Five active-duty members of the U.S. Army and one from the U.S. Navy celebrated Veterans Day as the 43rd graduating class of the SMART Heroes program at the Western Washington location Monday, Nov. 11, at 2725 Williamson Place, in DuPont.
Graduates included, from the U.S. Army, Staff Sgt. Elfego Arteaga, Spc. Jeremy Russell, Cpl. Jared Duarte, Spc. Ethan Torres and Spc. Pablo Maldonado as well as Petty Officer Ryan Stephens from 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 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.
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 Washington State Representative Mary Fosse; Josh Moore, ITI field representative and SMART Heroes specialist; Lance Deyette, president of the Northwest Regional Council; and Sam Hem, 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.
