--- title: JBLM Welding Class 28 students begin journey to a civilian career description: UA VIP JBLM Welding Class 28 students began their journey towards a future in the pipe trades and will graduate with a guaranteed job. image: https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/feature%20images%202023/United%20Association%20Veterans%20In%20Piping%20(UA%20VIP)%20Program%20-%20Joint%20Base%20Lewis-McChord%20Welding%20and%20HVACR.jpg --- [![United Association Veterans In Piping Program logo](https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/uavip-seventeen/logos/uavip-logo.svg "United Association Veterans In Piping Program logo")](https://www.uavip.org/) UNITED ASSOCIATION VETERANS IN PIPING PROGRAM [![Union Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and Service Technicians logo](https://www.uavip.org/hs-fs/hubfs/uavip-seventeen/logos/ua-logo-round-w-text-wt.png?width=798&height=798&name=ua-logo-round-w-text-wt.png "Union Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and Service Technicians logo")](https://www.ua.org/) Union Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and Service Technicians [Ë](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/jblm-welding-class-28-students-begin-journey-to-a-civilian-career#mobile) ## NEWS AND HAPPENINGS WITH VIP Take a look at some of the newsworthy items for the VIP program. # JBLM Welding Class 28 students begin journey to a civilian career - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [ UA Veterans in Piping ](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/author/ua-veterans-in-piping-vip) ###### May 15, 2023 4:41:00 PM ![JBLM](https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/feature%20images%202023/United%20Association%20Veterans%20In%20Piping%20(UA%20VIP)%20Program%20-%20Joint%20Base%20Lewis-McChord%20Welding%20and%20HVACR.jpg) Students starting in the United Association Veterans In Piping (UA VIP) program Joint Base Lewis-McChord Welding Class 28 are preparing for new civilian careers that include good-paying wages, quality full-family healthcare and retirement benefits. Thanks to their military training, the students that make up JBLM Welding Class 28 are all transitioning active-duty service members who possess traits that are valuable in the piping industry. This includes a strong work ethic and ability to work well on a team.  These characteristics combined with the training they are about to receive will positively influence their piping industry careers.   During the next 18 weeks, UA VIP Class 28 students will receive classroom instruction and hands-on training from experienced journeyman instructors. They will earn welding-specific industry-recognized certifications and qualifications as they advance through the program.  Certifications include but are not limited to oxy-fuel cutting, SMAW plate welding, SPAW and GTAW pipe welding and SMAW pipe spooling. They will also learn the advanced inner workings of welding through blueprint analysis and maintenance techniques for all types of piping systems.  By the time JBLM Welding Class 28 students graduate, they will know how to effectively measure, cut and weld as they install, maintain and repair complex pipeline networks.  Upon completing the program and transitioning out of the military, Welding Class 28 graduates will have a head start on their peers when they start their registered apprenticeship. ## A successful civilian career awaits Among the UA VIP program's most valuable aspects is its guarantee to place students in a UA-registered apprenticeship program at an agreed-upon location. Admittance into an apprenticeship program with guaranteed job placement allows the UA VIP graduates to learn from experienced professionals in the classroom and on job sites while earning a livable wage, pension and 401K for their retirement.  The UA VIP program offers various career opportunities for active-duty military members interested in the piping industry, including welding, HVACR and fire suppression.  