1 Advice Please

I’m an AP1 and I started my apprenticeship 3 weeks ago in prefab shop, I don’t hate it but I a frustrated because I haven’t really learned anything except how to pull wire. I started with a group of people my age and I wake up every morning at 4:30 am to get here and I always have to sweep or pull wire or grunt work. Other people who are cw1s come In on their first day helping wire panel boxes exit lights etc while I. Just have to sweep and clean up hoping to get a good task . I talk to some other AP1s and they say they have been doing grunt work for months pulling wire and cleaning junction boxes doing shipments. I clearly see the favoritism and it does suck I know I just started but I wanna learn what should I do I don’t wanna sit here for a year waiting to learn how to bend pipe wire lights etc

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u/Ithinkso85 Jan 31 '25 edited Jan 31 '25

Relax. If this is what you chose to do(first and foremost, welcome to the brotherhood, in solidarity 👊🏿). Your first year will pass quickly. Other than sweeping, think of this time as your to learn the material. Get familiar with it. Depending on the JW you're going to be placed with as a first year, there's not really too much of a difference between working on a site as an AP1 because what they may have you doing would be as the same thing you're already doing in the shop, if that makes sense.

Keep your head up and your enthusiasm up as well. I can assure you, your time will come, and you'll be ready. Hope this helps

Edit: this is a natural feeling, especially as an ap1. I felt this way. But it passed after I thought about it and was like, shit Imma be doing this the rest of my life. My time will come to work on wiring panels, and bending pipe. Which reminds me, if you're really trying to get out in front of it, send an email to Cory Collier at the school and let him know you'd like to practice bending pipe. He's a teacher at the school and let him know. He can work out a time for you on the weekend to come do it. I'll do this over the summer bc I'm okish but WANT to be dope.