Los Angeles International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 11 has plugged into a new way to recruit more Military Veterans: Hosting a program designed for Servicewomen. The Pre-Apprenticeship, which ran from October to December, was run by Local 11 alongside the Electrical Training Alliance and the Veterans Electrical Entry Program (VEEP). Military Veterans can be excellent candidates for an IBEW Apprenticeship - they’re disciplined, know how to follow a structured process and accustomed to working as a team. And - many are looking for meaningful work. In previous VEEP classes, only a handful of Women participated, so the IBEW Local looked to increase those numbers by spreading the word. In 2019, only 3.6% of all Construction Trade Apprentices were Women, so investing in targeted outreach offering Women-centered educational environments can be critical to recruiting new talent. The training consists of both academic programming and hands-on training, enabling participants to complete the first semester of the formal Apprentice curriculum during the Pre-Apprenticeship. “The VEEP Program gives Veterans the opportunity to transition into careers after serving their country,” said Mike Kufchak, who serves as Director of Veterans Affairs for Local 11. “The program reinforces the fact Women cannot only survive in this environment, but they can execute the work and know that there are a lot of opportunities within the IBEW for growth.”

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Photo Courtesy Of The IBEW.