Former Army Specialist and United Association Veterans in Piping (UA VIP) graduate Zachary Botnick believes the UA VIP Program at Fort Campbell mentally prepared him for transitioning from a military career into a civilian career.
Many veterans struggle to find a meaningful career after transitioning out into the civilian world. Botnick says the VIP Program helped him immensely.
“This program allowed me to get out of the military mindset and into the real world mindset,” Botnick said. “By using my work ethic from the military and applying it to the VIP Program, I was able to learn a trade that can serve as a career.”
The VIP Program is an 18-week Career Skills program that equips active-duty transitioning military service members with entry level pipe trades skills. The program is free of charge and is open to all active-duty transitioning military service members. It is offered at seven military installations, nationwide.
Now a UA Local 9 apprentice, Botnick is thankful for the opportunity afforded to him by the UA VIP Program.
“The VIP Program showed me there is a life outside the military,” he said. “You can set yourself up for success with great benefits and great pay with overtime at a union of your choosing anywhere in the U.S.”
Upon graduation from the program and transition out of the military, VIP graduates are guaranteed job placement with a UA signatory contractor. In this new position, VIP graduates earn a livable wage and great benefits that extend to their family.
Not only do VIP graduates earn job placement, they also gain direct entry into the five-year UA registered apprenticeship program. As they complete this apprenticeship program, VIP graduates work full-time alongside skilled, seasoned UA members. On-the-job training is supplemented by classroom instruction from industry professionals.
UA membership gives VIP graduates access to great benefits, including full-family health insurance and retirement benefits such as a 401k and a pension.
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