Veterans looking for their next career can meet employers face to face at Hiring Red, White & You! on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Reliant Center in Houston. For veterans interested in the skilled trades, some employers and training partners at the event offer a way to turn military service into a head start on a new career.
One of those paths is through Pipefitters Local 211, where veterans who complete a short training program can enter the union’s apprenticeship as second-year apprentices instead of starting from the beginning.
Event Details
- Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Location: Reliant Center, 1 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77054
- Cost: Free to attend
Schedule:
- 9–9:30 a.m.: Opening Ceremony
- 9:30–10:30 a.m.: Priority Service Hour for veterans, military members and their families
- 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m.: Open to the Public
Veterans in Piping Gives Service Members a Head Start
Randy Beal, Fund Coordinator with Pipefitters Local 211, said the union’s Veterans in Piping program, known as VIP, was created to help service members move into the trade before they leave the military.
“The Veterans VIP stands for Veterans in Piping, and that program was started by our international quite a few years ago,” Beal said. “We actually train the veterans as they’re mustering out of the military while they’re on base.”
After completing the short training class, veterans enter Local 211’s apprenticeship program as second-year apprentices.
“They don’t start at the first year,” Beal said. “They’ve already got experience now, and they come in as a second year.”
For Beal, supporting veterans is a way to give back to those who served.
“We really appreciate our veterans at Pipefitters 211,” he said. “They’ve served us. They helped us stay free, and we do everything we can to help them.”
Come Ready to Connect
Hiring Red, White & You! is open to veterans, transitioning service members, military spouses, National Guard and Reserve members, and military families, as well as other job seekers during public hours.
To make the most of the day, bring 10 or more copies of your resume, a valid photo ID and comfortable shoes, and dress business casual or interview-ready. Be prepared to explain how your military training and experience fit the jobs you want.
Register Today to Attend!
Join us at Hiring Red, White & You! on November 3 and take the next step in your career. Register here.
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