Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16The United Association’s Veterans in Piping® (VIP®) program has been recognized at the highest levels of the U.S. government as the most outstanding private-sector veterans’ employment program in the nation. In 2011, the Military Offi- cers Association of America (MOAA) added to this recognition by presenting the United Associ- ation with its Distinguished Service Award. General President Bill Hite accepted the award at an impressive ceremony in the historic Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C. In making the award, U.S. Navy Admiral (retired) Charles S. Abbot said that Gen- eral President Hite and the UA “are leading the way in helping veterans find meaningful jobs in the construction industry.” “His organization leads all others in training and placing veterans,” said the Admiral, who added his own appreciation of the VIP® program. This is the first time in the MOAA’s 82-year his- tory that such an award has been given to a labor leader. General President Hite, who has been a strong advocate for veterans through the UA’s VIP program, as well as Helmets to Hardhats, told the group, which included U.S. Senators and members of Congress, leaders in the corporate world, along with high-ranking military men and women and their families, that he is proud to lead an organization with a commitment to support members of the Armed Forces. “The UA VIP program is our chance to say thank you to those men and women who are laying it on the line every day, in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, protecting our freedom,” General President Hite told the group. The Veterans in Piping program has placed hundreds of veterans in jobs nationwide. Its success has enabled the United Association to express its gratitude to our military veterans, and it has also brought a new cadre of dedicated, disciplined and determined men and women into our ranks. An Award-Winning Program To date, the UA has trained over 1,000 service members through the Veterans in Piping program. Career Opportunities in Piping for Transitioning Veterans | Fall/Winter 2015 VIP graduate Tess Biesecker, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Welding Class 01, second-year apprentice