Page 6 - Summer 2014 World of Welding
P. 6

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



            SUCCESS STORY

            BUILDING SHIPS WITH BRAD SHADE


            I started classes at Hobart Institute of Welding Technology  I replied, “Yes.”  He nodded his head and shut the curtain.
            in  late  2008. I took  the  9-month  Combination  Structural  I completed my tests and he looked at it. I was the only one
            and Pipe Welding Program without hesitation, knowing that  in the group to be hired in as first class with a hefty bonus.
            someday the pipe knowledge would come in handy in my skill  They were also impressed with my perfect attendance. Perfect
            trade. I graduated with perfect attendance in mid-2009. Every  attendance is HARD to do, but it’s something every employer
            time there was a demonstration or teaching, I was all eyes and  considers. If you graduate with perfect attendance you also get
            ears, soaking up as much as I could because nine months goes  your name displayed for everyone to see!  So having my name
            fast!  Graduation was right around the corner.  Whenever there  on a shiny plaque means I win, right?!
            was any ‘free time’…I was in my booth, burning. The saying
            is, “If you ain’t burning- you ain’t learning.”    I worked in the in Mississippi shipyard on the LPD 24 also
                                                               known as the USS Arlington, one of three 9-11 tribute ships
            I had heard that a shipyard that has military  contracts  was  which  I am  very  proud  of.  Work  eventually  got  slow,  but
            coming to Hobart to give welding tests to anyone interested. I  with my 1st class journeyman title, they offered me a chance
            decided to take the chance and test. On test day, their company  to go to their nuclear ship yard in Virginia. I saw this as an
            representatives  had messed everything  up inside the booth  opportunity and jumped at the chance. There I worked on the
            just to see if we could set it up properly. I went in my booth  USS Ford, one of the new classes of nuclear aircraft carriers. I
            and re-set everything up for FCAW and started my welding  received an offer to be transferred to their yard within a month,
            test  before the instructors got around to check on  me. The  but I refused with hopes of going back to the Gulf Coast once
            instructor peeked in while I was welding, and said to me, “Did  this contract was up and work picked up down south.
            you set this up?”
                                                                                 (Continued on page 7)









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