Earn Your Wings As A Welder

Earn Your Wings As A Welder

Are you in the Air Force and looking for employment? With advancing technology in all sectors and jobs, it's important for everyone to consider post-secondary training and education. To remain employable in a practical sense and to show potential employers that you have the skill set needed to do the job, earning a certification in a trade skill can be just the ticket to ensuring a stable future for yourself and your family.

Why Employers Want Welders and Tradesmen

With a majority of college students focusing on technology degrees or entering service fields, skilled tradesmen like welders are becoming increasingly rare, despite a rising demand from employers. No matter how technologically advanced a nation becomes, there will always be a need for someone to do the physical repair work on vehicles, buildings and machines.

Not only is welding a highly employable skill, but coupled with the practical experience learned while in the Air Force, you can become much more attractive to potential employers looking for someone with the right certifications, proven work ethic, and a willingness to continue training and education to keep up with modern welding technology and tools.

Fortunately, there are plenty of Air Force friendly schools, veteran school funding services and Air Force scholarships available in most states.

Planning Training and Finding Funding

Most regions have community colleges and vocational, Air Force friendly schools that offer a variety of training programs for welding and other skilled trades. Courses may last from six months to a year or more, depending on the level of certification or degree you hope to achieve. Schedules are typically very flexible at these schools due to the fact that a majority of students are adults with other obligations during the week, making it easy for most people to find the right class schedule.

There are also many different funding sources and Air Force scholarships available, both on a Federal and state level. A college adviser, student counselor or veteran employment specialist can help you determine what grants, scholarships and loans are available for you based on where and when you served, and what region you live and want to attend classes in.

Veteran funding and Air Force scholarships can make returning to school for welding certification a very practical, affordable choice. Some vocational schools and colleges also offer internships and help with job placement after training is completed, making it easier to land a position as a certified, skilled welder.

Train for a Welding Career

Train for a Welding Career

There is a trend sweeping America. Rather than attend a four-year university, many Americans are choosing to take up a trade. As businesses downsize, those who know a trade remain in high demand. This level of job security is appealing to young people. Qualified welders are an integral part of many industries. Welders work on ships, cars, design and construction projects. A certified welder will never be without job opportunities even in the worst times.

There are several options available to those who wish to become a welder. A potential welder can choose to take a welding certification course. A welding certification class can take a few weeks or several years. It all depends on the type of welding the student wishes to learn. After completing a welding course, the real work begins. For welders, on the job training is where they cut their teeth.

The Formal Education Phase of Welding Training

Though welding is a trade, that does not mean that there are not minimum requirements to take a welding certification class. Most require a minimum tenth grade education or a minimum score on an equivalency test. Qualified applicants will be in good physical condition, possess technical aptitude and a working knowledge of geometry. There are many avenues to choose from when beginning the formal education portion of a welding career. Many four-year institutions offer a welding concentration as part of an engineering degree. There are also programs available at community colleges and technical schools. The length of the time spent in the formal education phase depends entirely on how much time the student can commit to classes and the degree desired.

The Apprenticeship Phase of Welding Training

Upon completion of a welding certification course, the prospective welder is ready to begin his formal apprenticeship. The length of an apprenticeship varies from state to state and from discipline to discipline. The school where the student welder receives his education is a terrific resource for securing a position with a reputable company. Once the period of apprenticeship has been completed, the apprentice will become a certified welder.

Becoming a certified welder is no reason to stop learning. Welding is a constantly changing trade. A welder should always make sure his skills are current and constantly strive to learn new techniques. Welding is a trade that allows qualified practitioners to secure positions in a variety of challenging and stimulating fields. It is up to the individual to determine how far they want to go.

Welding: A Career Choice for Women

Welding: A Career Choice for Women

When most people picture the typical welder, they usually don't think of a woman in the job. They may assume that a man would prefer this type of physical, intense work. But, there are several reasons why the option of welding for women is a favorable one.

The Variety of Benefits with this Career

Certainly, welding work requires physical strength, stamina, and focus. Welders sometimes have to bend down to reach an area that needs welding or move in a way that is temporarily uncomfortable. A career in welding may help a woman to stay in good physical shape. After all, the tasks of a welder would require her to move around and exercise her muscles. A woman who is interested in a job where she is active and focused on the work at hand should consider a welder course.

