One of the most popular vocational training programs at Curlew Job Corps is welding.

The course is taught by Jake Miller, a total outdoorsman, who attracts students who are not only interested in working in the industry, but also likes Jake’s friendly but no nonsense approach to teaching. Throw in a few old Navy stories from his past, tales of hunting and fishing, and new welding students are, well, hooked.

Instructor Miller started welding at the age of 13. He developed his skills working on projects at the Curlew School, where he attended all twelve years. 

Welding students benefit from Jakes’ vast knowledge of welding, as he holds certifications from the American Welding Society in many different techniques. He is also a certified welding educator and AWS CWI welding inspector.

Depending on a student’s educational needs, a welding student should be able to finish the program in 8-12 months. The biggest challenge, says Miller, is that not all students who want to be welders have the ability, and reports, “They have to run a lot of rod to get good at it.”

Welding students learn safe handling and storage of compressed gasses, oxygen and acetylene welding and cutting and then on to the electrics like shielded metal arc, math, welding symbols and blueprint reading. They work with plasma cutters, air arc and finish grinders. At his point, if they can pass a test on a 3G weld with 7018, 1” plate, they go into the advanced portion of the training program that includes more blueprint reading, gas metal arc in all positions, spray arc and spool gun on aluminum. The complete their advanced course with flux core and tungsten arc, carbon, steel and aluminum on GTAW. 

Students have worked on many outside projects, mainly for the Colville N.F., like closure gates and cattle guards, miles of handrails, and custom fire crew tools. They worked with Curlew High School welders to rebuild stock panels for the fairgrounds, installed hand cuff pass-through doors at the Ferry County jail and road closure gates for the Border Patrol, as well as many other community and on-center projects.

Juan Rios, from Seattle, is finishing up his basic completion in welding and is looking forward to transferring the Hubert Humphrey Job Corps, in St. Paul, Minnesota, to go through the TCU (Transportation/Communications Union) advanced training program for employment in the airline or railway industry. “My Uncle,” says Rios, “got me excited about welding. He’s in the Boilermakers Union and travels all over the US, mainly Alaska. He will help me get into the apprenticeship when I complete my training.” And added, “Job Corps changed my life. I quit school and had a bad attitude. At Curlew, I became a leader and gained skills so that I won’t have to work at a minimum wage job anymore.”

Recent graduates include a young woman who is now a welding inspector near Portland, and young man who is working on new bases for the rebuild of the San Francisco Bay Bridge. 

If you’d like more information on Curlew Job Corps or the welding program, contact Jenni Albert, Business and Community Liaison, at 779-0547 or jalbert@fs.fed.us.