Page 20 - HIWT Spring 2013 World of Welding
P. 20
THE WORLD OF WELDING http://www.welding.org
DESIRE FOR ADVENTURE INSpIRES WElDER
the Army Commendation Medal for selfless
service during hostile actions, along with a
long list of various Air Force ribbons and
commendation medals.
His military service granted Paul access to
use the G.I. Bill benefit to obtain his B.S. in
business administration with a concentration in
management, graduating Magna Cum Laude
from Inter-American University of Puerto Rico.
It also allowed him to use the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill
to help finance his education at Hobart Institute.
Paul seized the opportunity to portray a soldier in
Iraq in the Universal Pictures film, Green Zone,
starring Matt Damon. He helped develop the
story and character through personal experiences
in a theater of combat and was responsible for
incorporating team-building and leadership
among twelve soldiers on the movie set with a
budget of 100 million dollars.
While attending classes at Hobart Institute,
Paul joined the Southern Ohio Forge and Anvil
Blacksmith Association.
“It has been fun learning more about forging,”
Paul Karsko poses next to the Welder Bob sculpture at the front entrance of Hobart said Paul. “The SOFA group has open forge
Institute of Welding Technology. every Wednesday evening and it provides an
opportunity to interact with a great bunch of
guys who are willing to freely share their talents.
A desire to do more with his life than to work in an office Forging is another trade in which there is great demand for
brought Paul Karsko to Hobart Institute for the Combination young workers.”
Structural and Pipe Welding Program. After working as an
insurance agent and a mortgage broker, Paul was ready for Paul is also a member of the American Welding Society, the
a change. In talking with his father, Paul Karsko, Sr., an Wounded Warrior Project, and several other military-related
ironworker, Paul learned about Hobart Institute and considered organizations.
welding. His dad said it was “the best welding school in the
country.” “Hobart is definitely military-friendly and welding opens
up so many avenues of opportunity,” Paul continued. “I am
Paul is currently from Boca Raton, Florida and has a wide willing to relocate or travel internationally in order to share
variety of experiences that have taken him to 17 countries. He my experience and get the best possible job, perhaps in the
joined the U.S. Air Force in 1998 where he spent the next eight aerospace or pipeline industries. In the future, I would like to
years in a variety of positions to include testing and inspection come back and take the Preparation for the Certified Welding
of aircraft. Inspector Exam Course and become a CWI. That, coupled
with my degree in business, should open many more doors for
“F-16 fighter jet pilots depended upon me daily to safely my future employment.”
inspect and test aircraft according to strict USAF guidelines.”
For information about programs or using military benefits
He also worked alongside the Army in Iraq to provide convoy at Hobart Institute, visit the website at www.welding.org
security as a machine gunner in 2004 and 2005. He received or call 1-800-332-9448.
20