Fort Carson Welding Class 33 Graduates Ready for the Field

The members of Fort Carson Welding Class 33 have graduated from the United Association Veterans in Piping (UA VIP) program. They have completed their on-base pre-apprenticeship training and are prepared to launch their civilian careers in the pipe trades.

A DoW SkillBridge program, UA VIP, is open to active-duty service members who will be in their 180-day transition window when the course begins and ends.

During the program’s 118-day training schedule, the members of Class 33 developed the foundational welding skills they will carry into UA apprenticeships and long-term post-military careers.

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 instruction, students learn basic pipe trade skills in one of three crafts: HVACR, welding or fire suppression.

UA VIP welding instructors taught the fundamentals of welding to Class 33 students through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on training.

During their time in the program, VIP students also had the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications that remain valid after transitioning out of the military. These certifications will help Class 33 graduates stand out from other apprentices on future job sites.

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 apprenticeship with all the benefits of being a UA member, including the opportunity to earn good wages, excellent full-family medical insurance and great retirement benefits.

Where Our Graduates Are Going

Working with program administrators, Class 33 graduates agreed on the geographic areas where they will begin their civilian careers. Once they transition out of the military, some Fort Carson Welding Class 33 graduates will head to the following areas and Locals:

• Boise, Idaho – UA Local 296
• Colorado Springs, Colo. – UA Local 58

Knowledgeable Instructors, Real Skills

For Army Sergeant and Class 33 graduate Johnny Henderson, the quality of instruction was what stood out most about the UA VIP program.

“Great program, very knowledgeable instructors,” said Henderson.

Advice for Future VIP Students From a Graduate

When asked what he would tell incoming VIP students, Henderson kept his message short and direct.

“Try hard, be better,” he said.

It is a simple standard, but in the pipe trades, where every day on the job is a chance to sharpen your skills, that commitment to continuous improvement is highly valued by UA signatory contractors.

Congratulations, Fort Carson Welding Class 33

Graduation is a milestone, but it is also the beginning of what comes next. The graduates of Fort Carson Welding Class 33 have put in the work and are ready to bring that same effort to their UA apprenticeships.

Congratulations to the members of Fort Carson Welding Class 33. 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 Carson? Visit uavip.org/fort-carson-vip-opportunities to learn more about welding training opportunities for transitioning service members.