Veteran Unemployment
In September 2026, the veteran unemployment rate was 3.6%, up from 3.5% the previous month and up from 2.7% the prior year. Also in September 2026, the comparable non-veteran unemployment rate was 4.0%, unchanged from the previous month and down from 4.4% the prior year. The unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted for individuals aged 18 years and over in the civilian non-institutional population. Source: bls.gov (Current Population Survey). Transitioning from active duty back into the day-to-day workings of society can be jarring to say the least. After years of working in a structured environment like the military, having a job that doesn’t seem consistent or guaranteed can be an alarming concept. That’s why trade jobs, like electronics manufacturing, are so appealing to veterans. Working on something tactile and structured is the perfect fit for a veteran looking to get back into the workforce. In addition to the consistency of the electronics industry, many veterans find it to be almost therapeutic to create something that is used every day by millions.
Skills Training
Having a skill that can be useful regardless of location or a specific employer is appealing to veterans looking for job security. Getting into the electronics industry can be a very good way to do this. Receiving credentials like a soldering certification can essentially guarantee some form of income in any number of environments. It can however be tricky to find the soldering training to start heading down this path. Getting a soldering certification should be something that is recognized worldwide and provides a sense of security in the minds of anyone who goes through the training required.
IPC Certification
Thankfully, there is a worldwide standard for those who want to enter the electronics industry. This is maintained by the IPC (the Association Connecting Electronics Industries), and companies like Blackfox make sure that any training that they supply will meet these standards that are recognized worldwide. So whether you’re a veteran looking to find a job that provides security and reliability, or just someone looking to get into the electronics manufacturing market, contact Blackfox, and get the credentials that will empower you to enter into this exciting industry.
IPC and soldering training for veterans
For veterans, the following training courses are available at Blackfox:
- IPC/WHMA-A-620 (cable and harness)
What Veterans Bring to Electronics Manufacturing
Discipline
The US military trains people to have a mission-critical mindset and be accountable for their every decision and action because the mission and lives will depend on it. Consequently, veterans already have the ingrained discipline that not many civilian workers have, making them ideal people to work and lead in the assembly line of an EMS company.
Having been exposed to mission-critical thinking for a long time, these veterans are sure to have the natural focus on quality, safety, and detail, which many assembly staff highly require. With this discipline, they know how important it is to stick with a task until it is completed to standards.
That’s a high degree of professionalism that can only be obtained through their years of active duty.
Problem Solving and Technical Skills
When it comes to working in a stressful, fast-paced, and dynamic environment, it’s safe to say that nothing could ever top military service. Soldiers need to analyze and resolve complex challenges under pressure constantly. Because of this, veterans can learn new concepts much more quickly than your average Joe.
Moreover, the high-stress real-world situations that veterans have faced during their service have given them the adaptability to change direction whenever the situation calls for it. This flexibility is highly valuable in the electronics industry, where priorities can change rapidly.
In addition to all of this, many veterans are already skilled in either engineering, IT, or communications electronics. This makes it easier for them to step into the electronics manufacturing sector, where they can apply their practical know-how with specific equipment and machinery. And with the help of a great electronic manufacturing training center, they can elevate those skills even more.
Leadership and Ability to Work in a Team
Whether gained through climbing the ranks or taking charge of a small squad, leadership is one of the most critical transferable soft skills a veteran can bring to any organization. They’ve spent months or even years building trust and collaborating with their team members to keep complete missions and keep each other safe.
That kind of camaraderie is a core value within the military and is highly sought after in many civilian roles, even more so for electronics manufacturers. Veterans understand that effective collaboration is a must when working in teams or leading them to accomplish a common goal.
Veterans are attuned to effectively manage and motivate their team members to achieve great results even in the most challenging circumstances because that’s what they had to do in the field, and more often than not, in life-or-death situations.
Why IPC Training Suits Veterans
High-Level Training
One of the main objectives of the IPC soldering training and certification program is to offer veterans the highest level of electronics manufacturing service (EMS) training regardless of their level of knowledge and experience in the industry.
Employee-Friendly
Soldering is a rewarding job that doesn’t require a high level of education. It allows a veteran to earn up to $15 an hour in a safe and peaceful environment. Moreover, a lot of employers are willing to spend money to have their employees receive IPC certification training. Such opportunities for training and certification are provided by IPC training schools that the state has approved. They train veterans and other persons qualified to take the training under the provisions of Title 38 of the United States Code.
Additional Skills and Opportunities
Good IPC training and certification courses, like the veteran training programs in Colorado, allow veterans to acquire the skills and certifications needed to qualify for a job in aerospace, electronics manufacturing, medical, and other industries. It carries opportunities that allow men and women who served in the military to integrate back into civilian life.
Some schools that offer IPC training and certification programs for veterans have established a working relationship with contractors of electronic manufacturing companies and the Department of Defense. They supply workers with the appropriate skills and certifications EMS companies and the DoD require to sustain their operations.
IPC training is a great starting point for veterans who have returned to civilian life after years of working in the military.
Every Blackfox course is open to veterans and career changers moving into electronics manufacturing. See the full course list, or contact us to talk through which certification fits your service experience.
