Why I Train
When I got out of the Army, I used my GI Bill to study diesel technology. I wanted to learn how to build, fix things, and rebuild them better. Instead, the school lost its instructors, kept us out of the shop, and said no when we asked to put our hands on the equipment. When I spoke up, I was told that if I left, I'd lose the rest of my benefits.
So I stayed. Out of 27 students, I was the only one who finished.
Then I hit the real world, where every job wanted experience and nobody wanted to train. I learned on the job, sometimes in dangerous conditions, because no one had shown me the right way. Later I went back for HVAC and ran into the same thing.
I'm not sharing this for sympathy. I'm sharing it because I know exactly who this help is for. I was that guy.
What I'm building now
Starting this spring trimester, I'm running a Transportation Refrigeration & Fleet Service pilot with students at TCAT Memphis. It's the training I wish I'd had:
Real Carrier and Thermo King refrigeration units to learn on
Eight weeks of Friday service calls, 16 in all, where students diagnose problems the way they'll meet them on the road: safely, step by step, and documented
A working service truck, so the calls feel like real dispatches
Supervised, paid field experience for students who prove their skills
Every student is scored on safety first, then on diagnosis, evidence, and how they explain the job to the customer. We track attendance, skills gained, field hours, credentials, and jobs, so supporters can see exactly what their help made happen.
Where you come in
Some of these students are one tool, one part, or one ride away from going further.
$25 buys supplies like safety gloves and glasses, wiring and connectors, and service forms.
$100 covers a part, or a share of a bigger one, for hands-on repairs on the training units.
Nothing is wasted. The training I didn't get became the reason I'm building this.
Help me turn my hard lesson into someone else's head start. And if you're a student who wants in, or an employer who needs trained techs, reach out.
Thomas Wright, U.S. Army veteran and founder of Diligent Enterprise LLC
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