Why Trade School Can Be a Great Option for Veterans & Military

Key Points

• Transition to civilian life: Veterans facing the challenge of transitioning from military to civilian life can find structure, purpose and career direction through trade school programs. These programs offer an accelerated path to entering the workforce in skilled trades with some programs taking less than a year to complete.
• Benefits of trade school for veterans: Trade schools are appealing to veterans because they provide hands-on training in specific vocations, often with flexible class schedules to accommodate other life obligations. Many trade schools, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), recognize GI Bill® benefits, helping veterans afford tuition for their training programs.^1,21
• Leveraging military skills: The soft skills acquired in the military, such as work ethic, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving and discipline, are highly transferable and beneficial in trade school settings and the subsequent careers these programs prepare students to pursue.
• Career opportunities post-training: Upon completing trade school programs, veterans can pursue various entry-level and advanced career paths in their chosen trade. Career services at institutions like UTI also assist with job placement, leveraging industry relationships to help graduates find employment.
• Support for veterans in trade schools: Trade schools that are designated as Military Friendly® Schools offer additional support to veteran students, including help with navigating VA benefits and accessing exclusive scholarships. These schools provide a community and resources tailored to the unique needs of veterans transitioning to civilian careers in skilled trades.

Leaving the military is a major deal. When the time comes, you might have more questions than direction.

Questions like … What exactly do you want to do when you get out of that uniform? Do you want to do the same work you did in the military? Should you look for a job or go to school? How will you afford tuition?

While there are multiple paths that can lead to a successful civilian life, many veterans have found their way after training at a trade school.

Read on to discover how the career-focused training you’ll find at trade school can help you transition from the troops and pursue a life filled with passion, purpose and stability.

Why Veterans and Military Service Members Should Consider Trade School

By definition, a trade school is a postsecondary educational institution designed to train students for a specific job in a skilled trade career, such as automotive repair, welding or HVAC repair. It’s also known as a technical or vocational school.

Programs usually take a fraction of the time necessary to complete a bachelor’s degree, and coursework is focused on a specific vocation.

At Universal Technical Institute (UTI), we have veteran trade programs that include automotive, aviation maintenance, diesel, motorcycle, marine, HVACR, welding, collision repair and CNC machining.¹ Some of our programs even take less than a year to complete.⁷

You may be wondering why trade school is a great option for veterans. There's several reasons why attending a trade or vocational school can make sense for those who have served in the military, including:

An Accelerated Path

Trade school is a popular choice for veterans because it offers an accelerated path to train for a career that could help achieve security for themselves and their families. Unlike traditional four-year universities, the programs offered at UTI can all be completed in 2 years or less, making it a great option for those who feel ready to enter the workforce.

You May Be Able to Use the GI Bill®

Another reason why trade school for military makes sense is the ability to utilize benefits provided by the GI Bill.²¹

These benefits can help veterans cover school-related expenses, from tuition to housing fees in some cases.

We have a support team of real veterans that can help you walk through the process of using your GI Bill and other chapter benefits.

Hands-on Training

At UTI, our programs teach the foundational skills employers look for when hiring for entry-level positions.

Our courses are hands-on,¹⁸ instructors have real-world experience in what they teach, and the things you learn can prepare you for a career. Class schedules can vary so that you can balance your other life obligations, including family or a job.

We also offer many services to help veterans find a career after school.²⁰

Transition from the military to a trade school for veterans

All in all, vocational schools for veterans can help them face some of the top challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life by:

• Creating a familiar structure: A trade school training program offers familiar structure for a transitioning veteran. It’s an approach not far from what veterans may have experienced in the service.
• Preparing students to enter the workforce: Trade school helps students obtain the skills and credentials that some employers seek. At UTI, we’ve built industry relationships with 35+ leading manufacturers, and our Career Services department offers help with things like resume development.
• Connecting students with a community: In school, you build camaraderie with your classmates while working toward a common goal. Military Friendly Schools will even have veteran-specific spaces and resources.

