The members of Fort Campbell Welding Class 28 graduated from the United Association Veterans in Piping (UA VIP) Program, completing their pre-apprenticeship training and taking the first step toward rewarding civilian careers in the pipe trades.
The UA VIP program is a DoW SkillBridge program designed to help transitioning active-duty service members in their last six months prepare for a new civilian career through industry-leading training and guaranteed job placement.
During the program’s 118-day training schedule, the members of Class 28 learned the foundational welding skills they will carry into UA apprenticeships and careers in the pipe trades.
A Proven Pathway: UA VIP
For more than a decade, the UA VIP Program has helped transitioning active-duty service members prepare for good-paying, in-demand civilian careers.
During the 720 hours of on-base training, students learn basic pipe trade skills in one of three crafts: HVACR, sprinkler fitting or welding.
Once VIP participants graduate and transition out of the military, they enter the UA’s five-year Registered Apprenticeship Program, where they will continue to build on their newly acquired skill set without taking on student debt.
VIP graduates are also guaranteed jobs with a UA signatory contractor in an agreed-upon geographic location. They will receive direct entry into a UA Local Union and receive all the benefits of being a UA member, including good wages, excellent full-family medical insurance and great retirement benefits.
A Word From Their Instructor
Fort Campbell welding instructor Chris Johnson kept two pieces of advice in front of Class 28 throughout the entire program — one for keeping composure on the job, and the other for keeping perspective on the bigger picture.
“Something that class heard from me almost daily was ‘stay calm and burn rods.’ Something that all classes hear me say is, ‘The UA is giving you the opportunity — it’s up to you to take advantage of it,’” Johnson said.
That combination — steady hands under pressure and the drive to make the most of what’s in front of you — will likely help the Class 28 graduates succeed during their apprenticeship training.
Where Our Graduates Are Going
Working with program administrators, Class 28 graduates agreed on the geographic areas where they will begin their civilian careers. Once they transition out of the military, Fort Campbell Welding Class 28 graduates will head to the following areas and join the respective UA Local Union:
- Indianapolis – UA Local 440
- Nashville, Tenn. – UA Local 572
- Daytona Beach, Fla. – UA Local 295
- Gulfport, Miss. – UA Local 568
- San Diego – UA Local 230
- Springfield, Ill. – UA Local 137
- San Antonio, Texas – UA Local 142
Congratulations, Fort Campbell Welding Class 28
Graduation is a milestone, but it is also the beginning of what comes next. The graduates of Fort Campbell Welding Class 28 put in the work, earned their certifications and are ready to take the opportunity the UA is offering them.
Congratulations to the members of Fort Campbell Welding Class 28. The UA family is proud of your accomplishment and looks forward to seeing you on future jobsites.
Interested in the UA VIP Program at Fort Campbell? Visit uavip.org/fort-campbell-vip-opportunities to learn more about welding and sprinkler fitting training opportunities for transitioning service members.
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