Four recently discharged veterans representing the Army, Navy and Air Force completed an accelerated training schedule to become the 44th graduating class of the SMART Heroes program on Jan. 27 at the Western Washington at 2725 Williamson Place, in DuPont.
Graduates included Staff Sgt. Travis Banks and Spc. Nathan Ivanchuk, veterans of the U.S. Army; Senior Airman Chukwunoso Onwumere, veteran of the U.S. Air Force; and Construction Mechanic 3rd Class/Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Cork-Bennet, veteran of the U.S. Navy.
In order to graduate, participants completed the seven-week course, equivalent to their first-year sheet metal apprentice training (224 hours). Upon discharge from service, these graduates may choose to enter any of the 148 International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) apprenticeship programs in the United States and be provided direct entry and advanced placement as a second-year sheet metal apprentice, including a high probability of obtaining second-year apprentice wages and benefits.
The program — created by the International Training Institute (ITI), SMART and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) — helps participants learn a new skill set, which can lead to a civilian career once they’re discharged from the military.
Featured speakers during the graduation included Devin Leingang, business manager of Sheet Metal Workers Local 66; Josh Moore, ITI field representative and SMART Heroes specialist; and Rylan McKay, from MacDonald Miller.
The curriculum for the SMART Heroes program was created by the ITI, the education arm of the unionized air conditioning and welding industry. The ITI, together with SMART and SMACNA, developed the program in collaboration with Sheet Metal Workers Local 66, SMACNA Western Washington, and Western Washington Sheet Metal training center.
The first SMART Heroes program was launched in August 2017 in Washington and was established to provide free sheet metal industry training to active-duty U.S. military men and women who plan to enter the civilian life within the year and recent veterans, thereby assisting in a successful transition into the civilian workforce. The second location in Colorado Springs began offering the same training in August 2019.