Another benefit of welding for women is the regular hours. A welder works approximately forty hours a week. If a woman is searching for a career with a fairly normal schedule, she may want to look into a welding job. Sometimes a welder works overtime hours. It all depends on the type of welding that is being done and the time schedule of the project. A predictable work schedule is appealing to some women who have other things in their lives that they're dedicated to.

Enduring Work That is Appreciated

A skilled, reliable welder with pride in her work will likely be in demand by employers. Of course, years of successful experience in the career also contributes to earning more money in the field. Many people cannot perform the physical work of welding so a woman who can garner experience in the field and learn as much as possible will often find that her welding services are valued.

Welding for women can offer them a feeling of accomplishment and pride. A woman who contributes to welding a bridge or a ship can stand and admire her work. Each time she travels across a particular bridge she knows that she played a part in creating that bridge. Every time she sees people boarding a certain ship, she can enjoy a feeling of pride at being involved in the ship's construction. A welder's work endures.

A woman who is curious about the career field of welding should look for a welder course and learn more about the specific requirements of the work.

Independence, Missouri Residents: Consider a Welding Career

Independence, Missouri Residents: Consider a Welding Career

There is currently a shortage of skilled welders throughout the United States, and Independence, Missouri is no exception. If you enjoy working with your hands and you live in Independence welding career training may be right for you.

Welders Can Work Anywhere and Everywhere

Welding is a career that will keep you away from a desk and take you to a variety of locations. Welders can work just about anywhere: commercial construction sites, automotive plants, offshore oil rigs and even under water. And as our world continues to evolve, so does the welding industry. New welding jobs cropping up all the time such as in the field of robotics, where welding is required to help both build and maintain the robots themselves.

Types of Welding

There are several different types of welding including tungsten inert gas welding (TIG) and gas metal arc welding (MIG). Not only will a welding training program teach you different welding techniques, but you will learn a variety of skills needed to become a professional welder. Some of your coursework will include instruction in applied math, radiation, metallurgy, fabrication processes and quality management to name a few.

Always Consider Safety First

Because welding using extreme heat to bond two materials – usually metals – together, it is a job that has its fair share of potential hazards and dangers. Because injury can occur on the job site, it is critical for welding professionals to have a solid understanding of safety procedures. A welding Associate's degree program also includes training on safety guidelines and protocols and how to adhere to those guidelines at various job sites. You will also learn how to set up, maintain, spot problems and even how to troubleshoot and make certain repairs to your welding equipment.

Job opportunities are available to trained welders can find a variety of jobs in the mechanical and construction industries. With an Associate's degree in welding, not only can you find work as a welding technician, but you will also be qualified to work as a weld inspector and tester as well. For residents of Independence welding Associate's degree programs will prepare you for a career in a field that is in demand and is expected to continue growing over the next decade.

The Different Types of Welding Methods

The Different Types of Welding Methods

Welding is not only a binding of two materials, it is also a blend of art and natural support. The basic theory of welding is simple, to permanently bring two materials together, but these are the three primary welding methods that can be used in nearly every application.

The Art of The TIG Weld

TIG, or tungsten inert gas, is the material used for one of the longest lasting and practical forms of welding. Many welders prefer TIG during their welding training as it provides for the most leeway when it comes to the materials that can be welded with. One of the primary users of TIG welding is the aerospace industry, which prefers TIG due to the 'fillers' that can be applied to make very strong bonds. Other uses of TIG are practically limitless and it is perfectly suited to any aluminum or aluminum alloy products.

The Ease of The MIG Weld

Another very streamlined form of welding is the MIG weld, or metal inert gas weld. The initial costs are slightly more expensive due to the complexity of the gun, but welding training could not be easier once the materials are purchased. The MIG welding gun provides both the current and the force fed wire through the working end of the machine to create a very consistent weld. Special care must be taken when using a MIG gun as it is one of the slightly more dangerous welding methods. The light produced from the weld can often give 'arc eye', or swelling of the cornea, if eye protection is not used. Protection of some sort should also be used to contain the sparks from any nearby persons. Finally, due to the toxic gases released during MIG welding, it is suggested to use a mask or only weld in well-vented or open areas.

