Inaugural SMART Heroes Program Puts Military Veterans to Work
Being discharged from the military can be exciting, but the unknowns and uncertainties of civilian life can also be scary. Luckily for eight U.S. military soon-to-be-veterans, as well as many more to come, the unionized sheet metal industry has made easing that transition a top priority with the establishment of the SMART Heroes Program. On a crisp fall Oct. 3 morning, dignitaries from across the United States gathered at the Western Washington Sheet Metal DuPont Training Center to honor the program’s first graduating class.
Launched Aug. 15, the SMART Heroes Program was established to provide free sheet metal industry training to enlisted U.S. Military men and women who plan to enter civilian life within the year, thereby assisting in a successful transition into the civilian workforce.