Students Transform Old Military Truck Into High-Water Rescue Rig

SPRING, TX -- Students from Universal Technical Institute Houston teamed up with Aldine Fire Station #31 recently on a project to transform two former military vehicles into high-water rescue vehicles for the fire department. The new high-water rescue vehicles will be for future flooding emergency rescues within the community.

Students and instructors volunteered their time and applied the technical skills learned in the classroom to the project. Many Universal Technical Institute Houston students and staff were rescued in these types of trucks when Hurricane Harvey devastated the community one year ago.

The first of the two vehicles is complete and the second is now in progress.

“This is an excellent representation of our campus’ commitment to the community and our ongoing partnership with our neighbors at Aldine Fire Department,” said Darrin Brust, president of UTI Houston. “Our students and instructors put in hours of hard work, coming in on weekends and during their free time to complete the project. While we’re not looking forward to another hurricane coming ashore anytime soon, these two high water rescue vehicles will be ready to assist in case of another emergency.”

In addition to volunteering in the community, UTI students are training to work in a high-growth industry with significant job and career opportunities.

Across the industry, demand for trained automotive and diesel technicians continues to accelerate. Most recently, the federal government tripled its estimate for the number of transportation technicians needed nationwide between now and 2026.According to new projections, the transportation sector will require more than 1.2 million new technicians over the next decade – enough for 120,000 new techs each year.1

According to U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, students who attended one- or two-year technical schools have an opportunity to earn more than their counterparts seeking four-year liberal arts college degrees ten years after starting school.

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