Career Opportunities in Piping for Transitioning Veterans | Fall/Winter 2018 7 Christopher Rogan was in the first VIP Welding class held at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. He felt lucky to have been given the opportunity. He said, “When I heard about the program, I was still in a leadership role, and I had soldiers beneath me who were getting ready to de- ploy. I knew what steps I would have to take to apply for the program, and I thought the timing would work out. My unit had been out of town training though, and the day I got back was the last day you could submit an application, and I had not even gotten my leadership’s signatures yet. It was fortunate for me that there was a delay for the start of the class because some of the equipment had not arrived, so it all worked out.” Today, Chris is a fourth-year pipefitter appren- tice with Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 286 in Austin, TX, working for Young & Pratt Mechani- cal Contractors, and he couldn’t be happier. He said he’s worked for the same foreman, Tracy Cooper, since he arrived. “In the VIP Welding program, Barry Richardson and Mike Smith were my instructors,” he said. “ey were very patient and calm and would just talk everyone in our class through everything. Welding on pipe is very different than welding on cars. at’s easy. I found the class challenging. Some of the weld positioning was hard, but then it all just fell into place. As graduation came closer, I really wasn’t sure where I wanted to be placed to continue my apprenticeship. My brother had moved to Austin, and I thought that would be cool, and I could hang out with him, so I came to Austin. I love it here. I have a house with my girl- friend now, which is down the street from my brother’s house.” Army Corporal Working Where You Want to Live Christopher Rogan