On this special Veterans Day edition of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Mike Hazard, Program Director of the United Association’s Veterans in Piping (UA VIP) program, joined the show to discuss the program, the need for more veterans in the skilled trades and the importance of hands-on training and post-military support. Since its inception, the UA VIP program has helped thousands of transitioning service members find stable, family-supporting careers in the pipe trades.
First, Hazard explained the structure and success of the UA VIP program. Aimed specifically at active-duty military members preparing to transition to civilian life, the UA VIP program offers seamless pathways into United Association apprenticeships and guaranteed jobs with their signatory contractors. Hazard emphasized the program’s rigorous structure—17 weeks and 720 hours of job skills training—that covers pipe welding, HVAC or fire sprinkler fitting. He credited the program’s success to the collective commitment of UA leadership and members who accept the challenge of providing free, high-quality training to service members at seven military bases accross the U.S.
Next, Hazard shared that the average age in the pipe trades is nearing 60 and he lamented the erosion of technical education in schools. He said that loss of technical education has left many young people—and by extension, transitioning veterans—without basic skills like reading a tape measure or using hand tools. Hazard has been encouraged, however, by the resurgence of technical education in certain states. He made it clear that veterans, through the UA VIP program and initiatives like Helmets to Hardhats, can help fill the labor gap while building lasting, rewarding careers.
Finally, Hazard discussed the comprehensive nature of the UA VIP program’s support for veterans. Beyond training, the program swiftly places graduates into apprenticeships and onto job sites, typically within 30 days. Hazard detailed how the UA supports veteran-focused legislation and strives to ensure there are no barriers to entry, offering the training program at no cost to participants. Hazard then urged listeners, whether veterans themselves or friends and family of service members, to learn more at uavip.org, emphasizing the gratitude and continued support veterans deserve from both the workforce and the nation.
For more on UA VIP and the whole conversation with Hazard, listen to the full episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast above.
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