--- title: UA VIP graduate walked 68 miles for veteran suicide awareness description: UA VIP graduate and Marine veteran Jacob Blankenship walked 68 miles to raise awareness about veteran suicide and mental health issues. image: https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/Screenshot_20230523_205129_Facebook.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-graduate-walked-68-miles-for-veteran-suicide-awareness#mobile) ## NEWS AND HAPPENINGS WITH VIP Take a look at some of the newsworthy items for the VIP program. # UA VIP graduate walked 68 miles for veteran suicide awareness - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [ UA Veterans in Piping ](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/author/ua-veterans-in-piping-vip) ###### Aug 11, 2023 1:08:00 PM ![Jacob Blankenship walking 68 miles for veteran suicide awareness](https://www.uavip.org/hubfs/Screenshot_20230523_205129_Facebook.jpg) A United Association Veterans In Piping (UA VIP) graduate recently received media attention for walking 68 miles to raise awareness about military veteran suicide.  Jacob Blankenship is a graduate of UA VIP Camp Pendleton Welding Class 18 and a marine veteran.  On May 25, Blankenship and his family organized their first Ruck for Veteran Suicide Awareness. He walked roughly 68 miles from Findlay to Sidney, Ohio.  ![Screenshot_20230523_205310_Messenger](https://www.uavip.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot_20230523_205310_Messenger.jpg?width=503&height=306&name=Screenshot_20230523_205310_Messenger.jpg) “I thought it would be cool to start the walk where my life is now, with the UA, and walk to where my military career started,” said Blankenship.  With a 50-pound backpack (a ruck), Blankenship hiked along the Tawawa trails in Sidney, Ohio and concluded his journey at Tawawa Park on May 26.   “Tawawa Park is where I ran a lot to train for the Marines,” he said. “It’s miles long, and I ran that almost every day. It only seemed right to walk back to where my journey started.” Blankenship, a member of UA Local 776 in Lima, Ohio, joined the Local after he graduated from the UA VIP program at Camp Pendleton and transitioned out of the military.  The UA VIP program is a[DOD Skillbridge program](https://skillbridge.osd.mil/) created to provide military veterans with financial stability and job security after their sacrifice to our country and transition back into civilian life.   “Growing up, I always heard about unions, but I thought you had to be a blood relative to get into one,” Blankenship said. “Then, one of the VIP instructors told me they wanted my veteran work ethic and mentality in their union. He said I could transition into civilian life without a pause in pay. I was sold.”  Blankenship served four years in the Marines including a deployment to Japan. While on deployment, he lost a close friend and military brother to suicide. ![Screenshot_20230523_205129_Facebook-1](https://www.uavip.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot_20230523_205129_Facebook-1.jpg?width=430&height=451&name=Screenshot_20230523_205129_Facebook-1.jpg) “When that happened, it really took a toll on me; I had to do something,” Blankenship said. “I wanted to help community members understand how they can be that Local Brother to a veteran in their neighborhood.”  In accordance with his goals, Blankenship created the fundraising walk to help bring awareness to veteran suicide and mental illness. He plans to make the walk an annual event.    “My military Brothers always tell me they are having a hard time adjusting to civilian life, and awareness like this might help people understand what we’re going through day-to-day,” he said.  The second annual Ruck for Veteran Suicide Awareness will be held on June 21, 2024 at 5 p.m. at the Hancock County Courthouse.   If you have any more questions about the event, contact Jacob Blankenship (jacob.blankenship1995@gmail.com). ## UA VIP addresses veteran suicide   UA VIP applauds the efforts of Brother Blankenship to raise awareness about veteran suicide.![Screenshot_20230523_200323_Facebook](https://www.uavip.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot_20230523_200323_Facebook.jpg?width=488&height=323&name=Screenshot_20230523_200323_Facebook.jpg) Every day, an average of 20 veterans tragically commit suicide, according to the [U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs](https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/data-sheets/OMHSP_National_Suicide_Data_Report_2005-2016_508.pdf). Suicide is 1.5 times as common among veterans as it is for the civilian population. To help combat this crisis, the UA VIP[ created a Member Assistance Program (MAP)](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/map-certification-provides-mental-health-training-to-vip-instructors) to focus on mental health and suicide prevention for its students.  As part of the MAP, UA VIP instructors take mental health training courses, which helps them assist struggling service members. The program teaches VIP instructors how to recognize signs of mental illness, how to talk to students who may be struggling and how to get our students the help they need. Course instructor Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, an[International Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Impact Entrepreneur](https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/), and Eduardo Vega,[Founder of the suicide prevention organization Humanizations](https://www.humannovations.net/), teach VIP journeymen instructors how to recognize the signs of mental illness and locate students who may be struggling to get the proper help they need.   If you or someone you know is suffering a mental health crisis, [here are some resources](https://www.uavip.org/wellness) that can help. For immediate assistance, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. [Accelerated Welding Training](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/accelerated-welding-training)  |   [Veteran](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/veteran)  |   [Success Stories](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/success-stories)  |   [Camp Pendleton](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/camp-pendleton)  |   [UA VIP Graduate](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/ua-vip-graduate)  |   [Suicide Awareness](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/suicide-awareness)  |   [Jacob Blankenship](https://www.uavip.org/news-happenings/topic/jacob-blankenship) ##### 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)