First Veteran to Machinist Scholarship is Awarded

Bruffet, 39, is a U.S. Army veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and recipient of the Purple Heart and several other awards and commendations. During his training and two-year deployment to Afghanistan, Bruffet missed the birth of one of his children and suffered life-altering injuries after his vehicle struck an IED – leaving him with a TBI, ruptured discs, and neurological damage which forced him to take a medical retirement. The husband and father of four attends the Valencia Advanced Manufacturing Training Center in Kissimmee, FL. He is enrolled in the center’s mechatronics program, which provides training and certification in mechanical operations and systems, industrial electricity and electronics, power fluids, and programmable logic computers. Local manufacturers work closely with the school to hire students who acquire the transferrable skills for their particular organization.

“We are fortunate to have an organization like Valencia here in central Florida that is providing invaluable training and partnerships with area manufacturers to help bridge the manufacturing skills and employment gap,” added Doherty. “In central Florida, demand is high for skilled industrial maintenance and mechatronics workers due to the number of high-tech manufacturing and distribution companies located there as well as businesses that serve the space and defense industries and amusement parks.”

Bruffet said the scholarship will go a long way in helping him to afford the training he needs. “I am really trying to get started in the manufacturing industry and begin a new chapter in my life. I believe that this training will give me the skills to find a great job in a field that will be a great fit for me,” he said. “This scholarship is a huge opportunity for me because resources are very tight. I very much appreciate what CNC Machines is doing for veterans.”

The Manufacturing Institute, in their publication From Military Front Lines to Manufacturing Front Lines: Veterans and Your Workforce, concluded from the research they conducted that ex-military personnel make excellent manufacturing workers. Their report specifically calls out certain traits that veterans typically possess that meld well in the manufacturing industry, such as: ability to readily learn new skills and concepts; leadership skills; understanding of the value of teamwork; performing well under pressure; respect for procedures; being attuned to global and technological trends, as well as health and safety standards; along with others.

The natural fit of veterans with manufacturing has also been called out by other military and manufacturing organizations, including Military.com – the largest online military and veteran membership organization, with more than 10 million members. “We want to invest back into the American manufacturing industry, and CNC Machines will continue to do what we can to ensure its strong future,” stated Doherty.

“I am very thankful that such a supportive organization as CNC Machines is helping veterans get their dream started,” said Bruffet. If you want to help Kevin or donate to other veterans at Valencia Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, you can email Joe Lamberty at [email protected] for more information.

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