Page 8 - WOW Summer 2023

CWI CORNER
CWI CORNER BY ROLINE PASCAL

BY ROLINE PASCAL

Reporting for Duty: A Marine Corps Welder Finds a New Career in the Classroom Reporting for Duty: A Marine Corps Welder

By: Roline Pascal Finds a New Career in the Classroom
Reporting for Duty: A Marine Corps Welder
Finds a New Career in the Classroom a certif-icate in CNC machining.
Blaine C. Lowry had never showed an interest in welding. But he knew
from a very young age that he wanted to join the military. He had several He enrolled at Hobart Institute of
relatives who’d served, and they would recount their experiences to him. Welding Technology (HIWT), Troy,
He attended welding school at Aber-
In fact, his grandfa-ther, an Air Force flight navigator during the Cold War, Ohio, in 2012 and grad-uated with deen Proving Ground in Maryland. became an AWS Certified Welding
Inspector (CWI).
was primarily responsible for his decision to join the armed forces. After high honors the following year. However, welding was not something 1. Why did you decide to
speaking to several recruiters from various service branches, Lowry opted At the end of 2014, he joined the that came easily for Lowry. He struggled become an AWS CWI?
for the U.S. Marine Corps. It wasn’t until he joined the Marines that his school as a skills instructor. through school. But he wanted to make When I hired on [to HIWT], the career
the best of it, so he stuck with it and
passion for welding emerged. Welding
He attended welding school at Aber- became an AWS Certified Lowry held several positions at the completed the program. After, he was path for a skill instructor was to cross-
deen Proving Ground in Maryland. Inspector (CWI). institute, including second shift stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp train in all skill classes, and then you
In 2006, Lowry signed his enlist-ment contract. At the time he joined,
However, welding was not something he was required to choose a military occupational specialty (MOS), and supervisor and skills supervisor. Blaine C. Lowry Lejeune in North Carolina and was could put in to take the CWI test. It was
Blaine C. Lowry
th
assigned to Bridge Co.’s 8 Engineer
that came easily for Lowry. He struggled 1. Why did you decide to Support Battalion. Lowry was one of a natural career progression.
he chose Engineer, Construction, Facili-ties & Equipment and Ground
through school. But he wanted to make become an AWS CWI? Most recently, his primary focus two welders assigned to maintenance. 2. What inspection processes
the best of it, so he stuck with it and Ordnance Maintenance, which included ord-nance tech, small arms has been curriculum development. In 2018, he became an AWS Certified It was at the maintenance shop where do you use at HIWT? What
When I hired on [to HIWT], the career
Blaine C. Lowry had never showed an
repair, engineer mechanic, and metal worker. He hoped to receive small
completed the program. After, he was path for a skill instructor was to cross- Welding Inspector (CWI). interest in welding. But he knew from a he learned to love welding. welding/inspection processes
Every day was a new experience, and do you teach at HIWT?
arms repair as he had been shooting since a very young age, and firearms
stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp train in all skill classes, and then you 1. Why did you decide to become an AWS CWI? he began to perfect his craft. In 2012,
very young age that he wanted to join the
were one of his hobbies. Due to the Marines’ MOS quotas, he was given
Lejeune in North Carolina and was could put in to take the CWI test. It was military. He had several relatives who’d he was released from active duty. Visual testing is the only nondestruc-
served, and they would recount their
Blaine C. Lowry assigned to Bridge Co.’s 8 Engineer a natural career progression. When I hired on [to HIWT], the career path for a skill instructor was to After his service, Lowry worked a tive inspection process I utilize on a
th
metal worker (welder).
experiences to him. In fact, his grandfa-
Support Battalion. Lowry was one of cross-train in all skill classes, and then you could put in to take the CWI couple of welding jobs. He was a welder/ regular basis. We also use leak testing
ther, an Air Force flight navigator during
He attended welding school at Aber-deen Proving Ground in Maryland.
two welders assigned to maintenance. 2. What inspection processes test. It was a natural career progression. the Cold War, was primarily responsible fabricator at Carpenter Welding, Bea-
However, welding was not something that came easily for Lowry. He
It was at the maintenance shop where do you use at HIWT? What for his decision to join the armed forces. vercreek, Ohio, for about six months
After speaking to several recruiters from
Blaine C. Lowry had never showed an he learned to love welding. welding/inspection processes 2. What inspection processes do you use at HIWT? What welding/ then joined the Army Corps of Engi-
struggled through school. But he wanted to make the best of it, so he
various service branches, Lowry opted
interest in welding. But he knew from a stuck with it and completed the program. After, he was stationed at inspection processes do you teach at HIWT? neers for a short period as a deck hand/
for the U.S. Marine Corps. It wasn’t until
very young age that he wanted to join the Every day was a new experience, and do you teach at HIWT? Visual testing is the only nondestructive inspection process I utilize on a welder on a barge. At Endolite, Miamis-
