--- title: UA VIP Camp Lejeune Welding Class 30 Members Graduate description: Congrats to UA VIP Camp Lejeune Welding Class 30! These graduates completed the SkillBridge program and are guaranteed union welding jobs nationwide. image: https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/feature%20images%202023/United%20Association%20Veterans%20In%20Piping%20(UA%20VIP)%20Program%20-%20Camp%20Lejeune%20Welding.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/ua-vip-camp-lejeune-welding-class-30-members-graduate#mobile) ## NEWS AND HAPPENINGS WITH VIP Take a look at some of the newsworthy items for the VIP program. # UA VIP Camp Lejeune Welding Class 30 Members Graduate - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [ UA Veterans in Piping ](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/author/ua-veterans-in-piping-vip) ###### Jan 9, 2026 11:30:00 AM ![Camp Lejeune Welding Class 30 | UA VIP Grads Start Careers](https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/feature%20images%202023/United%20Association%20Veterans%20In%20Piping%20(UA%20VIP)%20Program%20-%20Camp%20Lejeune%20Welding.jpg) The students in the United Association Veterans in Piping (UA VIP) Program recently graduated from Camp Lejeune Welding Class 30, and once they transition out of the military, they will begin their civilian careers in the pipe trades. A [DoW SkillBridge](https://skillbridge.osd.mil/) 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 schedule, the members of Class 30 learned the basic welding skills, taught by welding instructors Greg Abrams and Rachel Lablance through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on training. ## Where Our Graduates Are Going   Thanks to UA VIP, graduates are guaranteed employment upon leaving the military and still have their G.I. Bill benefits. They have direct entry into a DOL-registered UA apprenticeship. Working with program administrators, Class 30 graduates agree on the geographic area where they will begin their civilian careers. Once they transition out of the military, Camp Lejeune Welding Class 30 graduates will head to the following areas/Locals: - Scranton, Pa. — [**UA Local 524**](https://ualocal524.org/) - Washington, DC — [**Steamfitters** **Local 602**](https://steamfitters-602.org/) - Oklahoma City, Okla. — [**Plumbers and Pipefitters** **Local 344**](https://portal.issisystems.com/isite208/eremit.dll/20801/cm.asp?name=home) - Atlanta — [**UA Local 72**](https://ua72.org/) - Detroit — [**Pipefitters Local 636**](https://pipefitters636.org/) - Boston — [**Pipefitters Local 537**](https://pipefitters537.org/) - Knoxville, Tenn. – [**UA Local 102**](https://ualocal102.org/) ## A Proven Pathway: UA Veterans in Piping (VIP)   For active-duty transitioning military service members, the UA VIP Program is a gold-standard career training initiative. The program provides an intensive 118-day, 720-hour curriculum that allows students to develop in-demand pipe trades skills in one of the following industries: fire suppression, welding or HVACR. During the training, participants have the opportunity to obtain industry-recognized certifications and train in an environment built on safety and professionalism. The men and women who successfully complete the UA VIP Program will enter UA’s apprenticeship program and reap the benefits of the Earn While You Learn model. This means apprentices receive good wages as they work for a signatory contractor and receive additional classroom instruction to help them complete the apprenticeship and become a journeyman in their respective craft – all without taking on student debt. Additionally, as apprentices, they will quickly earn full-family health insurance and excellent retirement benefits. ## Congratulations, Camp Lejeune Class 30 Members   For members of Welding Class 30, while graduation from the UA VIP Program marks the completion of one phase of their life, it also signals the beginning of what comes next. Welding Class 30 members proved they could quickly learn the skills needed to work in the pipe trades. Congratulations to the members of Camp Lejeune Welding Class 30. The UA family is proud of your accomplishment. Interested in the UA VIP Program at Camp Lejeune? Visit [uavip.org/lejeune](https://www.uavip.org/camp-lejeune-vip-opportunities) to learn more about training opportunities for transitioning service members at Camp Lejeune. [Camp Lejeune](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/camp-lejeune)  |   [Veterans in Piping (VIP) Program](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/veterans-in-piping-vip-program)  |   [Accelerated Welding Training](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/accelerated-welding-training)  |   [UA Veterans in Piping](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/ua-veterans-in-piping)  |   [UA VIP](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/ua-vip)  |   [UA VIP Program](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/ua-vip-program)  |   [United Association VIP Program](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/united-association-vip-program)  |   [DoW SkillBridge](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/dow-skillbridge) ##### 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)