As global threats continue to rise, the U.S. Navy has urgent need for something silent beneath the seas—new submarines to augment its existing fleet. But America’s submarine industry will need to hire 140,000 skilled employees over the next decade to meet the service’s growing demand. Now Southlake-based Learning Blade, a STEM career exploration platform for grades 5–9, is diving in to help address this critical workforce shortage—by sparking a new generation of sub builders.

Learning Blade is partnering with the U.S. Navy and BlueForge Alliance—a nonprofit integrator supporting the Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base program initiatives—on the new initiative.

Called “Beneath the Waves: Building Submarines,” the  manufacturing and engineering-focused curriculum is now available to educators and students through Learning Blade, including in 13 states where access has been fully funded: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

And subs are just the start of it. The U.S. manufacturing sector faces a massive skills shortage across a wide range of industries. According to a study by Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte, 4 million manufacturing jobs will likely be needed over the next decade, and 2.1 million are expected to go unfilled.

Learning Blade said its mission-based approach helps address this crisis by introducing students to more than 100 STEM careers and igniting interest in essential industries—including “naval manufacturing.”

“The state of the industrial workforce is in crisis, and employers are desperate to find qualified workers with the technical skills needed to grow their operations,” Jerry Wooden, CEO of eDynamic Learning, the parent company of Learning Blade, said in a statement. “By introducing students to in-demand STEM careers, state leaders and district administrators are helping to introduce young talent to critical industries and are paving the way for the workforce of tomorrow.”

Students dive into submarine history, learn about roles from naval architect to marine engineer

In the “Beneath the Waves: Building Submarines” mission, students imagine they’re part of the Young Submariners Program, a special project launched by the Navy. Their virtual “adventure” begins with a trip to a WWII museum where they check out the USS Razorback, a decomissioned submarine. Throughout the mission, students learn about various roles in submarine manufacturing, including naval architects, marine engineers, welders, and quality control inspectors.

To cap off the program, students present their own designs to a fictitious naval program director, showcasing their understanding of modern manufacturing techniques.

Learning Blade said that after students use its platform, research conducted by Battelle revealed that 84% of students “were more likely to want a job involving designing or construction, while 59% said they were more likely to pursue a career in STEM.”

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