Page 20 - HIWT Spring 2013 World of Welding
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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.


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