Forge Trainee

The Forger Training program is designed to prepare trainees for the position of Forger. The training period is two (2) years. Trainees will work under the guidance of a Team Leader or an experienced Forger, who are designated Trainers for this program.

Smith & Wesson will then select trained and certified Forger trainees from this program based on the needs of the business.

Please note - this is a Trainee program. All applicants are REQUIRED to visit the department where this role is located, as well as speak with the hiring manager, prior to their interview. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

Prerequisites

• This training program is available to Smith & Wesson employees who have been employed at least ninety (90) days, who are considered to be in good standing, and who have no suspensions within the past twelve (12) months.
• The Forger is considered a safety sensitive position. Candidates for the Forger Training Program will be required to submit to a drug screen prior to transferring into the program, and may be subject to periodic random drug screens as outlined in the Smith & Wesson Drug and Alcohol Management and Control Policy.
• Candidates for this training program will interview with the appropriate member of Human Resources, and the hiring manager for the department. Selection of the successful candidate will be based on a number of factors:
  • Prior skills/work experience
  • Current job performance
  • Current attendance record
  • Recommendation from current supervisor
  • Results of the interview
• Employees who are selected to participate in the training program must accept the offered position (with a few exceptions for personal or medical reasons) or will forfeit job opportunity privileges for a two (2) year period.
• Must have a valid driver's licencse to obtain a DOT certification.
• Employees who are selected will be required to pass all required testing and obtain a valid DOT certification.
• Generally, the successful employee will be moved to his/her new position within thirty (30) days. The move may occur more quickly if both departments are in agreement.
• Once an employee completes the training program, he/she will be considered to occupy a "skilled" position. He/she must then wait at least one (1) year after completion of the training period to be eligible to move to another open position.
• An employee in the Forger Training Program who fails to demonstrate the necessary skills and abilities for this position, after an evaluation during the first 30 days of training, will be removed from the position. He/she will be placed in any available open position or, if none are available, will be separated from employment with Smith & Wesson (this alternative job placement may be in a position with a different pay grade and/or on a different shift).
• Employees who are selected to participate in the Forger Training Program, regardless of their current rate of pay, will be paid based on the pay schedule outlined below:

Pay Schedule Outline

Period

Measurement

Compensation

Start

Meets Pre-requisites & obtains DOT Certification

$27.94

30 days

See Evaluation Checklist

$27.94

3 months

See Evaluation Checklist

$27.94

6 months

See Evaluation Checklist

$29.21

9 months

See Performance Evaluation

$30.47

12 months

See Performance Evaluation

$31.72

15 months

See Performance Evaluation

$32.97

18 months

See Performance Evaluation

$34.22

21 months

See Performance Evaluation

$35.55

24 months

See Performance Evaluation

$35.55 (MSF134)

Program Evaluations

• Program evaluations will be administered every three months, plus or minus one week of the projected test date.

• A successful evaluation, and movement to the next scheduled pay rate, allows for no more than two failed characteristics for the number of tasks evaluated, and is measured over the course of one regular workday. All evaluations are performed by the Mentor and/or Department Supervisor using the attached program evaluation checklist.

• Once a Forger Trainee has attained the next level of training, it must be consistently maintained before the next level evaluation can be administered.

• If a Forger Trainee fails a skills evaluation, the Department Supervisor will meet with the Trainee, determine the skills for which he/she needs additional attention, and conduct targeted training on those skills over a two (2) week period. The Trainee will then be re-evaluated on the skills for that training period. A second failure generally results in removal from the training program. The trainee will be placed in an open position, if one is available, in accordance with standard Human Resources training practice

Revised 05/29/2026