The National Fire Sprinkler Association Seminar and North American Fire Sprinkler Expo is a leading event in the fire protection industry, bringing together contractors and industry leaders to share knowledge and advance fire safety standards.
UA VIP program staff participated in this year’s seminar to showcase their role in training and transitioning military veterans into skilled trades, including fire sprinkler fitting. 
In May, UA VIP Program Manager Mike Hazard, a Navy veteran and UA Local 296 member, led a conversation with panelists Kyle Shrum and Hailey Kluckman, both UA VIP graduates.
Together, they shared firsthand perspectives on what makes veteran transition programs like UA VIP successful, the barriers veterans face and what the broader community can do to support those who have served.
Hazard opened the panel with a personal story familiar to many veterans—leaving the military with little guidance and a world of uncertainty ahead.
“When I shared with my military command that I was going to exit, they pretty much kicked me to the curb with no real guidance for my transition,” Hazard said.
Fortunately, with several UA members in his family, he had a clear path forward—but for most, making the transition from military to civilian life can be overwhelming.
“Transitioning from the military is often the most stressful time in a service member’s life,” Shrum said. “Programs like VIP bridge that gap.”
Shrum, a UA VIP fire suppression instructor, described the DOD SkillBridge program as a bridge between military service and civilian life, offering participants free training and direct entry into a UA apprenticeship.
Kluckman credits her success to several factors, highlighting her UA VIP instructors for equipping her with the resources, training and support she needed to thrive in the program.
“I was about halfway through VIP and already knew I had a job waiting for me,” she said. “That was a huge relief.”
UA VIP proud to make a difference
This year’s NFSA panel provided a unique platform for the panelists to share their personal journeys and shed light on the impact of the UA VIP program.
Shrum appreciated the opportunity to connect with others and educate the broader community about the program’s depth and ongoing support.
“I think it was a good opportunity to talk to several other individuals about my VIP journey,” he said. “Those who attended the session were able to understand that we not only train our students as much as we can within our 118 days of class, but we maintain that bond even after graduation. We help with the support structure that they may have lost during their transition out of the military.
Kluckman said speaking on the panel was an incredible experience and described her participation as a way to give back and empower others.
“The VIP program has played a major role in my transition out of the military and I’m truly grateful for everything it’s done for me,” Kluckman said. “Being able to give back by sharing my journey and helping spread awareness about the program was both meaningful and rewarding.”
Kluckman also used her voice on the panel to advocate for women in the trades, calling for respect, inclusion and allyship.
“Women are veterans too, who have many of the same issues as men and maybe a few more, but at the end of the day, we just want an opportunity to be a soldier or a sprinkler fitter just like everyone else,” she said.
The panel highlighted the UA VIP program's technical training and job placement, as well as its lasting community and support network.
By sharing their stories, these VIP graduates helped inspire greater empathy and understanding for veterans transitioning to rewarding careers in the pipe trades.
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