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Marine engineering services team providing aftermarket support for U.S. Navy equipment

Training

Mission readiness starts with crews who know their equipment inside and out. At Fairbanks Morse Defense, we believe true expertise comes from doing the work, not just watching it. That is why more than half of every FMD training program takes place in a working lab environment, with your technicians’ hands on real equipment.

Our courses mirror the same intensive, certified instruction we deliver to our own technicians. We address both operator and maintainer requirements, and every program includes competence assessments so you leave with proven, measurable skills.

Why Hands-On Training Makes the Difference

Reading a manual teaches you what a component looks like. Turning the wrench teaches you how it behaves. We built our training philosophy around that truth.

Over 50% hands-on, every course. The majority of your time is spent in the lab, performing the exact tasks your mission depends on, from power assembly removal and engine optimization to control system troubleshooting.

Real equipment, real outcomes. Skills learned on live FMD engines transfer directly to the fleet, reducing repair time and helping prevent the breakdowns that take vessels offline.

Certified competence. Built-in assessments confirm that every technician meets the standard before leaving our facility, supporting your compliance requirements and your readiness goals.

The same training we trust ourselves. Your crews learn from the identical certified curriculum we use to prepare our own factory technicians. No shortcuts, no watered-down versions.

Flexible Training, Built Around You

At Fairbanks Morse Defense, we offer versatile training options designed to fit your needs—whether in person or on-site. Hands-on instruction prepare your team for peak performance, wherever they are.

Facility/Lab Training: In-person, hands-on instruction at our advanced training centers in Beloit, WI and Chesapeake, VA. Your team works directly with FMD engines, auxiliary equipment, and product-line systems under expert guidance.
Customer Site Training: Full-featured, hands-on instruction delivered on-site or onboard, using your own equipment. We bring our expertise to your location so your crew trains on the exact systems they operate every day.
Custom Training: We also offer custom course management to build a program around your fleet, your schedule, and your specific equipment.

upcoming training

course name
start date
Technical Skills Course 07/28/2026 07/31/2026 Chesapeake, VA 15 View details
Common Rail & SaCoSone 08/03/2026 08/07/2026 Beloit, WI 8 View details
PC2.5 Overhaul 08/03/2026 08/15/2026 Chesapeake, VA 12 View details
PA6B Overhaul 08/10/2026 08/21/2026 Chesapeake, VA 12 View details
OP 38D & 38TD Overhaul 08/17/2026 08/28/2026 Beloit, WI 12 View details
Common Rail & SaCoSone 08/31/2026 09/05/2026 Chesapeake, VA 8 View details
ALCO Overhaul 09/14/2026 09/25/2026 Beloit, WI 12 View details
Technical Skills Course 09/15/2026 09/18/2026 Chesapeake, VA 15 View details
PA6B Overhaul 09/28/2026 10/09/2026 Chesapeake, VA 12 View details
48/60 Overhaul 10/12/2026 10/23/2026 Chesapeake, VA 12 View details
Training Center

Beloit

701 White Ave
Beloit, WI 53511

Our Beloit training facility houses legacy FMD engines, digital solutions, and auxiliary equipment. Here, your technicians work through disassembly, inspection, and reassembly on the engines that have powered the naval fleet for decades. It is an ideal environment for crews maintaining proven platforms that demand precision and care.

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training center

chesapeake

733 Curtis Saunders Court
Chesapeake, VA 23321

Our Chesapeake training facility features four in-production FMD engines, two Welin Lambie davits, and Ward Leonard motors and controls. Most of our FMD product lines are also represented visually throughout the facility, so your team can see the equipment in person. Your technicians train on the same systems coming off our production floor, building confidence with current technology and a wide range of components, controls, and auxiliary systems.

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