From the Blog

Reporting for Duty as an Army Welder

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By Charles C. Wheeler Reprinted with permission: The AWS Welding Journal A long-time Soldier describes the journey of his welding career in the U.S. Army, including training, responsibilities, and opportunities Welding may not be the first job considered when a person intends to join the military, but for some, like me, welding in the military can become both a career and a passion. I have been in the welding field my entire military service, which spans 19 years. I have been stationed in Iraq, Korea, and Alaska, among other places — Fig. 1. Currently, I am a Chief Warrant Officer Three (CW3), Active Duty Army 914A, Allied Trades Warrant Officer. The purpose of this article is to share my experience. In doing so, welding educators can become more informed about a welding career in the U.S. Army and pass on that knowledge to students who might be interested in a military career. It is based on the “Welding in the Military” lecture I delivered as part of the American Welding Society (AWS) Education Program at FABTECH 2015 in Chicago, Ill. Basic Entry Requirements In general, applicants to the Army are required to have strong moral character, be able to pass a thorough physical and mental examination, and pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.* The Army also has strict regulations on tattoos and piercings, as well as hair and beards, but this should not discourage an otherwise qualified applicant from visiting a recruiter. Only the local recruiter or other authorized personnel can determine whether or not a person is qualified. allied-trades-specialist Many recruiters may not want to talk about specific jobs the applicant is interested in. This is partly because there are always high-demand Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) that need to be filled. For metalworking, MOS 91E Allied Trades Specialists are generally not in that category. If applicants get through their local recruiter, Military Entrance Processing Station, and enlist as a 91E, they can expect to go to Basic Combat Training for 10 weeks. Once individuals complete that stage, they will be shipped to Fort Lee in Virginia for Advanced Individual Training as an Allied Trades Specialist. Allied Trades Training Welding and machining together are Allied Trades. At one point, welders and machinists were separate jobs in the Army. A few years ago, as part of a larger restructuring effort, the two jobs were combined to form one MOS. So, if a school-trained welder joins the Army as a 91E, he or she will also be a trained machinist once training is complete. For most people, this is a huge benefit, especially those who already have a background in the trades. Personally, I have found it easier for skilled welders to learn how to be machinists than the other way around. Having the skills, experience, and knowledge of both trades can be a valuable asset to the Army as well as individual service members when they prepare to leave the service and begin searching for work. Training for Allied Trades Specialists is currently 19 weeks, 2 days and is conducted at Fort Lee in Virginia. The Ordnance Corps, which is the Army corps that oversees most maintenance-related fields, was moved around 2010 from Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland to Fort Lee. The Allied Trades hall, located on the Ordnance Center and School campus, houses modern equipment for Soldiers to train on. The course is laid out as follows:
  • Introduction to Machining (23 h)
  • Bench Layout Operations (52 h)
  • Lathe Operations (192 h)
  • Milling Operations (82 h)
  • Introduction to Welding (35 h)
  • Oxyfuel Operations (38 h)
  • Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) (54 h)
  • Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) (62 h)
  • Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) (88 h)
  • Army Unique (69 h).
Currently, in the initial entry phase, Soldiers learn machining on manual lathes and mills. The Army does use computer numerical control technology, but the initial entry course is not long enough to accommodate that type of training. It is taught later in a Soldier’s career. The Army welding school at Fort Lee is an AWS SENSE accredited facility. During the course’s welding phases, Soldiers weld in all positions, normally on steel, standard weldable grades of aluminum, and stainless steel. The course is designed for those who have never welded. The students start on a Lincoln Electric VRTEX® 360 virtual reality arc welding training simulator before performing actual welds in the booth. The Marine Corps uses the same school; therefore, the course’s portion called Army Unique is training unique to the Army. This is where the Soldiers learn how to set up and use our welding trailer, plus other Army-specific equipment. Ability to Earn Credentials For those who come to the school as trained welders, there are opportunities to advance through the course faster than their peers. In addition to moving ahead and getting out of training quicker, another advantage is the Army has recently begun credentialing welders and machinists at the school. This is an area I am especially proud of as it brings even more validity to our training. From AWS, this consists of achieving credentials in SMAW, GMAW, flux cored arc welding, GTAW, and oxyfuel cutting/plasma cutting. Also, from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS), this includes the following: Measurement, Materials, and Safety; Job Planning, Benchwork, and Layout; Drill Press Skills I; Manual Milling Skills I; and Lathe Turning Skills I. Credentials are becoming more and more important as technology and the need for greater skill increases. These are free of charge to the individual. With further experience and maintenance of earned credentials, the opportunities are further increased when the person leaves the service. Not everyone can leave the school with a folder full of certificates. Each person is evaluated throughout the duration of the