Do Skills From the Military Transfer to the Trades?

Going to trade school allows you to leverage your military experience to prepare for a career doing what you love. Many of the soft skills you learned in the military could serve you well - another reason why trade school for veterans just makes sense.

Here are some examples of what soft skills are and how they can help you succeed while learning your trade at UTI or wherever you end up:

• Work ethic – As a veteran, you know how to take orders and work hard. You won’t quit or procrastinate once you’ve set your mind to something, whether it’s on the battlefield or in the classroom. 
• Sense of leadership – Your ability to direct a team and take initiative is valuable in any position. Strong leadership skills are valuable in the classroom and on the job.
• Teamwork – A sense of teamwork allows you to communicate and work well with others, which is essential to successful outcomes in your schooling and your trade.
• Quick problem-solving – Military members must adapt to changing situations and be able to solve problems that arise without warning. Skilled trades workers must also be problem solvers.
• Discipline – You’ve got a commitment to excellence that leads to positive results. That’s the type of outlook that transfers well to any trade. And, of course, you’ll always be on time to class and work.

Career Paths for Veterans

Choosing a career path after the military can be confusing, to say the least. You may want to find work similar to what you did in the military or explore a completely new field.

The first step is to identify what you’re passionate about and find a career that matches. Here are a few resources that can help:

• CareerScope assessment: An online self-assessment tool provided by the VA that measures your interests and skill levels and helps you figure out the best career path when you move into civilian life.
• My Next Move for Veterans: A career search platform that allows you to browse careers by industry and find jobs similar to your military work.
• Occupational Outlook Handbook: Veterans can research projected demand for certain jobs, required education and median annual salaries through the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

At UTI, we offer hands-on training for the transportation, manufacturing and energy industries with 15 program options.¹⁸

Our grads are prepared to pursue entry-level roles. As with any industry, over time, technicians may be able to advance in their careers with experience and hard work. Here are some of the exciting entry-level and advanced career paths:⁷⁷

Entry-level

• Automotive technician
• Service writer
• Wind turbine technician
• Welder
• CNC machinist
• Diesel technician
• Marine technician
• Collision repair technician
• Repair estimator
• Motorcycle technician
• Aviation maintenance technician
• HVACR technician

Advanced

• Master technician
• Service manager
• Marina service manager

How trade schools help veterans

There are benefits of trade school for veterans as they transition from military service to civilian life. They offer practical and career-focused training that can prepare graduates for jobs in a relatively short period of time. Some of the ways that veteran trade programs can be beneficial include:

• Skill translation: Trade schools help veterans leverage their experience from their military service by providing opportunities for training that align with their existing skills.
• Flexible learning options: Many trade school programs offer various start times and various schedules that can accommodate veterans.
• Financial support: Veterans can often use their GI Bill benefits to help cover the cost of tuition when attending trade school.
• Career services: With ties to the industry and local employers, many trade schools offer job placement assistance services to veterans.

Do Trade Schools Typically Accept Veteran Benefits?

The short answer: It depends on the school, but some GI Bill benefits could extend to trade schools for veterans.

To find GI Bill^-eligible vocational schools near you or to check eligibility for a particular school or program, you can use the VA's online GI Bill Comparison Tool. It lists schools and programs, shows how much money can be applied toward tuition, and even shows how many other GI Bill recipients are enrolled.

GI Bill coverage rates for vocational training programs depend on the overall cost of the program.

At UTI, our Financial Aid Representatives are well-versed to help you navigate your VA benefits.²⁰ In fact, most of our Military Admissions Representatives are U.S. veterans.

Choose a School That Supports Veterans

UTI is a leading provider of training for students seeking careers in the transportation, manufacturing and energy industries.

We’re proud to support our military veterans. From VA funding²⁰ to exclusive scholarships,¹⁰ our team is here to help you navigate this journey.

Request more information today to learn more.