JBLM Welding Class 36 Graduates Ready for the Trade

The members of Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) Welding Class 36 have graduated from the United Association Veterans in Piping (UA VIP) program, completing their training and taking the next step toward rewarding 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 period, the members of Class 36 developed foundational welding skills through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on training. This provided the students with valuable knowledge they can carry into UA apprenticeships and their new careers in the skilled trades.

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 720 hours of pre-apprenticeship training, UA VIP participants learn basic pipe trade skills in one of three crafts: HVACR, welding or sprinkler fitting.

Once the VIP students 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.

VIP graduates are also guaranteed jobs with a UA signatory contractor in an agreed-upon geographic location. They will receive direct entry into that area’s UA Local Union and obtain all the benefits of being a UA member, including good wages, excellent full-family medical insurance and great retirement benefits.

Program Locations

The UA VIP program offers accelerated training in welding, HVACR or sprinkler fitting at the following military bases:

• Camp Pendleton (welding)
• Joint Base Lewis-McChord (welding and HVACR)
• Fort Carson (welding)
• Fort Hood (welding)
• Camp Lejeune (welding)
• Fort Campbell (welding and sprinkler fitting)
• Naval Station Norfolk (HVACR)

“I Would Go Through It All Over Again”

For Army Sgt. Mason Newman, the UA VIP program delivered from start to finish — even for someone who come in with no prior welding experience.

“I would go through the school all over again if I could,” said Newman. “For someone who hasn’t welded at all, the instructors were always knowledgeable and gave us the best opportunity to get ahead in the trade. Whether that’s doing weld tests or giving pointers on what areas we can fix. I would not change anything about how it was run. I thoroughly enjoyed my time during the course.”

That kind of experience, where a complete beginner feels well-prepared and supported throughout the entire program, reflects the UA VIP program at its best.

Where Our Graduates Are Going

Working with program administrators, Class 36 graduates agreed on the geographic areas where they will begin their civilian careers. Once they transition out of the military, JBLM Welding Class 36 graduates will head to the following areas and Local Unions:

• Bakersfield, Calif. – UA Local 460
• Cheyenne, Wyo. – UA Local 192

Advice for Future VIP Students From the Graduates

When asked what advice he would offer future VIP students, Army Sgt. Christian Toralba pointed to the single most valuable tool in the program: the instructors.

“My advice is to ask questions about everything,” said Toralba. “Don’t be afraid, because when I went through, the instructors knew all there is to welding.”

Congratulations, JBLM Welding Class 36

Graduation is a milestone, but it is also the beginning of what comes next. The graduates of JBLM Welding Class 36 have proven they can handle the pace, do the work and stay committed to learning.

Now, they are set to begin a new civilian career in the pipe trades.

Congratulations to the members of JBLM Welding Class 36. The UA family is proud of your accomplishment and looks forward to seeing you on future jobsites.

Interested in the UA VIP Program at Joint Base Lewis-McChord? Visit uavip.org/apply to learn more about welding training opportunities for transitioning service members.