Sgt. Rachel LeBlance is now the first female instructor for the United Association Veterans In Piping (UA VIP) program.
A UA VIP Camp Lejeune Welding Class 5 graduate in 2016, LaBlance has returned to where her career started to provide pipe trades instruction to men and women who are preparing to transition out of the military and return to civilian life.
“As for being a new UA VIP instructor, I am very grateful for this opportunity,” she said. “It’s not every day that you get to transition out of the military and be handed the skills and weld certifications needed for your new job, get eight years experience on the job and turn right back around to be an instructor to Marines.”
Now several months into her new position, she feels more comfortable in her role and has a great sense of pride.
“To be the first female VIP instructor brings a great sense of accomplishment,” LaBlance said. “Not necessarily because of being a female, but because just eight years ago I went through the same exact training and have the ability to relate to the Marines here. I try and use that as an education tool to guide the Marines along.”
After she graduated from Welding Class 5 and transitioned out of the Marines, LaBlance began her UA-registered apprenticeship through the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 101 in Mascoutah, Ill.
She topped out of the apprenticeship program in 2020 as a journeyman and went to work for Hayes Mechanical, where she performed mainstream piping, demolition, fiberglass pipework and maintenance crew work.
LaBlance recently returned to the UA VIP program to become a journeyman instructor at Camp Lejeune.
Being in the military taught her skills in persistence and leadership, and the UA VIP program strengthen those pre-exposed traits.
For Mike Hazard, UA VIP Program Administrator, Rachel’s success is not a surprise.
“Rachel has proven to be a true hard charging, results driven professional throughout her service in the Marine Corps and her career in the United Association,” said Hazard. “She is a perfect example to the service members and VIP students of what is possible through the VIP program.”
The UA VIP Program continues to encourage women to join the pipe trades and receive great wages, health insurance and retirment benefits. With many areas around the U.S. in the midst of a building boom, there has never been a better for women to enter the industry.
“I would definitely recommend the trades to other women that are willing to gain a life-changing skill,” LaBlanc said. “I’ve learned so many things just through the trades. I’ve gained experience in everything we do daily as construction trade workers.”
A civilian career you deserve
UA VIP is a DoD SkillBridge Program for transitioning active-duty service members. The UA VIP program is 18 weeks and guarantees a good-paying civilian job with a United Association signatory contractor for transitioning active-duty service members.
In the last six months of a service member’s time in the military, they are invited to apply for enterance into the program. UA VIP offers training in either welding, fire suppression or HVACR at one of seven bases nationwide.
Once the graduates transition out of the military, they will begin a UA-registered apprenticeship at an agreed-upon location. Students will earn good union wages while they train and quickly qualify for quality health insurance for themselves and their families. They also will begin earning a pension and a 401K for their retirement.
Once they complete the 5-year apprenticeship program, the apprentices will become journeymen with numerous opportunities for career advancement. They can eventually go on to become a foreman, estimator, superintendent, project manager, or even a UA signatory contractor. On the union-side, they could become an officer or a training instructor.
For women who are considering applying to join UA VIP, LaBlance urges them to make the most out of the opportunity.
“Women coming into the trades should take everyday seriously and with an open mind,” she said. “Retain all the knowledge given to you and make the best of it. This life is what you make it, and that applies on the job as well.”
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