Taking care of our veterans

We all could use some good news in these challenging times, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has some to share.

A few weeks ago, 14 active duty military service members graduated from the Alaska Electrical Apprenticeship’s Veterans Electrical Entry Program (VEEP) at our Anchorage IBEW/NECA Training School. This program provides a career transition opportunity from military to civilian life and a career in the electrical trades.

Our Alaska Electrical Apprenticeship School was the first Joint Apprenticeship Training Center (JATC) in the country to hold a VEEP class after successfully working with the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson leadership team to provide an opportunity for servicemen and women in their final six months of active duty to begin their second careers and complete their first year of apprenticeship training in an intensive, full-time course.

Anchorage is home to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, where thousands of U.S. service-members are stationed, often far removed from the places they’ll call home when their service ends.

Why is this important? Because transitions for military personnel can be daunting and economically challenging. After the VEEP program, US military veterans are already well on their way to new careers post-service either here in Alaska or anywhere in the country they want to go. Another reason is because as Alaska seeks to restart commerce and rebuild our economy after COVID-19, skilled workers will be in high demand and we will be ready.

We see this as a win-win.

The IBEW provides safe, skilled, and dependable workers who get state-of-the-art training in ever-changing fields that need workers who are reliable, value hard work and embrace new technology. We know from experience military members have a lot of responsibility and experiences in their careers that prepare them for jobs in civilian life and we have seen that shine through in our apprenticeship program graduates.

United States Army SGT Blake Valdez had this to say, “Thanks to the Veterans Electrical Entry Program I have had the ultimate question of “What am I going to do once I am out of the Army” answered. These past 7 weeks have provided me with the basic knowledge and hands on skills I will need to start my first apprenticeship.” Another recent VEEP graduate SPC Marc Anthony Villegas added this, “My experience with VEEP was definitely a great one, as I’m sure it was for the rest of the graduates. When I personally found out about it, I felt as if a weight had been lifted off me because of the possibility of attending.”

SPC Eric Daniel Ghegan had this reaction, “The VEEP program provided me comfort and peace of mind when getting out of the military and switching over to the civilian world, it bridges the gap, making for a smooth transition.

There’s something about moving from one brotherhood to another. It feels like people are there looking out for you and won’t let you down. Being in IBEW feels purposeful and there are so many specialty’s that you can do in the electrical trade and VEEP gets your foot in the door.”

These are just a few examples of the VEEP’s overall success and actual difference we are making for Veterans with action, and not just words. The other great thing? It’s affordable. The VEEP has no cost for participants thanks to sponsorship by Milwaukee Tools; its free! We can offer a skilled-trades program that delivers results and gives veterans what they need to take the next steps in their career and lives.

To keep this and the overall apprenticeship program working strong in Alaska, we will need the Alaska Legislature and the Alaska Department of Labor to lend full support over the long haul. Times of crisis like the one we see unfolding now highlight the need for essential, skilled workers to keep utilities and public infrastructure working so as a state, we can still take care of ourselves.

Congratulations to newest VEEP graduates: SPC Ashlee Buch, SPC Austin T Vales-Deehan, SGT Blake Hudler Valdez, SSG Demond Tremell Simmons, SPC Eric Daniel Ghegan, CPL Gregory Peter Mueller, SGT Hector Daniel Carrillo, SPC Madison Chu, SPC Marc Anthony Villegas, Matthew Wallace, SPC Quintavious Lamar Walker, MSgt Ryan Newbury, SPC Shady Raafat Mohamed and SGT Thomas Theodore Horin, and thank you for your service.

We are proud to know these and last year’s veterans and VEEP graduates, and IBEW Local 1547 plans to help this program expand across the country.

Dave Reaves is the Business Manager IBEW Local 1547.