A trip to a country music festival in Arkansas became Bria Bohanon’s unlikely introduction to the Marines, but the 30-year-old officer followed a more traditional path when transitioning from the military to Workshops for Warriors (WFW).
A former college basketball player, Bohanon was playing professional rugby when the lure of free swag prompted her to stop at the Marine Corps Pull-Up Challenge festival booth. Bohanon left with more than a free T-shirt.
“The recruiter was really great because he totally convinced me I could be a Marine and that I’d be making a difference,” she said.
While Bohanon describes herself as “shy and pretty closed off” before entering the Marines, she credits her four years as an Air Defense Control officer for developing her leadership skills, allowing her to serve her country and opening her eyes to the fact she was best suited for a career working with her hands, not sitting behind a desk communicating with pilots.
“I love the fact I was a Marine, but my actual job,” she said. “I had to be honest with myself and realize do you want to keep doing this for 20 years or do you want to take a chance to do something else? It was cool as far as knowing all the different weapons systems and whatnot. But I didn’t feel that fire, that passion.”
READ: Workshops for Warriors trains veterans for advanced manufacturing
Using the DOD SkillBridge program, Bohanon transitioned seamlessly into WFW’s Welding I program in the summer of 2021. After earning certifications in MIG and other Arc welding methods, Bohanon completed Welding II last December, adding the sought-after TIG welding specialty to her resume in order to best position herself for a welding career in the aerospace or automobile industries.
As a welder, Bohanon has found passion for her job that eluded her in the military.
“It’s as simple as combining two metals together but with that comes so many things you have to know,” Bohanon said. “I like working with fire and metal and how strong the structures are once you combine them together.”
Bohanon chose San Diego-based WFW because of its veterans-first focus and four-month training programs in which students can earn more than 70 nationally recognized machining and welding credentials that are portable and stackable. She has no regrets about her choice.
“You’re not just a number there,” she said, praising both WFW administrators and instructors for taking a personal interest in students’ success and wellbeing. As someone who asks “a lot of questions,” Bohanon said instructors “never made me feel like I was asking too much or made me feel like I was annoying. They would step into the booth and show me how to do it. They explained the theory. I enjoyed learning the ‘why’ behind why I am doing something.”
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, WFW has doubled enrollment in both its CNC (computer numerical control) machining and welding programs. With construction beginning on a new WFW building within a block of the 501(c)3 nonprofit’s San Diego location, Director of Operations Keshia Javis-Jones expects enrollment to ultimately grow to a total of 450 students.
Students typically pay for only their personal protection equipment and books, using Veteran Administration benefits, such as the 9/11 GI Bill or Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31), and school-funded scholarships to offset the $25,000 tuition costs for the welding or machining programs.
While many veterans come to WFW from military bases dotting Southern California, the school provides low-cost housing to students from outside the area.
“There’s a housing scholarship opportunity,” Javis–Jones said. “So, if they are able to make it to sunny San Diego, we would love to have them here. Housing is within walking distance of the facility so they wouldn’t need to worry about having a vehicle.”
An ongoing manufacturing worker shortage combined with pandemic-fueled resignations of older workers has resulted in a 94% employment rate for WFW’s 1,000+ alumni who make an average starting salary of $60,000 per year. WFW-trained advanced–manufacturing workers are in all 50 states with many graduates employed by major manufacturing companies such as Boeing, Tesla, Ford and Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co..
“The most important thing I would tell any veteran or transitioning service member is that they have a lot of great skills already,” Javis-Jones said. “Workshops for Warriors wants to provide them with training that provides nationally recognized certifications to help them receive the career they deserve with a high-paying starting salary right out the door.”
To apply to Workshops for Warriors, veterans must have an honorable discharge and commit to attending classes in San Diego five days a week during the 16-week program. Active-duty service members must meet all requirements under the DOD SkillBridge Program and obtain command approval to attend.
For information, go to https://wfw.org/
