Each year, more than 200,000 service members leave the military, but only a small fraction—0.03%—use their G.I. Bill benefits to pursue apprenticeship programs that can lead to skilled careers.
In response to this gap, the White House has issued an executive order with the goal of creating one million apprenticeship opportunities. The U.S. Department of Labor recently organized a roundtable discussion focused on ensuring veterans have fair access to these programs.
Many veterans do not consider apprenticeship options supported by the G.I. Bill because college-related VA benefits are typically more generous. Roundtable participants discussed new strategies to address this perception and identified barriers such as the lack of housing allowances for apprenticeships. They also noted that many veterans may be undecided about which trade they want to enter, despite the availability of unique opportunities in various fields.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) maintains over 1,000 collective bargaining agreements that include some form of apprenticeship training across hundreds of high-skill jobs.
Richard Evans, Assistant Director of the IAM Retirees and Membership Assistance Department, spoke at the event about how his organization works to connect veterans with union support systems.
“The IAM Union and the Machinists Institute have a program in Washington state that offers daycare, 24/7, so that our apprentices can work shift work if that is what is needed to stay in the program,” said Evans. “We have a myriad of support services built into IAM Union membership. We just need people to realize these support services are there and how to utilize them.”
The AFL-CIO Veterans program also provides specialized opportunities for veteran apprenticeships. Craig Romanovich, Director of the AFL-CIO Union Veterans Council, emphasized broader support for new members: “Unions care about the other 16 hours in the day outside your work,” said Romanovich. “If we can make life better in all aspects, you are going to be a better employee.”
