Training program launches at Fort Moore

Fort Moore Army Base in Columbus, Georgia, formerly named Fort Benning, is now home to a Boilermaker training facility that offers training for soldiers preparing to leave service for civilian life. Service members accepted into the program begin training in their final six months of service in the military. Lincoln Electric and Milwaukee Tool are partners with the Boilermakers in this program, with another possible partner in the offing.

Despite the excellent nature of the project, the road was long and winding to open the doors. It took years—from 2019, when discussions began with career transition personnel to when the doors opened in 2023.

“With some calls behind the scenes we got it moving,” National Director of Training Jeffrey Hughes said.

The agreement with the Army allows Boilermakers to train exiting service members on the Army base with no rent or lease on the building. The union is paying for the building’s utilities.

Before any departing service members began training, the building needed a lot of work from demo to renovation. Hughes and his son spent a lot of time clearing the building out and putting it back together.

“We started this over three years ago, before COVID, working on the building,” Hughes said. “We’ve probably put $200,000 into this building.”

After being accepted into the program, soldiers are assigned to the Boilermakers for training. It’s their job for 16 weeks to show up every day and learn Boilermaker skills, with the first order of business—indenturing into the apprenticeship program on day one. When they’re ready to leave the program, and the Army, the union identifies the local lodge closest to where the service member will be moving and plugs them into that local.  Numbers currently stand at one graduate, three students getting close to graduation—with a total of eight in the program now and 12 signed up for the next class.

Hughes said they’re training departing soldiers in a program akin to a pre-apprenticeship program. It isn’t specifically an Army program, it’s a career services program under the government’s umbrella of Veterans Affairs which helps veterans find jobs after their military service has ended.

“We’re not going to have big numbers, but this is us giving back. Not all will go on and work in the Boilermakers, we know that,” Hughes said, noting it’s the same in the apprenticeship program. “But it’s an opportunity to help them prosper.”

Preston Chase, president of Local 108 (Birmingham, Alabama) has been teaching the recruits. MOST Programs’ Training Rep and Recruiter Jay Brophy and AD-NTDS Shon Almond, along with Hughes, have pitched in with construction and training along the way. Hughes said in the spring of 2024, they hope to have an open house with helping hands and sponsors.

Chase, who also teaches apprentices at L-108, said the soldiers he’s taught at Fort Moore are in their 20s up to early 30s and have spent from four to 11 years in the service.

“The group of young men and women that are in there, are some of the nicest, most respectful people you’ll ever meet,” Chase said. “And for them to be eager to get a trade under their belt is even better for me.”

The training begins with learning stick welding, moving to MIG and then TIG. By the end of the program, the goal is for the service members to have two years of the LMS completed and for students to have earned their structural welding certification. Once they’re ready and qualified for a test, they go to the closest welding facility to take their welding test.

Chase has 31 years in the Boilermakers. He said what he loves is being able to give back what’s been given to him. “One of the things I enjoy about teaching [at Fort Moore], is it’s giving back to them what they gave to me—my freedom.”