20 members graduate from Fort Campbell VIP Program Welding Class 6

The UA VIP Program is proud to announce all 20 members of its sixth Fort Campbell Welding Class graduated in mid-March.

The class, comprised of members of the Army, is now prepared to begin the next phase of their life as they transition out of the armed forces.

The class members – 19 males and one female – underwent an intensive 18-week training course to introduce them to welding and prepare them for an United Association apprenticeship.

Fort Campbell UA VIP Training Instructor Michael Smith called the work ethic displayed by this class as top-notch.

“I am very honored and proud of this class,” said Smith. “The students worked so hard to achieve their goals and to see them finish the class and move onto their Locals makes me very proud to be a member of an organization that helps transitioning soldiers train and receive jobs. No one does it better than the UA.”

Once the 20 new Fort Campbell VIP graduates receive their honorable discharge from the service, they will head to UA Locals across the country to begin apprenticeships and start their formal training to become Pipe Trade journeymen.

Upon arriving at a designated UA Local union, they will be placed into good-paying jobs with one of the Local’s contractors to begin on-the-job training, in addition to required classroom instruction for all apprentices.

During this time, the VIP graduates will have opportunities to branch out into different fields, if they so choose, including a potential career path to move beyond being a construction worker and into a roles as a foreman, supervisor, estimator, project manager or even own their own company.

“I talk about all the opportunities they can receive once they get to their Locals, such as branching out into the plumbing field as well as HVACR,” said Smith. “I tell them that the sky is the limit on what they can learn from the UA and they should grasp everything that is thrown their way.”

Smith also said his graduates are extremely excited to start their next journey in life. They will be entering a field where, thanks to their combined military and VIP skills, they can succeed.

The UA VIP Program congratulates the sixth Fort Campbell Welding Class and wishes them the best as they begin a new phase in their life as members of the United Association.

Any active duty member at Fort Campbell who will be leaving the armed forces can receive more information about the VIP Program by filing out this form.