This Veterans Day, the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) is advancing a lasting commitment to Veterans: helping them recognize the elevator industry as a viable union career path, and connecting them with the benefits and support they have earned. Through apprenticeship outreach and the IUEC Veterans Assistance Program (IUEC-VAP), that commitment reaches from national partnerships to local union communities.
Recognizing military service means more than thanking Veterans on November 11. It means helping them see where their experience can lead, understand the opportunities available through union apprenticeship, and find trusted assistance when they need it. The IUEC is taking a leadership role in bringing those efforts together, supporting Veterans already working in the trade as well as those learning about the elevator industry for the first time.
IUEC VAP Leadership in Claims and Disability Support
The Veterans Assistance Program (VAP) provides tools, resources, and support to empower Veterans and their families to thrive within the IUEC and in their communities. The program extends the union’s commitment beyond recruitment. Veterans already in the industry – and those still exploring their next career – may need help finding support for service-connected disabilities, VA benefits, education, or mental health. Connecting them with trusted assistance is part of helping Veterans and their families build lasting stability.
A central part of IUEC-VAP’s work is helping Veterans access assistance with VA claims and disability benefits through accredited VSO partners. National relationships and local committees give Veterans a familiar point of contact who can help them find qualified support and understand where to turn for help with the filing process.
IUEC-VAP facilitates these connections; accredited VSO representatives provide claims preparation, filing and official VA representation. This partnership allows the union to help Veterans navigate access to benefits while connecting them with the specialized expertise their claims require.
The program’s national, regional and local structure brings that commitment closer to the Veteran. Local committees connect members and families with resources and build relationships with nearby Veterans organizations. A benefits conversation can also open a career conversation: a Veteran with experience in a related technical field may first encounter IUEC through VSO outreach, then learn how union apprenticeship can prepare them for the elevator industry.
Convening Partners Through the IUEC VAP Summit
The annual IUEC-VAP Summit brings together groups that approach Veterans’ issues from different directions. The third annual Summit was held November 5-6, 2026, at the NEIEP Training Center in Warwick, Rhode Island. Participants included union Veterans and advocates, trade-union representatives, Veterans Service Organizations, state and federal agencies, industry partners and training organizations.
This gathering gives participants an opportunity to compare programs, discuss changes in benefits and policy, identify service gaps, and build working relationships. Previous summits have included participation from The American Legion, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services, the AFL-CIO Union Veterans Council, other trade unions, government representatives and industry partners. Topics have extended from employment and education to disability benefits, legislative advocacy, mental health and wellness.
By convening these partners, IUEC-VAP connects workforce development with the broader needs of Veterans and their families. The same relationships that help a Veteran reach qualified claims assistance can improve awareness of apprenticeship opportunities. Bringing union leaders, VSOs, public agencies and industry partners to the table strengthens the support available nationally and the connections that make it accessible locally.
IUEC Commitment Beyond Veterans Day
IUEC’s leadership gives Veterans Day recognition practical meaning throughout the year. With the IUEC VAP, NEIEP, Helmets to Hardhats, VSO partners and national and local outreach, the union is helping Veterans see the elevator industry as a career they can pursue – and helping those already in the trade find support for benefits, disabilities and family needs.
For a Veteran whose military career involved similar equipment or technical responsibilities, that introduction can reveal an opportunity they had never considered. For an IUEC member seeking help with a VA claim, a local VAP connection can provide a route to qualified assistance. Both reflect the same commitment: honoring service by helping Veterans build strong careers and access the support they have earned.
To learn more about the work the IUEC-VAP program is doing to support Veterans and active-duty military in the trade, visit https://iuec.org/index.php/veterans-assistance-program/
