Former Army Staff Sgt. Robert Swanson has spent the years since his 2016 transition out of the military building a civilian career that might make other veterans jealous. A graduate of the United Association Veterans in Piping (UA VIP) Fort Carson Welding Class 9, Swanson turned out as a journeyman in 2020. He is currently working WJ O'Neil.
How the UA VIP Program Helps Transitioning Active-Duty Service Members
The UA VIP Program is a DoW SkillBridge program that helps transitioning active-duty service members move from the military into the piping industry.
Based on a 118-day, 720-hour curriculum, UA VIP instructors teach students basic skills in one of three crafts: HVACR, welding or sprinkler fitting. They provide them with a basic pipe-trades education without having to use G.I. Bill benefits. They can also earn industry-recognized certifications that they can take with them after the military.
UA VIP Graduates are guaranteed a job with a UA signatory contractor and direct entry into the UA’s five-year Registered Apprenticeship Program, where they receive a debt-free education that sets them down the path to becoming a UA journeyman. UA apprentices earn good wages, full-family medical insurance and strong retirement benefits.
A Familiar Kind of Transition
Swanson, who relocated from Fort Carson to Highland, Mich., explained that moving from the military into the trades felt less like starting over and more like changing lanes.
“It wasn't much different than transitioning to the military from being a civilian,” he said. “They give you all the tools you need to succeed.”
Looking back, Swanson summed up the program’s value.
“It shows you how to move into a new career successfully,” he said.
When he started looking at the pathways to leave the military, UA VIP was not just one option among many for Swanson. It was the one he found that he felt gave him the best opportunity to begin a new career.
Hands-On Training for Real Jobsites
Once he started his UA apprenticeship, Swanson admitted there were still gaps to close, such as learning to solder, braze and fit up valves, but the foundation he gained from Fort Carson Welding Class 9 made picking up those skills far easier than starting from scratch.
Since completing his apprenticeship, he's worked on a wide range of jobs.
“I’ve worked on a lot of different projects, from general building trades work to nuke plants,” said Swanson.
This range of experience demonstrates how a UA journeyman card can open a variety of job opportunities for tradesmen and tradeswomen with the skills desired by general contractors.
Those who put in the effort and gain more certifications make themselves more employable, he added.
Advice for Future VIP Applicants
Swanson said he would point any transitioning active-duty service member toward the UA VIP Program without hesitation, as the ultimate benefits of being a UA member are worth the investment.
“Great money, top-notch training, best benefits around, and there's a brotherhood similar to the military,” he said, referencing his UA Local 190 Brothers and Sisters.
Swanson’s story is unique, but not that different from that of many other UA VIP graduates who have built careers in the pipe trades. Read more success stories from graduates across the country.
If you are a transitioning active-duty service member interested in a guaranteed career in the pipe trades, visit uavip.org/fort-carson-vip-opportunities to learn more about the UA VIP Program at Fort Carson.
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