May 20, 2019
Story and photo by Brandon Steinert
Barton Community College will offer transitioning Fort Sill Soldiers, Veterans and family members with DOD ID cards, a grant-funded two-week certificate program at no cost to participants.
The Hazardous Waste Worker Training (HWWT) program gives Soldiers credentials to help them find work after their tenure in the US Army ends. The next course is set from June 17-28 at the Truman Education Center B3281.
Classes are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each weekday, covering Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazardous Materials Handling, OSHA 10-hour General Industry Safety and Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER), culminating in a hands-on hazardous waste handling simulation. They have to take a final exam as well as complete the hands-on training.
Students must be physically and mentally able to work in a full level-A Hazardous Materials ensemble, including a self-contained breathing apparatus.
The training is paid for by a grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The course is geared toward transitioning soldiers, retirees and family members at no cost.
“This course gets transitioning soldiers HAZMAT qualifications to put them to work in only two weeks, and at no-cost,” said Barton’s Dean of Fort Riley Technical Education and Military Outreach Training Kurt Teal. “We’re doing what we can to help these folks get a solid job so they can continue providing for their families when they leave the military.”
For more information, contact Michael Dodds at (580) 442-3201 or Michael.j.dodds2.civ@mail.mil.