The UA VIP students in Joint Base Lewis-McChord HVACR Class 30 are halfway through their accelerated training.
UA VIP is a DOD SkillBridge program designed to help active-duty service members transition from the military into civilian life with guaranteed job placement.
At this point in their training, HVACR Class 30 students have started the process of selecting what UA Local Union they will join and begin their DOL-registered UA apprenticeship program.
Students are placed at an agreed-upon location anywhere in the country.
After graduating from the UA VIP program and transitioning out of the military, Army Staff Sgt. Kristopher Carbine will begin his apprenticeship with Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 400 in Appleton, Wis.
Army Spc. Evan Harper is headed to Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 572 in Nashville, Tenn., to start his UA apprenticeship.
Some graduates won’t leave the state and will begin their apprenticeship close to JBLM. Army Sgt. Ali-Alijah Al-Khuzaie will stay in Washington and begin his apprenticeship with Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 32 in Seattle.
Other students in HVACR Class 30 will travel to other parts of Washington, with others going to Arizona, Texas and South Carolina to begin their five-year apprenticeship.
Students have roughly eight more weeks to finish earning industry-recognized skill certifications, including OSHA 30, EPA 608, GWP/A2L Refrigerant Safety and UA-51 Brazing.
These certifications will help HVAC Class 30 graduates stand apart from other apprentices on jobsites.
Active-duty service members in their last six months of service who are ready to start planning their future are encouraged to apply for the UA VIP program, which is offered at the following military installations:
- Camp Pendleton
- Joint Base Lewis-McChord
- Camp Lejeune
- Fort Campbell
- Fort Carson
- Fort Cavazos
- Naval Station Norfolk
Further your career with the UA
For 118 days, JBLM HVACR Class 30 students will learn the fundamentals of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration through classroom instruction and hands-on training.
After completing the UA VIP program and transitioning out of the military, HVAC Class 30 students will join a UA-registered apprenticeship program and begin working for a UA signatory contractor.
While working as apprentices, UA VIP graduates will earn a livable wage and qualify for full-family medical benefits and retirement benefits, including a pension and a 401K.
Eventually, apprentices will go on to become journeymen, opening up even more opportunities for career advancement.
The work HVAC-R technicians perform is essential for the smooth operation of businesses, the comfort of individuals, and the safety of healthcare facilities and other buildings.
If you or someone you know is a transitioning active-duty service member in the last six months of service and is still looking for job opportunities, consider applying for the UA VIP program today.
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