It is a problem as old as civilizations that create armies and send them off to war; What happens when the wars are over and the warriors return home?

In the U.S., the record when it comes to taking care of its veterans has been spotty in recent years to say the least. Arguably, there are many cases in which veterans simply do not know where or how to obtain benefits and assistance that they have earned – combined with the physical and mental affects war can have on a soldier you can imagine the anxiety that arises.

In America today, the sad result is that there are an estimated 130,000 former servicemen currently living on the streets – and more than a quarter million who experience some form of homelessness in any twelve-month period.

The NECA/IBEW team is taking action through a new program administered by the Puget Sound Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (PSEJATC) is providing veterans opportunities in electrical construction through a new training program geared specifically toward servicemen and women. The Veterans in Construction Electrical (VICE) program is an accelerated apprenticeship program that can have qualified vets on the job in as little as three months. The full program runs five years, during which apprentices go on to learn electrical theory, circuitry, applied mathematics, wiring, conduit bending and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training and certification.

Since 2008, the VICE program has helped nearly 180 returning veterans achieve stable, high-paying employment.

To learn more about the VICE program and begin the application process, veterans who have been mustered out at any time over the past seven years can call (206) 381.1384 or contact the PSEJATC through the organization’s website at https://www.psejatc.org/forms/contact-form.aspx.

V.I.C.E. – Veterans Job Training Opportunities