The Uses Of The Stick Weld

Stick welding is arguably the most popular style of method around the world due to its ease of use and the affordability of the materials. An electrical current is run through a consumable electrode of material which forms the bond. While this process is very simple to learn, it can also provide for poor bonds if not done correctly.

There are many other forms of welding, but these three in particular are some of the most common. They each offer a good blend of affordability, quality, and safety in the realm of welding.

Use Military Benefits for Vocational School

Use Military Benefits for Vocational School

Most service men and women join the military when they are very young and spend a great deal of their professional within its structure. While the reasons for joining military service are deeply personal, so too are the ones for leaving that service, but it carries more weight now than ever before to leave a career without being equipped to begin another one. The economy is not kind, but the military has recently begun to offer assistance to veterans for vocational study.

What is Veteran's Vocational Rehabilitation?

The Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation service is a program geared to veterans who had a service related disability severe enough to disqualify them from duty. Its objective is to allow for job training and accommodation at the work place to assist with finding a new career and keeping it. It provides evaluation for skills, ability and interest, and helps to ease some of the financial burden from those veterans that will expect to be honorably discharged, have a minimum of a 10 percent disability, and have applied for the service.

The Montgomery GI Bill

This is one of the military scholarships that allows a certain amount of money monthly for the costs of attending a school or vocational study. While it once paid tuition outright, the system switched to a fixed monthly income meant to go toward the tuition of a veteran. In order to receive this funding the veteran must have an honorable discharge, have joined the military for the first time after 1985, and served for two to three years depending on the enlistment agreement for a category 1 bill disbursement. Category 2 meets different criteria.

Exploring the military scholarships

There is a variety of military aid available that can be found online or at your local veteran affairs office. These scholarships carry a wide range of fund disbursement and are a great help for veterans who do not have adequate means to pay for all of their educational costs. There are also scholarships that assist the veteran's family member, thereby relieving some of the financial pressure from the veteran.

Readjustment to what is termed civilian life can be difficult enough, especially with the job market today being so uncertain. Programs such as the veterans vocational rehabilitation services and military scholarships can help with the cost of the education it often takes to get a leg up.

Five Reasons To Pursue an Associate’s Degree in Welding

Five Reasons To Pursue an Associate’s Degree in Welding
Once you’ve made the decision to be a welder, you will then be faced with the decision of how to obtain welding training. Some welders are trained on the job, while others pursue formal training and obtain an associate’s degree. When making the decision, keep in mind that your training is the foundation of your career. Before beginning your career, consider these five good reasons to get your associates in welding:

You will be taught a variety of welding methods
If you are unfamiliar with welding, you may assume that there is only one technique used by all welders. However, this is completely untrue. When obtaining your associates, you will be taught Arc Welding, Gas Metal-Arc Welding, Electroslag Welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, and Shielded Metal Arc Welding, as well as other techniques. If you want to become a pipe welder, this is one of the last things you will learn. Welding is much more complicated than some may think.

You Can Increase Your Chances of Finding a Job
With the job market as competitive as it is, it isn’t exactly easy to find a welding job if you are new to the career. Unless you have someone willing to take you under their wing and train you, it is going to be very difficult to find a job without prior training.

You Can increase Your Earning Potential
Welders with formal training will generally earn more than those without formal training. Taking the time to earn your associates will also increase your chances of being chosen for higher paying positions. The more welding methods you have mastered, the more successful your career can be.

You’ll Have a Better Chance of Becoming a Supervisor in the Future
When competing for management positions, those with a formal education will usually have the upper hand. Unless other applicants have significantly more experience than you, you will generally beat out other welders if you have a welding degree on your resume.

You can Always Build upon an Associate's Degree
If you decide that welding isn’t for you, you can take more classes and begin working towards another degree. An education is never a bad thing to have. Investing in an education is like investing in a backup plan.

The welding training you receive will affect your entire career. An associate's degree will not just get your foot in the door, it will continue to benefit you throughout your entire career.