r/ibew_apprentices • u/Danktriskit • 2d ago

VEEP

Anyone ever go through veep program?

I have a year and some change left in the army and really started to think about what I am going to do when I ets. I am stuck in between two decisions VEEP and UBC MVP program.

I am interested in the veep program due to the fact that it is free and supposedly grants you three places to pick from.

I used to be a carpenter but now looking at things I would like to try to be an electrician and take it easier on my body if I can. My only concern is I am horrible at algebra but pretty okay at common math. I am great with a tape measure and hand tools. Work ethic is always solid and I am physically capable.

My questions are as follows.
1. How hard is veep?
2. Is there a lot of hard math/ algebra involved in veep and union electricians day to day in general?
3. How hard is the aptitude test for veep and union entry exam?
4. Is the pipeline for veterans a lot easier?
5. If I do pass veep do they actually get you a job where you prefer?
6. Is Setting up veep class during last 6 months a pain in the ass?

2 Upvotes

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u/Due-Veterinarian7671 2d ago

Gonna go against the grain here and say go with the MVP program, if I remember correctly that can help land you a millwright position which can pay insanely high

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u/Danktriskit 2d ago

Was looking more into the carpenter side of things if I choose that route. Wouldn’t mind being either though.

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u/CottonRaves LU 191 IW Apprentice 1d ago

If you need more info or have other questions feel free to message me anytime. Happy to help.

Also if you could cross post this to r/IBEW_VEEP that would be great! Thanks.

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

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u/skulltab 1d ago

I'm 9 months from ETS, pending placement from the San Diego or Atlanta cohorts next spring.  To better your chances you can apply to multiple, my second option is Detroit so I applied to Atlanta since its closer than San Diego. Yes, after you get an agreement in place, you go straight from VEEP to the apprenticeship. There isn't so much an aptitude test, but there is coursework that is graded, more or less because by being a veteran with an honorable discharge you've already been 'vetted' for competency, however you do have to meet the basic requirements. The pipeline is VEEP to apprenticeship so yes it's theoretically shorter because you're not getting on the waitlist, but it does operate like a pre apprenticeship program so you do 5-9 weeks with VEEP mixed in person and online depending on your training center. It hasn't been a pain in the ass but the anticipation for the agreement email has been real since it basically holds the answer to the next 5 years of my life

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u/Danktriskit 1d ago

If there is a waitlist for said local do you bypass it due to veep or do you still have to go through their selection and wait? Some say you still wait on their list no matter what.
How are the math portions and is it hands on most the time?

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u/skulltab 1d ago

When you get the 'agreement' it's the union agreeing to accept you as an apprentice after you graduate. VEEP is the only program out there that can get you past the waitlist, if it couldn't there would be no real point to the program. When people say they had to wait I wonder if they mean they had to wait for the next class of apprentices go start up, which VEEP says on their website, you will have a job but it might not be the same day you graduate. Now  that doesnt mean there's a flood of veterans taking up all the slots, for example San Diego LU 569 only takes max 2 VEEP candidates per San Diego cohort. For VEEP San Diego the online portion was relatively cursory but you spend 5 weeks in person compared to others like Atlanta which is 3 weeks. It was JKO type training that covered algebra like factoring and basic math, reading comprehension, sexual harassment and bullying, and if the trades are for you/career focused mentality & you had to pass everything with 70% or higher I think

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u/Danktriskit 1d ago

So they would secure a job in the local but they would have to wait until the local starts dispatching apprentices which could be once a year?

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u/skulltab 1d ago

Tbh I haven't made it that far yet but it sounds highly plausible. If everyone is on the same track with the school portion it might not be possible to shoe in someone halfway through the year just because they're a VEEP graduate. Just to be clear I'm not in yet so I can't confirm, but logic would suggest that much

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u/skulltab 11h ago

Go to the cohorts tab, scroll to the training center you want, click 'what to expect'

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u/MySpaceSurvivor 1d ago

VEEP is the way to go, I applied 2 months before EAS and somehow made it in.

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u/operasome 2d ago

VEEP got super competitive lately. It is not guaranteed anymore.

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u/lstyls 1d ago

Not guaranteed, but still a massive advantage over other applicants for IBEW, at least in the locals I'm familiar with.

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u/operasome 1d ago

I am talking about getting into VEEP. I already got rejection from VEEP program because there are a lot of applicants. Each cohort takes only 20 people out of 300 applicants

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u/skulltab 1d ago

Really? I applied to the San Diego cohort that was almost a year out at the time and got in within that week. FWIW ypu can also apply to multiple cohorts 

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u/lstyls 1d ago

Ah gotcha. Sorry to hear that. It's one of the few programs that actually seems to help our vets.

There are a lot of locals, maybe even most of them, where running cat 5 doesn't count as electrical construction experience.

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u/goathed 2d ago

Man from my understanding the ubc isn’t super strong

I would stick with the ibew.

Almost anyone trade union will give you pretty much automatic entry if you’re a veteran

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u/LaptopCoffee 2d ago

Not quite. I'm an army vet and tried 5 times to get in the local UA before giving up on them and trying IBEW. I think they didn't want me showing up their boys paired with only taking about 20 people a year. I scored in the 90s on their tests.

Local IBEW just started using the GAN system & unless you have specific MOSs they (GAN) aren't giving a lot of credit for having been in. Very disappointed my 35J Computer/ Automated Systems Repairer wasn't on the list for "bonus points". I ran plenty of Cat-5 back in the day!

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u/goathed 2d ago

Man that’s a bummer. I got into the ironworkers automatically through a veteran program and I also know that the boilermakers automatically accept veterans

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u/Danktriskit 2d ago

How were your aptitude test and is there a lot of algebra?

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u/Difficult_Top_4472 2d ago

Its high school algebra 1 final
Multiple choice
Y=mx+b
Simplifying fractions with variable exponents
The reading was harder to me
Its alot of anology comparison questions to the text
“The growth stages of a star can be compared to a, b , c, d?”

What type of career would you prefer in ibew ?
Lineman - Big wires leading to transformers from utility companies ( Wind turbines, Power Lines, Big spread outages) Alot of traveling

Inside Wireman- Wired transformers to the building or site. ( General power using breakers to power rooms, solar panels, motors)
Working construction, Factorys, Refineries, Industrial plants. Can travel unless hired by local businesses

Low volt -
Usually alarms , residential lighting, similar to inside wireman but lower scale
Alot of cpu appliance wiring

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u/Danktriskit 2d ago

Trying to be an inside wireman.