The men and women willing to serve in the armed forces sacrifice a great deal to help protect our country. However, this service does not always result in a stable career once the decision is made to leave the U.S. Military.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has created a training program to help eliminate part of this problem.
The Veterans Electrical Entry Program (VEEP) is an accelerated pre-apprenticeship program for soon-to-be veterans. During the final six months of their service, members of the armed forces can enroll in the free six-month class, where they will learn fulltime and leave the service with credit for one year of electrical apprenticeship completed.
In coordination with more than 300 registered IBEW apprenticeship programs nationwide, the VEEP Program allows transitioning service members to select up to four IBEW Locals to join, and ultimately narrow it down to one.
As opposed to shipping the service members to a location they know nothing about, VEEP allows them some freedom when deciding where they will live and work. The program also grants direct entry into IBEW apprenticeship program, if room is available.
While the military trains men and women to protect our country, the IBEW wants to prepare these same service members for careers in the civilian world. Thanks to the VEEP Program, military service members are taught specific industry skills, which are directly applicable to the IBEW and its signatory contractors.
The program was created during the 2016 IBEW International Convention, when delegates voted in support of VEEP and sought further cooperation between NECA and the Electrical Training Alliance for providing veterans with training opportunities.
This is just another example of the IBEW supporting the men and women who have served our country.
To learn more about the IBEW VEEP Program, please click here.
