CAREERops 10 the VIP welding program at Camp Lejeune included two women, and it just so happened that one of those women, Rachel LaBlance, graduated at the top of the class. Bill Platt, a member of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 630, West Palm Beach, FL, is the VIP welding in- structor at the Camp Lejeune, NC, VIP program. Brother Platt said, “When I first met Rachel, I knew right away that she was going to be an asset to any local that she was going to go to. She jumped right in and started unloading trucks, and to be honest, she outshined everyone. Rachel had some welding experience as a Marine aircraft welder— with different techniques, but a welder nonetheless. She was a TIG welder welding aircraft frames and parts, but when a welder understands the weld pud- dle and the process of welding, it’s effortless to teach the other techniques and processes. Rachel understood all of that, and once we started train- ing, 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.” Rachel graduated from the program with eight welding certifications and her OSHA-30. The way Rachel described events in her life is as if there had been a plan all along—a plan that had been designed for her. She stated that her participa- tion in the welding VIP program at Camp Lejeune was part of that predestined plan. “Going through high school,” she said, “in my junior year, I had the opportunity to attend a vocational school. I had al- ways had an interest in automotive mechanics. Growing up with a single mom in an all-female household, I don’t know where I got that from. I just always had an interest in vehicles and auto me- chanics. During that time, I welded a little bit, but not much.” Rachel joined the Marines after 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, “The recruiter started talking to me. He asked me what I planned to do, and he introduced me to Motor T in the Marine Corps. There are two avenues you can take—a mechanic or a driver. I was originally interested in being a mechanic, but I failed the depth per- ception test, so that avenue was no longer an option, and I became what they refer to as ‘open contract’ in the Marines. I was lucky enough that they filled me in as an aircraft mechanic. So, I went to Pensacola, FL, for my A School after I graduated from Boot Camp in ’09. Once I graduated from A School, I went to Naval Air Station, Oceana, VA, to learn the basics of avi- ation and airframes. I learned deposit, fiberglass, and carbon repairs, and I got my first distinction at Cherry Point, shortly after I raised my hand to go through a three-month welding program that taught me how to TIG weld. I could do welds that passed x-ray. I recertified every year and continued to do that for eight years. I deployed in 2011 as an aircraft welder. We were only deployed if there was an incident in which an aircraft needed to be re- paired. I was the only welder with my squadron, so it was a lot of pressure.” While in the Marines, Rachel got married and had two children, Colton and Mia. She felt it was time to go home. Her readiness officer told her about the VIP program, and right away, Rachel thought it would be the perfect fit. She initially had some concerns about whether the program’s start date would coincide with her transitioning schedule, but she credits her commanding officers from her small unit with making it happen. “The fact that they let me participate in this program was amazing,” she said. After completing the program, Rachel was as- signed to Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 101 in Belleville, IL, to continue with her apprenticeship training. She had family in the area and felt it would be a great place to raise her family. Local 101 is home to the Prairie State Energy Campus, which was built and continues to be maintained by UA e fih class for Embracing Her Skills as a “Rachel had some welding experience as a Marine aircraft welder— with different tech- niques, but a welder nonetheless. She was a TIG welder welding aircraft frames and parts, but when a welder understands the weld puddle and the process of welding, it’s effortless to teach the other tech- niques and processes.” – Bill Platt