Students can choose from any of the following locations to begin their training:  - [Camp Pendleton, California ](https://www.uavip.org/camp-pendleton-vip-opportunities) - [Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington](https://www.uavip.org/apply)  - [Fort Carson, Colorado ](https://www.uavip.org/fort-carson-vip-opportunities) - [Fort Cavazos, Texas ](https://www.uavip.org/fort-cavazos-vip-opportunities) - [Camp Lejeune, North Carolina ](https://www.uavip.org/camp-lejeune-vip-opportunities) - [Fort Campbell, Kentucky ](https://www.uavip.org/fort-campbell-vip-opportunities) - [Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia ](https://www.uavip.org/norfolk-vip-opportunities) Military members interested in applying to the above locations do not need to be stationed at those installations. Please contact your local Career Skills Program office to learn about specific eligibility requirements for application to a [DOD Skillbridge Program](https://skillbridge.osd.mil/).  The VIP program is 100 percent free to participants of the program and the Department of Defense. The program is paid for by members of the UA and their partner contractors.  Active duty-service members interested in applying are not required to have experience in their preferred trade. The UA VIP program is designed to prepare students with little-to-no experience in the pipe trades for an apprenticeship with the UA.  By joining the UA VIP program, they gain access to comprehensive on-base training programs, which provide them with the skills to have a long and successful civilian career. [![Learn More About The UA VIP Program At JBLM](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/687120/5ded556f-d788-4d52-b53c-6b2cfd84c045.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/687120/5ded556f-d788-4d52-b53c-6b2cfd84c045) [HVACR Service Technician](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/hvacr-service-technician)  |   [Veterans in Piping (VIP) Program](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/veterans-in-piping-vip-program)  |   [SkillBridge](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/skillbridge)  |   [Joint Base Lewis-McChord](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/joint-base-lewis-mcchord)  |   [UA VIP Pipe Trades Accelerated Training](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/ua-vip-pipe-trades-accelerated-training) ##### Comments ## faq FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS We’re sure you have lots of questions about the VIP Program. A lot of these questions can be answered in our FAQ area. Click the button below to learn more. [faq](https://www.uavip.org/faq) ## Video and Photo Gallery Take a [look](https://www.uavip.org/media-gallery) at everything the VIP program is doing for our returning veterans — through videos and photos. ![VIP Graduate David Adams](https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/images/VIP_Graduate_David_Adams_sm.jpg "VIP Graduate David Adams") ![VIP Graduate David Adams](https://www.uavip.org/hs-fs/hubfs/images/VIP_Graduate_David_Adams_sm-large.jpg?width=153&height=217&name=VIP_Graduate_David_Adams_sm-large.jpg "VIP Graduate David Adams") Pipefitters Local 455, St. Paul, MN, Apprentice David Adams (VIP graduate, Wisconsin Welding Class 2) is pictured on the job working for Pioneer Piping, Incorporated (PPI) at the Flint Hills Refinery in MN. ![Camp Pendleton](https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/images/Joe_Miller_Butte_MT_2.jpg "Camp Pendleton") ![Camp Pendleton](https://www.uavip.org/hs-fs/hubfs/images/Joe_Miller_Butte_MT_2-large.jpg?width=153&height=217&name=Joe_Miller_Butte_MT_2-large.jpg "Camp Pendleton") Camp Pendleton VIP Graduate turned out as Journeyman and makes a life in Butte, MT, with Local 41. ![Orry graduated](https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/images/Orry_Camp_Lejeune_02.jpg "Orry graduated") ![Orry graduated](https://www.uavip.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Photo_Gallery_/Orry_Camp_Lejeune_02_large.jpg?width=153&height=217&name=Orry_Camp_Lejeune_02_large.jpg "Orry graduated") Orry graduated on April 9, 2015 and affiliated with UA Local 455, St. Paul, MN. ![Jerry Heneha](https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/images/Jerry_FT_Sill_Class_01.jpg "Jerry Heneha") ![Jerry Heneha](https://www.uavip.org/hs-fs/hubfs/images/Jerry_FT_Sill_Class_01-large-1.jpg?width=217&height=153&name=Jerry_FT_Sill_Class_01-large-1.jpg "Jerry Heneha") Sgt. Jerry Heneha, A Battery, 1st Battalion, 31st Field Artillery, puts together a valve system in preparation for his final week of the United Association's Veterans in Piping program at the Industrial Training Complex Photo Credit: Ms. Marie Berberea (TRADOC) ![inaugural Sprinkler](https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/images/Fort_Sill_Class_01_800x600.jpg "inaugural Sprinkler") ![inaugural Sprinkler](https://www.uavip.org/hs-fs/hubfs/images/Fort_Sill_Class_01_800x600-large.jpg?width=217&height=169&name=Fort_Sill_Class_01_800x600-large.jpg "inaugural Sprinkler") Fort Sill's inaugural Sprinkler Fitter class began on 2 March 2015. ![SFC Michael Olsen](https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/images/VIP15FtHood-_104.jpg "SFC Michael Olsen") ![SFC Michael Olsen](https://www.uavip.org/hs-fs/hubfs/images/VIP15FtHood-_104-large.jpg?width=217&height=153&name=VIP15FtHood-_104-large.jpg "SFC Michael Olsen") SFC Michael Olsen and 1SG William Davidson presented their instructors Louis Purcella and Micah Tyler with a momentum from the class. ![SGT Howard Nash](https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/images/VIP15FtHood-_055.jpg "SGT Howard Nash") ![SGT Howard Nash](https://www.uavip.org/hs-fs/hubfs/images/VIP15FtHood-_055-large.jpg?width=217&height=153&name=VIP15FtHood-_055-large.jpg "SGT Howard Nash") SGT Howard Nash is headed to Harrisburg, PA, to affiliate with Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 520. ![Gail Pilecki](https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/images/VIP15FtHood-_038.jpg "Gail Pilecki") ![Gail Pilecki](https://www.uavip.org/hs-fs/hubfs/images/VIP15FtHood-_038-large.jpg?width=153&height=217&name=VIP15FtHood-_038-large.jpg "Gail Pilecki") Gail Pilecki was so proud of her son, SGT Jeremy Pilecki, on graduation day. SGT Pilecki will make his home in Houston, affiliating with Pipefitters Local 211. ![William Davidson](https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/images/VIP15FtHood-_017.jpg "William Davidson") ![William Davidson](https://www.uavip.org/hs-fs/hubfs/images/VIP15FtHood-_017-large.jpg?width=217&height=153&name=VIP15FtHood-_017-large.jpg "William Davidson") 1SG William Davidson gave the graduate testimonial. He will remain with his family in Waco, TX, affiliating with Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 529 in Waco, TX. ![Michael Olsen](https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/Photo_Gallery_/VIP15FtHood-_077_sm.jpg "Michael Olsen") ![Michael Olsen](https://www.uavip.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Photo_Gallery_/VIP15FtHood-_077_large.jpg?width=153&height=217&name=VIP15FtHood-_077_large.jpg "Michael Olsen") SFC Michael Olsen and his wife, Amanda, will remain in the area, affiliating with Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 529 in Waco, TX. ![SPC Chad Eberle](https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/Photo_Gallery_/VIP15FtHood-_032_sm.jpg "SPC Chad Eberle") ![SPC Chad Eberle](https://www.uavip.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Photo_Gallery_/VIP15FtHood-_032_large.jpg?width=153&height=217&name=VIP15FtHood-_032_large.jpg "SPC Chad Eberle") Alysa and SPC Chad Eberle will be heading to San Antonio, TX, with Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 142. ![SGT Lawrence Beller](https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/Photo_Gallery_/VIP15FtHood-_070_sm.jpg "SGT Lawrence Beller") ![SGT Lawrence Beller](https://www.uavip.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Photo_Gallery_/VIP15FtHood-_070_large.jpg?width=153&height=217&name=VIP15FtHood-_070_large.jpg "SGT Lawrence Beller") SGT Lawrence Beller, his wife, Brittney, and daughter, Nahla, will be making Houston, TX, their home, affiliating with Pipefitters Local 211. Mouse over thumbnails to view larger videos and photos or view entire [Gallery](https://www.uavip.org/media-gallery). ## News & Happenings ##### [More News & Happenings](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings) ## faq FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS We’re sure you have lots of questions about the VIP Program. A lot of these questions can be answered in our FAQ area. Click the button below to learn more. [faq](https://www.uavip.org/faq) --- ## Video and Photo Gallery Take a [look](https://www-uavip-org.sandbox.hs-sites.com/media-gallery) at everything the VIP program is doing for our returning veterans — through videos and photos. [Gallery](https://www.uavip.org/media-gallery) --- ## News & Happenings [News](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings)