Six active-duty members of the armed services and two recent veterans graduated from the SMART Heroes program at the Western Washington location Friday, Sept. 6, at 2725 Williamson Place, in DuPont. In addition to the sheet metal training SMART Heroes provides, this class also attended a presentation on suicide prevention.
Graduates included Spc. Zachary Watson, Pfc. Kaden Bumstead, Sgt. Jesus Najera (veteran), Sgt. Edward Warren, Sgt. 1st Class Allen Tagata, Spc. Mason Hrabak and Spc. Dajuan Casey-Johnson, all from the Army, along with Navy veteran Petty Officer 1st Class Ethan Petyak.
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 150 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.
For the first time, SMART Heroes cohorts attended a suicide prevention presentation as part of their training, brought to them by the Sheet Metal Occupational Institute Trust (SMOHIT), the mental and physical health and safety arm of SMART.
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 Josh Moore, ITI field representative and SMART Heroes specialist, and Devin Leingang, SMART Local 66 business representative.
SMART Heroes graduates received a certificate and a customized backpack with the SMART Heroes logo and motto, “from serving America to building America,” riveted onto it, courtesy of Milwaukee Tool. A breakfast celebration followed the ceremony and speakers.
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.
Additional information on the SMART Heroes program can be found at www.smart-heroes.org or by calling the ITI at 703-739-7200.
