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The members of Fort Hood Welding Class 32 have graduated from the United Association Veterans in Piping (UA VIP) program after completing their on-base training, easing their upcoming transition to 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 32 developed the foundational welding skills they will carry into UA apprenticeships and careers in the skilled trades.
UA VIP welding instructors taught the fundamentals of welding to Class 32 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 32 graduates stand out from other apprentices on future job sites.
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.
The UA VIP program offers nine training tracks at the following seven major military installations:
- Joint Base Lewis-McChord – Welding and HVACR
- Camp Pendleton – Welding
- Fort Carson – Welding
- Fort Hood – Welding
- Camp Lejeune – Welding
- Fort Campbell – Welding and Sprinkler Fitting
- Naval Station Norfolk – HVACR
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.
They are also guaranteed jobs with a UA signatory contractor. They will join a UA Local Union where they will receive all negotiated benefits, including good wages, excellent full-family medical insurance and great retirement benefits.
Where Our Graduates Are Going
Working with program administrators, Class 32 graduates agreed on the geographic areas where they will begin their civilian careers. Once they transition out of the military, Fort Hood Welding Class 32 graduates will head to the following areas and Locals:
- Atlanta – UA Local 72
- Dallas – UA Local 100
- San Antonio – UA Local 142
- Houston – UA Local 211
- Austin, Texas – UA Local 286
- Appleton, Wisc. – UA Local 400
In Their Own Words
The graduates of Fort Hood Welding Class 32 came into the program ready to work — and they leave with a solid understanding of what the trade demands.
“Every sunrise is a second chance to weld,” said Army Sgt. Brian Castelan.
“If you don’t like the hand that fate has dealt you, fight as hard as you can for a new one,” said Army Signal Operations Support Specialist Carlos Perez.
“Welding is pure magic. You command lightning, melt solid metal, and if you mess up and your piece looks like a flock of birds flew over it. Just cuss a little, grind it down and pretend you’re fixing someone else’s mistake,” said Army Sgt. Ty Alm.
Congratulations, Fort Hood Welding Class 32
Graduation is a milestone, but it is also the beginning of what comes next. The graduates of Fort Hood Welding Class 32 have proven they can handle the pace, do the work, and stay committed to learning.
Congratulations to the members of Fort Hood Welding Class 32. 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 Hood? Visit uavip.org/fort-cavazos-vip-opportunities to learn more about welding training opportunities for transitioning service members.
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