The SMART Kansas Legislative Board continues its partnership at the Statehouse with Sheet Metal Local #2

The SMART Kansas Legislative Board continues its proud tradition of showing up, educating, and advocating at the Kansas Statehouse. Our Board and its partnership with Sheet Metal Local 2 engaged members of the Kansas Legislative Veterans Caucus, in hopes of expanding the SMART HEROS program to Kansas' very own Fort Riley.

At the center of our presentation was SMART Heroes. This program embodies the shared values of military service and the sheet metal trade: discipline, teamwork, skill, and pride in craftsmanship.

Launched in 2017, SMART Heroes is a joint effort between SMART, the International Training Institute, and SMACNA. The program provides active-duty military personnel with an intensive, seven-week (224-hour) training course that delivers the equivalent of first-year apprenticeship instruction—at no cost to the participant.

Participants complete OSHA 30 certification, sheet metal math, triangulation, radial line development, and a focused week of specialized training in welding, service, architectural sheet metal, or BIM. Just as importantly, SMART Heroes offers service members a clear pathway into a civilian career that provides family-sustaining wages and benefits comparable to what they had while serving.

After completing the program, participants return to their military units to fulfill their remaining contractual obligations to the Department of Defense, whether that’s a few days or several months. Before each class, participants are interviewed to determine their preferred geographic location after discharge.

This process ensures local Unions are not overloaded and that training coordinators are informed well in advance of incoming SMART Heroes. Graduates enter registered apprenticeships as second-year apprentices, earning higher wages and gaining access to additional benefits offered by many Locals.

To date, SMART Heroes has graduated 675 participants, with more than 57% going on to start a sheet metal apprenticeship at one of SMART’s 148 training centers nationwide. While enrolled, veterans may use Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and other educational benefits available through the Department of Veterans Affairs, depending on eligibility.

Why This Matters in Kansas

The SMART Kansas Legislative Board is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our veterans, educating lawmakers, strengthening workforce inputs, and honoring service with opportunity. Programs like SMART Heroes demonstrate that when labor, contractors, and training institutions work together, we don’t just talk about supporting veterans, we deliver.

"The hearing was an excellent showcase of what SMART can deliver when it comes to providing real careers to our veterans when entering the private sector. We hope that this program expands, and Fort Riley, the BIG RED 1, is a prime opportunity for that. Right here in Kansas!" — Ty Dragoo

“When TD and Sheet Metal stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity, we strengthen our power, drive growth, and secure collective success for every member. Today’s effort is another example of how working together directly improves the lives of Veterans by opening the door to excellent union careers.” — Jason Harrison

Pictured from left to right: Jared Borden, SM Local 2 Organizer, Jai William, SM Local 2 Apprentice, Jason Harrion, Marketing Director, SMART Local 2, Keyan Welch, SMART Local 2 Apprentice, and Ty Drago, TD Kansas Legislative Director.