Veterans Transition Smoothly with WECA
When Brian Alston’s contract with the Marines
was up, he knew what he wanted next for his
career. Returning to his long-held desire to
be an electrician, he became an indentured
apprentice for Bergelectric Corporation, and
chose the Western Electrical Contractors
Association (WECA), Inc.’s Commercial
Electrician Apprenticeship program for its
convenient “two weeks, twice a year” classroom
format. Alston was a successful apprentice,
passing the entry exams “with flying colors”
and completing WECA’s five year program
while continually employed with Bergelectric,
a WECA member contractor with offi ces across
California. Of WECA's electrician apprentice
coursework, he says he most enjoyed the
hands-on labs, particularly being able to
“experiment with different ways that may or
may not work, being able to ask why it didn't
work. I think that taught me more than learning from the book."
Alston thrived at Bergelectric, and says that
the company serves to this day as his model
for how an electrical company should be run.
“They taught me so much I wouldn’t be able to
tell you it all with one page,” he says. The best
way to run an electrical company is of particular
interest to Brian. Since graduating from
WECA’s Commercial Electrician Apprenticeship
program, Class of ’11, he has acquired his
C-10 Contractor’s License and started his own
company, “My Electrician Inc.”
Alston’s new company is doing well and he has
plans for its future growth, applying the same
drive, inquisitiveness, and problem-solving
ethos to his new endeavour that he evidenced
as an apprentice electrician.
David Thomas is another veteran, Bergelectric
employee, and WECA apprentice. Thomas’
transition from military life to apprenticeship with WECA was serendipitous. “Four months
after discharge, I met a gentleman in the
electrical aisle at Home Depot,” Thomas
explains. “His son had just entered boot camp
and had the same occupation I had in the
military. As we conversed, he asked me
whether I’d be interested in a position with
Bergelectric and an apprenticeship. Three days
later, Frank Boecker (of Bergelectric) called.
Because I was already attending Miramar
College, he said that WECA would be the best
option for me. He was absolutely correct. The
smaller class sizes allow me to have more
one-on-one time with the instructors. And
attending apprenticeship classes every six
months allows me to still attend night classes
at college.”
Only 6 months into his new career, Thomas
was recalled into the military to deploy
again—this time, for another 8
months. But luckily, Thomas says,
Bergelectric was very understanding,
and “Working for Berg, I’m still able
to give to back to the Marine Corps.”
Thomas’ new deployment was at
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton,
building the new Naval Hospital. “It’s
the greatest feeling to help build a
hospital for the marines and sailors
that you served beside.”
Many of WECA’s member contractors
have found veterans of the United
States Armed Forces to make great
additions to their teams, and WECA has
structures in place to support veterans.
“Veterans in our apprenticeship
programs can receive G.I. Bill Benefits,
and WECA happily accommodates
active military leaves,” explains
Christine Hall, Training Director for
WECA. “I’ve spoken with member
contractors who have hired veterans
and they have always been very happy
with their performance as employees and in our
apprenticeship programs,” she says. WECA attends
job fairs focused
on veterans,
including the EDD’s
upcoming “Honor a
Hero, Hire a Vet” and
the Department
of Veteran
Affair’s “Service
Members, Veterans,
and Families-
Sacramento Job
and Resource Fair.”
Known for high-quality training, excellent
employment placement with member
contractors, high graduation rates, and up-todate
labs and curriculum, WECA’s three electrical
apprenticeship programs (Commercial,
Residential, and Voice Data Video) are in high demand among potential apprentices, veterans
and non-veterans alike. “WECA is an exemplary
organization committed to high-quality
apprenticeship training in California and has been instrumental in supporting and enhancing
the State’s electrician certifi cation program.
Their training and education is without a
doubt, among the finest in California,“ says
David Rowan, Former Chief, California Division
of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS). According
to the latest statistics from the DAS, WECA is
the second largest electrical apprenticeship
program in California, with 586 current
apprentices and the second-highest number of
graduates over the span of the past six years.
Besides apprenticeship programs, the Western
Electrical Contractors Association off ers
convenient online journeyman continuing
education classes, a blended-learning Electrician Trainee program that combines
online instruction with in-person, hands-on
electrical labs, and of course, extensive benefi ts
and services for electrical contractors.
Have Brian and David's stories gotten you interested in becoming an apprentice too? Learn more about WECA's Apprenticeship Programs and how to apply HERE.