“We are looking to help Veterans in all aspects of their needs,” said Jason Gray, IUEC Local 32 member, U.S. Marines Corps Veteran, and Chairman of the International Union of Elevator Constructors’ new Veterans Assistance Program (VAP). “A lot of Veterans don’t understand there are benefits that are available to them…our plan is to get the word out and let Veterans know we’re going to be a resource for them if they have a need that’s related to their military service. We want to be that community they can go to seek assistance.”

Because teamwork, leadership, and technical skills learned in the military provide a great starting point for careers in the elevator trade, there are thousands of Veteran servicemembers in the IUEC. To support elevator constructors who are Veterans and spouses of Veterans, the Elevator Constructors Veterans Assistance Program (VAP) will assist them through the application process for education/GI Bill, disability, and other VA benefits they earned through their military service.

Leading the initiative along with Jason are Lead Officer Ryan Donnell (IUEC Local 21), Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund (EIWPF) National Coordinator, and spouse of a U.S. Air Force Veteran; Gil Duncan, IUEC IT Director and U.S. Navy Veteran; and Ben Valinsky, National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) Writing and Development Coordinator and U.S. Army Veteran. Together, they have been traveling to IUEC Locals in cities across the United States to share information about the VAP and how it can benefit Veterans and spouses of Veterans in the elevator trade.

Ben Valinsky is the VAP Director of Programs and Education at NEIEP. “I’ve talked to so many apprentices who are Veterans… because it was an apprenticeship and it was on-the-job training they didn’t know that they qualified for the GI Bill. The VAP is really working to ensure that they have access, and that we are spreading the awareness,” he said.

 

Veterans deserve our unwavering backing, and as Americans, it is our responsibility to serve as advocates on their behalf. Over the years, our union has had a number of conversations with individuals in the Veterans community – in an effort to understand the issues they face and to identify viable paths forward. Upon learning of the various obstacles faced by Veterans in their pursuit of the military benefits they are owed, our union’s leadership viewed this as an opportunity for the IUEC to intervene and provide valuable resources, including hands-on support in navigating the Veterans Administration (VA) benefits system.

VWhether a Veteran is trying to file a new claim with the VA or appeal a rejected claim, our new program will be there for IUEC members as a resource – as an extension of their toolkit – helping Veterans navigate any and all matters they may encounter.”

– IUEC General President Frank J. Christensen

 

Many elevator constructors who are Veterans came in through the Helmets to Hardhats program, which assists transitioning military service members with quality career training and helps them find employment opportunities within the construction industry. Others, like Local 2 member Nate Heffner, came in through NEIEP’s standard recruitment process. However they find their way to the elevator industry, the Veterans Assistance Program is another valuable addition to the benefits IUEC apprentices and mechanics receive.

Several months ago, the ElevatorInfo editorial and production staff traveled to Arlington National Cemetery to meet with the leaders of the IUEC VAP, Colonel David Sutherland (Ret.) of the Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services, Phyllis Wilson, the President of the Military Women’s Memorial, and Jan Scruggs, the founder of the Vietnam memorial wall. All expressed support for the IUEC’s newest initiative, and spoke about the positive things Veterans bring to the building trades.

“It’s not the skills alone that they bring,” said Col. Sutherland. “It’s the skills, knowledge, and attributes.”

“The skill sets that the military gives us are some of the things that we take for granted during our time in the military, leadership, teamwork, the ability to coalesce around a team and know that what you’re doing is incredibly important, not for yourself, but for the team,” said Phyllis Wilson.

IUEC General President Frank J. Christensen emphasized the importance of supporting Veterans in the elevator trade. “The Elevator Constructors are always trying different things. It’s our survival. And one of them is we’re getting better with our Veterans – our IUEC veterans, and really any Veterans out there that we can help out…I don’t care if it’s management. I don’t care if it’s non-union. If they need our help as a Veteran to get what is owed to them, we’re going to do it.”

“What I’m really excited about with this program is you have an organization now organized labor to help these guys get the benefits they deserve and that will have knowledge about the benefits that are available and it gives people a chance to reconnect,” said Jan Scruggs.  “When you sign on to be an apprentice you have a lot of challenges ahead of you but you’ve got yourself a really great career…I’m all about doing what’s right and organized labor always does what’s right.”

IUEC elevator apprentices, mechanics, and retirees who are Veterans or spouses of Veterans may register for the program by filling out the VAP form located in the back of the Elevator Constructor journal or emailing vap@iuec.org with their name and contact information, International Union number, and ULink ID, branch of military service, years served, and rank.

Visit the IUEC official VAP page to learn more and see an extended version of the video here.