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 16What Are the Jobs? Welder/Pipefitter A welder works in every area of the construction industry where metals and alloys are joined. They will work with plumbers, pipefitters, sprinkler fitters, and HVACR technicians. Work will include installation, mainte- nance, and repair of all types of piping systems, as well as joining struc- tural steel brackets and supports for such systems. A welder has to work in many different environments and in all types of positions. Welders will study blueprints, drawings and specifications for the job and must measure, cut and weld using various methods and tools. HVACR Service Technician A service technician's work covers the general responsibilities for heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR). This would include the installation and maintenance of all sizes of heating and cooling systems for residential, commercial, institutional and in- dustrial applications. Some job-specific applications include complete gas piping installations, high-voltage electrical components, testing and analyzing, and startup of systems. Fire Sprinkler Fitter Sprinkler system installers, or sprinkler fitters as they are commonly known, have detailed knowledge of fire codes and the methods for in- stallation of sprinkler piping systems, and a responsibility for life safety in residential, commercial and industrial applications. They install wet, dry, pre-action, deluge, and chemical fire protection and extinguishing systems, just to name a few. As a sprinkler fitter you will install and maintain high- and low-pressure piping, equipment and devices to supply fire protection systems with water, foam, carbon dioxide, and other materials in hospitals, commer- cial buildings, manufacturing plants, homes, and in apartment buildings. Plumbing Our contractors and members are actively engaged in plumbing instal- lation, repair, service and maintenance of piping and plumbing systems and equipment used for drinking (potable) water distribution, sanitary waste drainage, storm water systems and gas distribution. Our plumbers also work on technical installations for medical gas in hospitals and nursing homes, hydronic in-floor heating, solar thermal panels, heat pumps, cross-connection control and many other systems necessary for the health and safety of the general public. Our Contractor Partners We are fortunate to have forged strong partnerships with the Mechani- cal Contractors Association of America (MCAA), Mechanical Service Contractors Association (MSCA), Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Con- tractors Association (PHCC), Plumbing Contractors of America (PCA), Pipe Fabrication Institute (PFI), and the National Fire Safety Association (NFSA). Contents CAREERops Career Opportunities in Piping for Transitioning Veterans | Spring/Summer 2016 A Marine Comes Home and Finds Solace in Colorado 7 Army Soldier Transitions to Installing Lifesaving Fire Suppression Systems 10 Women in the Military Embrace New Roles as Pipefitter Welders 12 Find Your Future: VIP® Programs Across the Nation 14 5 On the Cover Third-year Local 633, Owensboro, KY, VIP ap- prentice, Drew Parham, is shown working at the new Paradise Combined-Cycle Plant owned by Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in Kentucky. He is employed by Kiewit Power Constructors. Brother Parham graduated from the VIP Weld- ing program at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) and has been employed ever since. He said, “The program itself was set up really well. I grew up in Greenville, KY. I knew I wanted to come to Owensboro. Everyone in my class went where they wanted to go. I was an Infantryman, and I was deployed four times to Afghanistan over a four-year span. I was really fortunate to find this program. After gradua- tion, I took a month off. The local was willing to work with me before I started. I called my Business Manager on a Friday, and I was out here the following Tuesday. “I have great benefits for my wife and infant daughter. I think about all the different options with the UA. One thing I like is the availability to travel when work is slow in this area. That creates stability, as long as you’re willing to travel. It’s good that option is always there, and wages are just about as high as you can get, particularly without a college education.”