Members of First SMART Heroes Class to Become Journey-Level Sheet Metal Workers
Veterans graduate apprenticeship, ready for second career
DUPONT, Wash. — Two members of the first class of SMART Heroes, the unionized sheet metal bridge from military life to a civilian career in sheet metal, welding, and HVAC, are set to graduate in November and January.
Joshua Buckley, 40, and Richard Quintana, 55, were members of the first SMART Heroes class, which began in August 2017. Upon graduation from the program, they entered the apprenticeship as second-year students at Western Washington Sheet Metal, the training center of Sheet Metal Workers Local 66, in Dupont. This means Buckley and Quintana will graduate the five-year apprenticeship in four years — Buckley in November, Quintana in January.