Transitioning Fort Sill Soldiers to receive Hazardous Waste Worker training at no cost

September 19, 2018
Story and photo by Brandon Steinert

Barton Community College will offer transitioning Fort Sill Soldiers, and family members with DOD ID cards, a grant-funded two-week certificate program at no cost to participants.

The Hazardous Waste Worker (HWW) program gives Soldiers credentials to help them find work after their tenure in the US Army ends. The next course is set for October 15-26 at Truman Education Center, B3281, Fort Sill, Okla.

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 for the final exam.

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 Instructor Michael Dodds at (580) 442-3201 or Michael.j.dodds2.civ@mail.mil.