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Graduates honored after completing Fort Campbell UA VIP Welding

Ft Campbell graduation - August 2017 (2).jpg

The United Association Veterans in Piping Program is proud to announce the graduation of its Fort Campbell Welding Class 7.  On Aug. 3, 11 active-duty members of Fort Campbell successfully completed the free career-training program that teaches transitioning military members basic welding skills to begin a successful career in the pipe trades.

Thanks to the UA VIP Program, these transitioning service members will not face the stress of searching for a job that most military members experience upon their discharge. The Fort Campbell Welding Class 7 graduates are guaranteed a job with a UA contractor, which gives them an opportunity to earn a livable wage.

Fort Campbell UA VIP Instructor Michael Smith said the service members who make up Welding Class 7 were extremely motivated to excel and are ready to start a successful career in the UA as a welder.

“It just seems easy to work with these soldiers in the way of their work ethic. They come in and go straight to work, and you have to tell them to come out and take a break for 10 minutes so the Lincoln Welding System can go through one cycle of cleaning the filters,” said Smith. “All of these transitioning soldiers work very hard every day to learn this skilled trade that we are trying to teach them, and are all humbled that we have given them the chance to learn it.” 

Fort Campbell - August 2017 Graduation

Fellow Fort Campbell UA VIP Instructor Barry Richardson, said he feels blessed to work with members of the U.S. military. 

“I am still in awe of a soldier’s work ethic and how they work so hard trying to learn a skill that will give them a great career in the UA,” said Richardson. “I always tell them to take advantage of the opportunity they have to learn a valuable skilled trade and run with it.” 

The UA VIP Program operates on eight military bases across the country. Active-duty members of the Armed Forces who are preparing to transition out of the service are eligible to participate in the free on-base career-training program. 

Once accepted into the program, members go through an accelerated 18-week training course featuring classroom education and hands-on skills instruction. Upon graduation from the program, graduates are given the opportunity to accept an apprenticeship with an agreed upon UA Local. Upon leaving the military, graduates will begin an UA apprenticeship and are guaranteed a job with one of their signatory contractors.

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