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 16Career Opportunities in Piping for Transitioning Veterans | Spring/Summer 2016 13 parts, but when a welder understands the weld pud- dle and the process of welding, it’s very easy to teach the other techniques and processes. She un- derstood all of that, and once we started training, she took to it incredibly well. She had never stick welded before, but she just took to it. She was one of the first to pass a weld test, and she ended up having more certifications than anyone.” e way Rachel describes events in her life is as if there has been a plan all along—a plan, she feels, that has been already designed for her. She stated that her participation in the welding VIP program at Camp Lejeune is part of that predestined plan. “Going through high school,” she said, “in my junior year, I had the opportunity to attend a vo- cational school. I had always had an interest in au- tomotive mechanics. I grew up in an all-female household. My mom was a single parent. I don’t know where I got it from; I just always had an in- terest in vehicles and auto mechanics. During that time, I welded a little bit, but not much.” Rachel joined the Marines aer accompanying her brother-in-law to meet with a recruiter. At the time, it wasn’t her intention to join the Marines. As she described it, she “just happened to be there.” She continued, “e recruiter started talking to me. I was asked what I planned to do, and he intro- duced me to Motor T in the Marine Corps. ere Rachel LeBlance Cassidy Gunderson “WhenIfirstmetRachelIknewrightawaythat shewasgoingtobeanassettoanylocalthat shewasgoingtogoto.” – Billy Platt, VIP Welding Instructor, Camp Lejeune