Education
Operation Next gives veterans/enrolled service members chance to earn welding/CNC certification free
Being apart is one of the hardest parts of having a fiancé in the Montana National Guard’s 230th Engineer Support Company says Taylor Warner of Deer Lodge.
Warner is engaged to John Gamble, a guardsman who serves as a horizontal construction engineer.
“It’s hard as heck sometimes,” Warner said. “It’s really hard when there’s no contact for a long chunk of time, but that makes it all the sweeter when you see each other again.”
Gamble, originally from Carlin, Nevada, is halfway through a six-year term with the Montana National Guard. He utilized tuition benefits to graduate with a B.S. in Physical Education in May 2024. Almost immediately he enrolled in Operation Next at Highlands College of Montana Tech. Operation Next provides free welding or CNC certification and training to veterans or immediate family members.
In the first three cohorts 74 students registered for Operation Next. Of this number, 40 students received 90 national industrial certifications. There are 23 participants in the current cohort. Classes meet on the weekends to practice on CNC machines and with welders, after having completed online coursework during the week. At the end of the class, students are able to take national certifying examinations. Classes are free and sponsored by the National Frontier Advanced Manufacturing Institute (NAMFI), a nonprofit founded by Universal Technical Resource Services, Inc. (a majority-owned Universal Technical Resource Services company). Enrollment is usually capped at approximately 26 students per semester.
“I wanted to have another employment option under my belt,” said Gamble, adding that physical education jobs in Western Montana are highly competitive and he did not want to move to the eastern part of the state to get his first teaching job. Gamble and Warner also liked that it was something they could do together.
“I would recommend the program because it’s free, and I believe you should make the most of the benefits offered through the National Guard that can assist you in doing better in life.”
Gamble enrolled in the welding program. His fiancé, Warner, decided to sign up for the CNC machining course, as well. Warner earned her B.A. in Visual Art and Graphic Design in May 2024.
“This program is another way of expressing an art form,” Warner said. “It takes you through a process, from a drawing to building a final part.”
Gamble had previously enjoyed welding in high school classes, and says it was nice to jump right back into the six-week course at Highlands College.
“I’m feeling good about how classes are going,” Gamble said. “I like how our instructor puts us straight to welding.”
Stories like Gamble and Warner’s are why Highlands College is proud to offer Operation Next for veterans and active duty service members.
“Operation Next has become an important and viable part of Highlands College and its goal to provide more opportunities for people to obtain employment and/or receive job promotions in vocational/technical fields,” program manager Mark Samson said. “Many students have enrolled to become better at their trade or skills they already possess.”
“A huge ‘thank you’ goes out to the people and programs that have made Operation Next Montana the success it is today: Ben Kohler and the National Frontier Advanced Manufacturing Institute (NAMFI), ; Highlands College Dean Karen VanDaveer; Director of Community Relations and Industry Partners Brooke Samson; Director of Grant Funding Bernie Phelps; welding instructors Jim LeProwse and Greg Davies; CNC instructors Conor Larson and Nate Whetsel. Also, the generous financial support of Accelerate Montana over the past two years has been tremendous. The many people who work for Sodexo, maintenance, and security at Highlands College and Montana Tech have helped ensure that Operation Next will continue to get better and better,” Mark added.
Operation Next is currently seeking students for its Spring 2025 cohort. For more information or to sign up contact Mark Samson at msamson@mtech.edu or 406-496-3737.
