When Andrew Barber of Lawton, Mi., separated from the Air Force 12 months ago, he said he wanted to become an HVAC technician. Thanks to the Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton, he fulfilled that goal and today is employed in Kalamazoo, Mi.
“Before I went into service, I worked as diesel mechanic. Then I worked on transport refrigeration. I didn’t know much about it then but I knew I wanted to get into it,” Barber said
While in the Air Force, Barber was assigned to ground radar. “When I got out of service, I knew what I wanted to do…commercial HVAC has always been my goal,” he said.
Barber’s circuitous route through Tennessee began in June 2005 when Hurricane Arlene forced him to evacuate from Patrick Air Force Base, Cocoa Beach, Fla., where he was stationed, to the Arnold Engineering and Development Center campground in Tullahoma.
“From there, I could see the mountains of East Tennessee. As I was preparing to get out of the Air Force, I looked for schools in Tennessee. I did a search on the Internet and found the Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton. Its HVAC/Refrigeration program was just what I was looking for.”
Barber got out of the Air Force on July 2, 2005. Three days later, he began HVAC/Refrigeration training at the Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton, one of 27 technology centers in Tennessee governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents. The G.I. Bill paid all registration fees and book costs for Barber to attend TTC-Elizabethton, which does not charge an out-of-state tuition fee.
Currently, the G.I. Bill pays $1034 per month to veterans enrolled as a full-time student at a college or vocational school. “I couldn’t have done it (gone to school) without the Veterans Benefits. Everything worked like clockwork. One month after enrolling in school, I received my first check,” Barber said.
Last month, Barber completed the HVAC/Refrigeration program at TTC-Elizabethton, where he was a student role model, according to Scott Simerly, his instructor.
While a student, Barber took first place in Tennessee and 11th place, nationally in HVAC competition sponsored by SkillsUSA, formerly known as Vocational Industrial Clubs of America.
Barber said the training he received at TTC-Elizabethton prepared him for state and national HVAC competition, which included repairs to heat pumps and gas furnaces, soldering and written tests and mock job interviews.
If veterans are seeking employment in the technology field, Barber suggests they consider attending a technology center, where “self-motivation is key to success. Students can progress as fast or as slow as they desire, depending upon their self-motivation,” Barber said.
For additional information about training programs offered by the Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton, call 1-888-986-2368, or visit the school's Web site