burg, Ohio, he worked as a machinist
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and was assigned
he joined the Marines that his passion
military. He had several relatives who’d he began to perfect his craft. In 2012, to Bridge Co.’s 8th Engineer Support Battalion. Lowry was one of two for welding emerged. and worked part time in the deburring
Visual testing is the only nondestruc-
served, and they would recount their he was released from active duty. tive inspection process I utilize on a regular basis. We also use leak testing and penetrant testing for specific department. He was also attending Sin-
In 2006, Lowry signed his enlist-
welders assigned to maintenance. It was at the maintenance shop where
ment contract. At the time he joined,
experiences to him. In fact, his grandfa- After his service, Lowry worked a regular basis. We also use leak testing classes. Other nondestructive examination methods are carried out by clair Community College, Dayton, Ohio,
he was required to choose a military
ther, an Air Force flight navigator during couple of welding jobs. He was a welder/ he learned to love welding. other employees. For destructive — bend test, nick break, peel, etc. — I at the same time and obtained a certif-
icate in CNC machining. He enrolled at
occupational specialty (MOS), and he
the Cold War, was primarily responsible fabricator at Carpenter Welding, Bea- Every day was a new experience, and he began to perfect his craft. In have conducted tensile pulls when needed. We teach all of the commonly Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
chose Engineer, Construction, Facili-
for his decision to join the armed forces. vercreek, Ohio, for about six months 2012, he was released from active duty. used inspection methods. ties & Equipment and Ground Ordnance (HIWT), Troy, Ohio, in 2012 and grad-
After speaking to several recruiters from then joined the Army Corps of Engi- 3. How has being an AWS CWI been beneficial to your uated with high honors the following
Maintenance, which included ord -
various service branches, Lowry opted neers for a short period as a deck hand/ After his service, Lowry nance tech, small arms repair, engineer year. At the end of 2014, he joined the
school as a skills instructor.
for the U.S. Marine Corps. It wasn’t until welder on a barge. At Endolite, Miamis- worked a couple of professional career? mechanic, and metal worker. He hoped Lowry held several positions at
to receive small arms repair as he had
he joined the Marines that his passion burg, Ohio, he worked as a machinist welding jobs. He was Being a CWI gives me more opportunities to look at welding through a the institute, including second shift
been shooting since a very young age,
for welding emerged. and worked part time in the deburring a welder/fabricator at different set of lenses. The more information I can gather, the more I can supervisor and skills supervisor. Most
and firearms were one of his hobbies.
Due to the Marines’ MOS quotas, he was
In 2006, Lowry signed his enlist- department. He was also attending Sin- Carpenter Welding, Bea- relay to our students and improve their education while at the school. I recently, his primary focus has been
curriculum development. In 2018, he
given metal worker (welder).
ment contract. At the time he joined, clair Community College, Dayton, Ohio, vercreek, Ohio, for about can also ensure that they are held to a nationally recognized standard.
he was required to choose a military at the same time and obtained a certif- six months then joined
occupational specialty (MOS), and he icate in CNC machining. He enrolled at the Army Corps of Engi- 4. What words of encouragement do you have for individuals
chose Engineer, Construction, Facili- Hobart Institute of Welding Technology neers for a short period thinking about becoming an AWS CWI?
ties & Equipment and Ground Ordnance (HIWT), Troy, Ohio, in 2012 and grad- as a deck hand/welder I always tell my students if there is an opportunity to advance your
8 | INSPECTION TRENDS
Maintenance, which included ord - uated with high honors the following on a barge. At Endolite, career and better yourself, you should take it. Even if you do not use the
nance tech, small arms repair, engineer year. At the end of 2014, he joined the knowledge on a regular basis, there is always something to be gained by
mechanic, and metal worker. He hoped school as a skills instructor. Miamis-burg, Ohio, he learning something new. If anything, it can put you ahead of your peers
to receive small arms repair as he had Lowry held several positions at worked as a machinist and
been shooting since a very young age, the institute, including second shift worked part time in the and make you stand out as an employee.
and firearms were one of his hobbies. supervisor and skills supervisor. Most deburring department. He
Due to the Marines’ MOS quotas, he was recently, his primary focus has been was also attending Sin- This article, written by Roline Pascal for the May 2023 Inspection Trends,
given metal worker (welder). curriculum development. In 2018, he clair Community College, is being republished with permission of the American Welding Society.
Dayton, Ohio, at the Visit https://www.aws.org/publications/page/inspection-trends.
same time and obtained
8 | INSPECTION TRENDS
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