An HVACR Service Technician Career Secured Before Graduation joined the Navy, it was to “see the world,” he said. He had been working in a grocery store right out of high school and felt that if he joined the Navy, he could always go to college later. He went into the Navy as an avia- tion electronics technician. He said, “I was on the USS Enterprise, and then when my ship got de- commissioned, I did a security billet for the last four years in Newport News, VA.” Eric’s ship, the USS Enterprise, was the world’s first nuclear- powered aircra carrier. Eric continued, “I saw a flyer for the VIP HVACR [heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration] Service Tech- nician program on the ship. I knew I wanted to get out of the Navy, but I really didn’t know what I wanted to do. e trades were really appealing to me, because I like to work with my hands, and I like fixing things. I knew this was a growing field and would always be needed.” Eric approached his chain of command, and the support team at the Navy’s Fleet and Family Serv- ices helped him prepare his paperwork for the pro- gram. Once he was accepted, Eric was surprised at how much information he learned. He loved the HVACR training module trailer that had all of the latest equipment installed in it. e mobile train- ing trailer, along with classroom training, was used through the entire program for hands-on experi- ence. “e program was fairly new for the Navy at the time,” he said. “I was in the second HVACR VIP class in Norfolk.” “I learned so much,” he continued, “and found it all really interesting. When I got close to complet- ing the program, I knew I wanted to go home to Austin, and I was really lucky to have an opportu- nity to join the apprenticeship at Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 286 in Austin. While I was still in the program, I had a phone interview with John- son Controls and was hired right away. at was such a huge weight off my shoulders. As soon as I arrived in Austin, I was given my own work truck that was stocked with all of the latest tools and a gas card. I take the truck home each night.” Eric said that most days he is assigned to work with a journeyman, but he does go on some calls by himself. He likes the work a lot. He likes that “he is doing something different and at a different loca- tion every day and always with a great crew.” He said, “I’ve been on a lot of different jobs. I can’t say I’ve learned everything, because there’s a lot to learn, but I do learn something new every day.” He described a typical work week as a week where he will receive an email, text, or a phone call CAREERops 8 When Eric Ratliff “The trades were re- ally appealing to me, because I like to work with my hands, and I like fixing things. I knew this was a growing field and would always be needed.”