Over 200,000 service members separate from the military each year. Only 0.03% use their G.I. Bill benefits to seek apprenticeship programs that lead to high-skilled, career-oriented jobs.
The White House has issued an executive order seeking to generate 1 million apprenticeship opportunities, and the U.S. Department of Labor recently held a roundtable discussion to ensure veterans get a fair shot at those programs.
Many veterans overlook apprenticeship opportunities supported by the G.I. Bill because the VA benefits for attending college are substantially better. The roundtable members were looking for unique ways and out-of-the-box thinking to change that perception. Many feel that the lack of housing allowance for apprenticeship programs is a barrier. Several had unique opportunities for specific trades, which many veterans may not have decided which trade to pursue.
The IAM Union has over 1,000 collective bargaining agreements that offer some form of apprenticeship training in hundreds of high-skill jobs.
Richard Evans, Assistant Director of the IAM Retirees and Membership Assistance Department, told the group that the IAM Union is always matching veteran needs to union support.
“The IAM Union and the Machinists Institute have a program in Washington state that offers daycare, 24/7, so that our apprentices can work shift work if that is what is needed to stay in the program,” said Evans. “We have a myriad of support services built into IAM Union membership. We just need people to realize these support services are there and how to utilize them.”
The AFL-CIO Veterans program also has unique opportunities for veteran apprenticeships, but it is about more than that for the new members.
“Unions care about the other 16 hours in the day outside your work,” said Craig Romanovich, Director of the AFL-CIO Union Veterans Council. “If we can make life better in all aspects, you are going to be a better employee.”
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