Page 12 - HIWT Fall 2012 World of Welding

THE WORLD OF WELDING http://www.welding.org

THE VOW TO HIRE HEROES ACT OF 2011

NEW BENEFITS FOR UNEMPLOYED VETERANS

provides seamless transition for service members, expands
education and training opportunities for veterans, and provides
tax credits for employers who hire veterans with service-
connected disabilities.

Included in this new law is the Veterans Retraining Assistance
Program (VRAP), offering up to 12 months of training
assistance to unemployed Veterans. The Department of Veteran
Affairs (VA) and the Department of Labor (DOL) are working
together to roll out this new program as of July 1, 2012. VRAP
will provide training for programs of education that
lead to a high demand occupation, including welding, as
determined by the Department of Labor.

The VRAP offers 12 months of training assistance to
Veterans who:

• Are at least 35 but no more than 60 years old
• Are currently unemployed
• Received an other than dishonorable discharge
Hobart Institute of Welding Technology has a long history of • Are not be eligible for any other VA education
working with veterans dating back to the era of World War II benefit program (e.g.: the Post-9/11 GI Bill,

when returning military came to Hobart to learn to weld in Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and
order to become more employable. Today, veterans returning Employment Assistance)
from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other service points throughout
the world are finding that welding training greatly increases • Are not in receipt of VA compensation due to

their probability in finding gainful employment in long-term unemployability

careers. Presently, the demand in the job market for welders • Are not enrolled in a federal or state job training
is greater than the number of welders who are graduating from program
Hobart Institute.

As an Institute that is approved by the Ohio State Approving Participants must be enrolled in a VA approved program of
Agency for Veterans Training, HIWT welcomes those seeking education offered by a community college or technical school,

a great career. Recently, Congress passed and the President like Hobart Institute. The program must lead to an Associate
has signed into law, the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 that Degree, Non-College Degree, or a Certifi cate, and train the
Veteran for a high demand occupation. (Continued on page 13)

WATCH FOR HOBART INSTITUTE!

(Continued from page 8) welder shortage and how
schools might help to educate
AWS FABTECH about industry demands. Held
this year at the Las Vegas
This annual expo anticipates over 30,000 visitors at North Convention Center November
America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, fi nishing and 11-14, over 1200 companies
welding event. Scott Mazzulla of Hobart Institute will be will be exhibiting. Hobart
presenting “Critical Roles for Welding Trade Schools,” as one Institute invites you to visit
of the professional programs. He will be discussing the them in Booth N5819.

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