As both provincial and federal governments try to funnel veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan into Alberta's labour intensive oilfields, an Innisfail company is working with the Canadian Forces to ease the transition of soldiers looking to move from battlefield to oilfield.
This fall Sgt. Mark Brownell, regimental veterans core warrant officer for Princess Patricia's Light Infantry, toured the Interior Heavy Equipment School (IHE) in his quest to help integrate service members back into the workforce.
“When they come back it's a culture shock for them,” said Kevin Burton, operations manager at IHE. “They're trying to figure out ‘What do I do now?'”
Recently Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced support for Helmets to Hardhats, a partnership with Canada's Building Trades Unions, an innovative program that brings union and both private and public sector resources together to give Canadian soldiers exclusive access to jobs and training opportunities in the construction industry. Meanwhile Alberta Energy Minister Ken Hughes announced his plan to head south of the border next year to start recruiting thousands of demobilized American troops to get more boots on the ground in Alberta's oil industry.
In the last two years IHE has graduated six Canadian Forces veterans, two-thirds of whom skilled-up at the Innisfail campus. Burton expects more will be arriving in the near future to start classes.
“They share their background, we share our background and we meet in the middle,” he said, noting veterans aren't treated any differently than any other student. “We're spending eight hours a day with them.”
The full heavy equipment operator course takes 380 hours and costs $19,500. In order to qualify for the program, and government funding to cover the cost, first the ex-military member must fill out an application. Next they come for a site tour so they can see if the course is a good fit, and to make sure the loud noises and equipment doesn't trigger any unwanted negative memories or reactions. After a 10-week course the student receives a certificate and often has a job before they even leave the campus.
“We bring employers on site to do hiring,” Burton said. “We're changing lives for these guys and gals for sure.”
Brownell says teamwork, the ability to work in a potentially hazardous environment, rugged and challenging tasks and thinking on your feet are all aspects of both military work and many oilfield activities.
“The Canadian Forces as a whole has a great many programs and initiatives to assist transitioning soldiers,” he said. “We assist soldiers who are transitioning out of our regiment in exploring all employment options that they may find of interest. Obviously, Alberta is currently seeking oilfield employees, so we try to gain relevant info.”
Burton says giving former soldiers who may have been through horrific experiences overseas the tools to move back into the workforce makes all the difference. Last year upon graduation one of the veterans literally flicked a light switch to illustrate how big of a shift the course had made in his life.
“In their face you can see what they were,” he said. “Now they realize what they are.”
