Members of JBLM Welding Class 35 Graduate from UA VIP Program

The members of Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) Welding Class 35 recently 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.

Throughout the 118-day training schedule, the members of class 35 left a clear impression, as every member of the class earned at least one welding certification and half of the class earned three or more UA welding certifications.

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 in the pipe trades.

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

Once VIP participants graduate and transition out of the military, they enter the UA’s five-year Registered Apprenticeship Program, where they will build on their recently acquired skill set without taking on student debt.

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

Praise From Their Instructor

JBLM welding instructor Jeremy Rood has seen many classes come through the program, but he felt Class 35 stood out for many reasons.

“Class 35 was a tight-knit group,” he said. “Every day they showed up ready to work and gave 100 percent. Their dedication and hard work paid off,” he said. “Everyone walked away with at least one weld certification, and half of the class graduated with at least three welding certifications. I’m proud of what they accomplished and look forward to seeing where their skills take them next.”

That kind of consistent effort — showing up every day on time and pushing to earn certifications beyond the minimum — is exactly what sets most UA VIP graduates apart when they leave the military and start working for a UA contractor.

Where Our Graduates Are Going

Working with program administrators, Class 35 graduates agreed on the geographic areas where they will begin their civilian careers. Once they transition out of the military, JBLM Welding Class 35 graduates will head to the following areas and join the respective Local Unions:

• Pasco, Wash. – UA Local 598
• Western Washington – UA Local 26
• North Carolina/South Carolina – UA Local 421
• Missoula, Mont. – UA Local 459

Congratulations, JBLM Welding Class 35

Graduation is a milestone, but it is also the beginning of what comes next. The graduates showed up, put in the work, and earned credentials that will follow them throughout their careers in the pipe trades.

Congratulations to the members of JBLM Welding Class 35. The UA family is proud of your accomplishment and looks forward to seeing you on future job sites.

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 at JBLM.