course and only individuals with demonstrated ability are allowed to take credentialing tests, but the opportunity for a person who already has demonstrated welding skills to earn credentials can be far greater than for someone learning each process for the first time. Equipment Used The equipment Soldiers train with are mostly commercially available welding machines, generally modern inverter-based models, and cutting equipment. Most students start on a virtual reality arc welding training simulator. Once the students get to the Army Unique portion of the course, they learn how to set up and use our welding trailer, otherwise known as Shop Equipment, Welding (SEW). The SEW is a small trailer that can be pulled behind a 2.5-ton vehicle. It has a diesel-driven welding power source, suitcase-style GMAW machine, 300-A GTAW machine, along with associated tools, cutting apparatuses, and all the basics needed for a field welding job. Nothing else being guaranteed, anywhere in the Army that a 91E will go, there will be at least one SEW. Service Details A common question among new recruits is, “Where am I going to be stationed?” The Army has duty stations throughout the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and around the world. There is virtually no way to be able to say a certain person will be stationed at a particular location. I recommend Soldiers embrace a different environment and take advantage of the opportunities presented there. You’ll never know if you love Korean food without being stationed in South Korea or know what the northern lights truly look like from Alaska without actually being there. Solving Problems with Welding It is difficult for me to state specifically what Army welders do, because we do a little bit of everything. I say, “We solve problems.” I have repaired radiators, weldments on tracked vehicle hulls, and a plethora of other random items. Anyone with a little bit of skill can replace a transmission, yet only someone with great attention to detail can drill, tap, and insert 17 holes stripped in an aluminum transmission housing, all while it is attached to the vehicle and the person is lying in the sand in the deserts of California. I have repaired and fabricated more parts and equipment than I can remember. Each time, I learned something new and gained invaluable experience. I’m still sometimes surprised by the metal components Soldiers manage to break or the special tools I am frequently asked to fabricate. In-Service Opportunities There are many reasons why people decide to enlist in the military, but one of the most popular is education benefits. All Soldiers who serve honorably have access to the Post 9/11 GI Bill. The benefits in this bill can be transferred to spouses or other family members. One of the more popular education benefits while in service is Tuition Assistance. This allows a person who has at least one year of service to receive up to $250 per credit hour to take college classes. The cap is $4500 per year or 16 credit hours, whichever comes first. I have personally used Tuition Assistance to its maximum extent and earned associate and bachelor degrees. There are multiple other benefits that really depend on how long a person stays in the service. The Post 9/11 GI Bill can also pay for credentialing programs, like further AWS and NIMS certifications. As an example, I earned my AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) distinction while on station at Training with Industry. If a person stays in the Army long enough, he or she can submit an application to become an Allied Trades Warrant Officer. Generally, candidates will be a promotable Sergeant E5, have at least 60 months of documented excellence in the form of evaluations, and have at least the Advanced Leader’s Course completed. The Warrant Officer program is highly competitive. Warrant Officers make up only about 1% of the total Army population, and there are only around 80 Allied Trades Warrant Officers on active duty at any given time. A program called Training with Industry is also an option for those who choose to make a career out of the military. This is a collaboration between the U.S. Army and The Lincoln Electric Co. Soldiers competitively selected receive a one-year assignment at Lincoln’s headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio. They have the opportunity to learn from welding experts, attend seminars, and go to the company’s welding school, as well as other events. The program is designed so Soldiers gain knowledge that helps advance welding practices and procedures in the Army. Currently, I’m on this assignment. As a career military member, the opportunity for me to get out and experience more of the greater metalworking industry has been invaluable. Post Service Life Whether a person enlists for four years and leaves the service, or chooses to make it a career, there are many employment avenues available for separating service members. Many businesses have veteran-preferred hiring procedures, unions offer a variety of training and job placement services, and the Army mandates that all service members who are separating complete the Soldier for Life transition program, which helps teach skills such as interviewing and résumé writing. In addition, the Department of Defense Skillbridge program connects separating service members with employers and training opportunities. Conclusion Whatever the reasons for joining the Army, ultimately the experience is irreplaceable. The variety of fabrications, repairs, materials, and experiences in different locations are almost countless and ultimately invaluable. I highly encourage educators with students who seem like a good fit for the Army to encourage them to consider the military as a career option. We are in a time of reduction of forces, but there are always people leaving the service who need to be replaced. Students who have at least some education in the trades and who are motivated, self-starters are ideal candidates to become an Allied Trades Specialist.

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