IUEC-VAP Launches Local Area Veterans’ Committees

The International Union of Elevator Constructors’ Veterans Assistance Program (IUEC-VAP) is in the process of launching Local Area Veterans Committees across the United States. The program’s goal is to have a Local Area Veterans Committee at each IUEC Local to assist IUEC Veterans and their families with claims and disability support, apprenticeship and workforce access, and family and community wraparound services.

The following IUEC Locals have recently held their first Local Area Veterans Committee meetings:

18 (Los Angeles, CA / San Diego, CA / Las Vegas, NV)
2 (Chicago, IL)
4 (Boston, MA)
19 (Seattle, WA)
21 (Dallas, TX)
31 (Houston, TX)
71 (Miami, FL)
91 (New Haven, CT)
10 (Washington, DC)
25 (Denver, CO)

In the coming weeks, Local Area Veterans’ Committees will be launched in:

1 (New York, NY) – May 20
8 (San Francisco, CA) – June 18
23 (Portland, Oregon) – July 10

The IUEC-VAP is staffed by National Chairman Jason Gray, (IUEC Local 32, Atlanta, GA), who is an IUEC National Organizer and U.S. Marines Corps Veteran; National Co-Chair Ryan Donnell (IUEC Local 21, Dallas, TX), who is an Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund (EIWPF) National Coordinator and spouse of a U.S. Air Force Veteran; National Director of Programs and Education Ben Valinsky, who is a National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) Writing and Development Coordinator and U.S. Army Veteran; IUEC-VAP National Claims and Disabilities Liaison Jeff Handibode (IUEC Local 4, Boston, MA), who is a National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) Area Coordinator for Northeast Region 22 and a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, and Elizabeth Belcaster, who is the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund (EIWPF) Workforce Development and Public Affairs Specialist.

“We started this program so we could help and assist our Veteran members with their disability claims, educational benefits, and, basically, whatever they need as a Veteran,” said National Chairman Jason Gray. “Our Veterans need to know that we’re a resource. We’re going to do our best to help (you) in any way we can. I want the membership to know that and understand that, because the people on our team are passionate. We have a cause, we have a purpose and we’re going to get the job done – no matter what.”

A Strong Match: Military Skills and Elevator Work

Transitioning from military service to civilian employment presents unique challenges for many Veterans. However, the elevator industry has become an ideal landing spot for many military Veterans. Veterans bring a wealth of transferable skills to the elevator industry, which makes them highly sought after by employers. Many roles in elevator installation, maintenance, service, and repair require technical expertise, mechanical aptitude, and the ability to adhere to strict safety protocols — skills that military personnel cultivate extensively during their service.

The teamwork, discipline, and leadership inherent in military culture make careers in the elevator industry and other building trades a natural fit for Veterans transitioning back to civilian life. They are adept at learning new skills and technologies, troubleshooting under pressure, following directions, adapting to challenging situations, and collaborating effectively, making them valuable assets to IUEC-affiliated elevator companies.

Industry Demand for Skilled Labor

There is and will continue to be a growing demand for well-trained elevator professionals in the industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for elevator constructors are projected to increase steadily in the coming years. This growth, along with the camaraderie of a union, the focus on working safely as a team, and the comprehensive benefits package IUEC elevator constructors receive, makes the elevator industry an appealing choice for Veterans seeking long-term, stable careers.

Training and Certification Paths

Transitioning into the elevator industry involves specialized training and earning certifications in skills important in the trade. Along with other new elevator constructors, as soon as they begin work, they are enrolled in the IUEC’s National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP), which provides hands-on training in industry-specific electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical systems. As a USDOL Registered Apprenticeship program, NEIEP allows Veterans to “earn while they learn,” building careers without the burden of traditional college debt.

Additionally, IUEC elevator constructor apprentices who are military Veterans are often eligible for VA education benefits while they attend classroom and online courses as they work toward their mechanic’s license. The IUEC-VAP National Director of Programs and Education, Local area VAP committees, and Business Managers and Agents work together to facilitate the process for Veterans applying for these benefits.

“As a Veteran, we know how difficult it is to work through the paperwork and try to identify what’s out there for us to use. So oftentimes, we spend hours on the internet to try to find the answers. I’ve talked with so many apprentices who are Veterans (who) because it was an apprenticeship, and it was on-the-job training, they didn’t know that they qualified for the GI Bill*. And with that, the VAP is really working to ensure that they have access, and spreading the awareness that they can access those GI Bill* funds,” he said.

Success Stories: Veterans Thriving in the Industry

Many Veterans have successfully transitioned into the elevator industry and have found fulfilling careers. Former service members have climbed the ranks to become high-level elevator and escalator adjusters, project managers, company executives, and have held leadership positions in their Locals. Their capacity to lead teams, manage intricate operations, and maintain a mission-focused mindset has enabled them to excel in this dynamic industry.

Employer Support and Hiring Initiatives

Many companies across the building trades actively recruit Veterans, acknowledging their strong work ethic and specialized skill sets. Industry leaders have launched Veteran hiring initiatives, mentorship programs, and partnerships with military transition organizations to help Veterans seamlessly transition into the workforce.

The IUEC partners with programs like Helmets to Hardhats to support Veterans as they transition back to civilian life – and the IUEC-VAP was designed to pick up where Helmets to Hardhats leaves off, assisting Veterans and their families in applying for the VA education benefits and disability benefits they earned through their military service.

“At H2H, our direct focus is that Veteran recruitment pipeline, right? We’re really good at doing that outreach, educating them, and getting them these different training centers and Locals throughout the United States; that Local really has to take the charge after that by educating them and giving them a little bit of a helping hand to get them through that process – it can be a little bit of process working with the VA and understanding all the benefits out there,” said Martin Helms, Helmets to Hardhats’ Executive Director.

Elevating Veterans’ Futures

As more industries acknowledge the advantages of hiring former military personnel for the technical skills and leadership qualities they bring, opportunities for Veterans in the elevator industry will continue to expand. For Veterans seeking a rewarding and stable career, the elevator industry presents a promising path. With a robust job market, valuable training opportunities, and a culture that values discipline and leadership, Veterans are not just finding jobs – they’re elevating their futures.

How Local Area Committees Can Help

The IUEC-VAP Local Area Committees will play a very important role in helping IUEC Veterans and their families apply for and obtain the education and disability benefits they earned through their military service.

“The more people we can bring into the system, the more people we can help,” said Jason Gray. “So we’re really asking for help from the locals to reach out, talk to your Veterans, let them know what’s going on, they can in turn contact us. If they have questions, we’re more than willing to explain to them what our plans are, what we hope the program will become, and in the future grow this thing as large as we possibly can, but we definitely need the help of all the locals out there to spread the word and let our Veterans know we’re here for them.”

National Co-Chairman Ryan Donnell explained that the role of these committees goes beyond those initial “Your local Veterans committees can be more than just bringing information to us,” he said. “You all can form your own events, you can have your Toys for Tots drives, Veterans committees – Locals across the country have done these sort of things… you want to try to inspire some fun activities, if nothing more than getting the guys to know each other and know who the fellow Veterans are, who their fellow coworkers are, and promote some camaraderie in that way.”

For more information about the IUEC-VAP, visit https://www.iuec.org/index.php/veterans-assistance-program/.

If you are a Veteran or Veteran spouse who wants to register for the program, fill out the VAP form in the back of the Elevator Constructor journal or email va*@**ec.org with your name and contact information, International Union number, ULink ID, branch of military service, years served, and rank.

*Registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)