Question for the pros

admin

I've been welding as a profession for about a year now in the USArmy. Had a few questions for when I make my transition back into the civilian sector to make finding a welding job a lot smoother and easier.1) Is being a certified Welder a must? I am going to try to get my AWS certs once I get enough expierence welding in each one and feel comfortable with it. So far it's been lack luster seeing as we're just filling holes with aluminum rod. 2) When my Grandfather went through, someone took him underneath his wing and showed him the ropes. Is it still like that? I'm sure I learned from pros, but I know the Military way of things and civilian things are a lot different.I can weld pretty good, I forget a lot of the theory but I've been poking around here and it's bringing back a lot of my memory. Just looking for anything I get before I can get back out there and land a decent paying job. Thanks
Reply:as i understand pretty much all the unions give priority to vetsDynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:being a certified welder is not a must... all the companies that ive worked for have their own test that they give, they dont care about the cert
Reply:helmets to hardhats via the UA is a program to get vets into pipewelding, they are on a few bases alreadyhttp://www.helmetstohardhats.org/http://info.helmetstohardhats.org/co...ng-pipefitting
Reply:I never welded on union jobs, but a lot of what I did had to pass x-ray. I've been out of that end of it 15+ yrs., so what I can tell you is dated. I welded pipe at most of the brand name refineries in the Houston area and offshore on the production platforms out of Louisiana. All of the construction companies I worked for have you take and pass their welding test(s) and any certification becomes the property of the company. I never saw any certification papers other than the ones I paid a lab for to test my welds.Turk and citizen smith both have better recommendations than the average welder can get, I'd check into both options. Good luck!Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches
Reply:citizen  has it. helmets to hardhats is what i was trying to remember. i myself am just starting to apply for some of the unions, and the first thing everybody asks is if you qualify for the helmets to hardhats program.Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:The UA is very active in helmets to hardhats, Ive worked with a couple of vets that came through on that program. Im pretty sure the UA has some welding training programs on some bases.  It would be a seamless move from one brotherhood to another.
Reply:Another recommendation for Helmets to Hardhats."The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government."  Teddy RooseveltAmerican by birth, Union by choice!  Boilermakers # 60America is a Union.