After returning to civilian life in 2024, Marine Cpl. Jaiden Sitton didn't spend long looking for his next mission.
Today, he's a sixth-term pipefitting apprentice with Local 290 in Oregon, working for MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions, the same employer he's had throughout his apprenticeship. He’s earning good wages while putting to work the skills he built as a member of the United Association’s Veterans in Piping (UA VIP) program, Camp Pendleton Welding Class 41.
What Is UA VIP?
UA VIP is a DoW SkillBridge program that helps transitioning active-duty service members move from the military into the pipe trades. Over a 118-day period, VIP students spend 720 hours learning basic skills in one of three crafts — HVACR, welding or sprinkler fitting. During that period, they have the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications.
Upon completing the program, graduates are guaranteed a job and direct entry into a five-year UA Registered Apprenticeship Program, where they will earn good wages, full family medical insurance and strong retirement benefits, without any student debt.
A Fast Start After the Marine Corps
Sitton, a resident of Dundee, Ore., said his transition out of the Marines and into the trades was smoother than he expected, in large part because the union was ready for him the moment he arrived.
“It was very smooth,” he said. “Local 290 in Oregon is known for a long waitlist for their apprentices, but I was able to start work a couple of short months after exiting the Marine Corps.”
That head start came directly from UA VIP’s guaranteed job placement and guaranteed admission into a Local’s JATC, and the training itself.
“It gave me the chance to go directly from the service to work,” Sitton said. “They prepared me with the knowledge to fit up and weld pipe, which is huge as a first-year apprentice.”
Hands-On Training for Real Jobsites
Since completing his UA VIP training, Sitton has built a broad base of field experience with MacDonald-Miller, working on rigging, fitting and welding carbon steel pipe, soldering and brazing copper of all sizes. He has also installed threaded pipe and bolt-up connections. Furthermore, Sitton has started developing more high-tech piping skills through additional classroom training. While learning a great deal, Sitton acknowledged that he could not master everything during the UA VIP’s 118-day program.
“The structural weld test was one thing I wasn't ready for,” he said. “Even though it's easier than a pipe test, I remember taking my first gate test, and they handed me two plates with a backing strip, and I had no idea what to do. But I also understand that you can only do so much in a few months.”
That kind of on-the-job learning, he said, is part of building a career in the pipe trades. The foundation provided by his UA VIP training allowed him to pick up new skills faster than other apprentices.
Why the Pipe Trades Made Sense
For Sitton, the appeal to learn a trade went beyond a paycheck.
“The knowledge you get from pipe fitting or plumbing, you can take home with you, and it's very valuable, along with the wages compared to other trades,” he said.
Advice for Future VIP Applicants
Sitton said he'd recommend the UA VIP program without hesitation to any transitioning service member weighing their next move.
“Do it. The union takes care of veterans, and if you're a hard worker, you can go very far in the trade,” he said. “I don't know any service member that's not trying to better themselves financially, so it should be a no-brainer.”
Sitton's story is one of many UA VIP graduates who are building successful civilian 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 career in the pipe trades, visit uavip.org/camp-pendleton-vip-opportunities to learn more about the UA VIP Program at Camp Pendleton.
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