Christopher Weindorf CA ‘16
Christopher Weindorf CA ‘16
Military Branch: Army
Division/Unit/Company: A Co 2-505 PIR 3rd BCT 82nd Airborne Division
Rank at Discharge: Sergeant
MOS: 11B- Infantry
NBSS Program: Carpentry
How did your military service inspire you to attend NBSS?
After getting out of the military, I was in college in Boston and really missed the camaraderie and sense of hands-on learning the military provided. After finding NBSS online and taking an in-person tour, attending the Carpentry program was a no-brainer. Carpentry is very similar to the military in a lot of ways: being competent with your equipment to work alone or with others, and building towards a common goal with a tangible result at the end of the day.
How did your military training help you be a successful student at NBSS?
It helped me work well with others, no matter the differing background or skill set, and helped me know that you have to learn to crawl before you can walk, and walk before you can run. Comfort working in the elements, patience and attention to detail were also traits from the military that were tremendously helpful at NBSS, and while working as a carpenter.
What is your current job?
Superintendent for a commercial construction company.
What advice would you give to someone considering NBSS or a career in the trades?
My advice would be to do it! I have never regretted attending NBSS or working in the trades, and the Carpentry program gave me a more rounded skill set and familiarity with a much wider array of tools and equipment than having just jumped into the field. NBSS shows you the actual working conditions you will be experiencing as well—outside in cold and wet conditions, outside in the heat. It is a tremendously valuable tool as you decide what path you want to take.
Anything else you would like to share about your NBSS experience as a veteran?
It was a very welcoming experience. I still hang out regularly with the other veteran classmates I met there. [Admissions Director] Rob O’Dwyer has a personal connection to the military, and the school really went above and beyond to make sure I was taken care of.
