TYSONS, VA (January 6, 2025) |
The PenFed Foundation, a national 501(c)3 founded by PenFed Credit Union, today announced it awarded a grant to SMART Heroes Foundation, which provides a stepping stone for veterans to find lifelong careers in the unionized sheet metal industry. The grant supports seven weeks of sheet metal training based on the International Training Institute’s (ITI) curriculum.
“The PenFed Foundation is proud to support SMART Heroes Foundation in providing sheet metal training for veterans,” said PenFed Foundation President Andrea McCarren. “We appreciate the program is offered at no cost to veterans, which reduces financial burdens and allows service members to focus on transitioning into their new civilian careers.
The SMART Heroes project helps transitioning service members and veterans gain the necessary skills and certifications to thrive in the industry. Services are provided through partnerships with local apprenticeship programs and training centers across the country. Staff involved include experienced trade instructors, program coordinators, and veteran mentors, all of whom are trained to support participants in their transition and skill development. This ensures that the skills they develop are not only relevant but sought after in the civilian job market.
Upon completion of the program, graduates can contact any of the 150 training centers across the country to continue their apprenticeship program as a second-year apprentice and begin working for local contractors as part of the apprenticeship.
“Graduates start their apprenticeships as second year apprentices and receive one year’s credit for the 7-week, 224-hour SMART Heroes program,” said SMART Heroes Specialist for the ITI Joshua Moore. “We want veterans to start a new career in the sheet metal industry with a family sustaining wage and benefits. We at the SMART Heroes Foundation feel a solid skillset and support system are important variables in the successful transition to the civilian workforce for veterans.”
The project aims to directly serve approximately 120 transitioning service members each year.