Eight veterans set to graduate from Veterans Watchmaker Initiative class Nov. 13

Eight veterans will graduate from a Watch Technician Program class at the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative on Friday, Nov. 13, VWI chairman Sam Cannan said in an email to The Sussex Ledger on Oct. 31.

The time and place of the ceremony haven't been confirmed. The Sussex Ledger will post details when they're available.

The school

"The focus of our program is to teach our war veterans, especially disabled veterans, the highly skilled art of watchmaking," VWI says on its website. "All our programs are free of charge to the veteran."

The school, called the Odessa Center for Horological Excellence, sits at 307 Sixth St. in Odessa. VWI's About page says its mission is to "provide training, support and referral services to the wounded veterans returning from the wars," and that training is free for "disabled veterans with service connected disabilities."

Cannan is listed as chairman of the board and co-founder on VWI's board page. His instructor profile says he "brings over 40 years of experience in the field of horology" and once led the NAWCC School of Horology.

What students learn

VWI's website describes two programs.

The Watch Technician Program is "six (6) weeks (240 hrs.) of intensive training" built around quartz watches. Students learn quartz theory, electrical diagnosis and circuit board repair, plus battery and crystal replacement, waterproofing tests, bracelet sizing and case refinishing. Graduates can "complete standard repairs on all types of quartz watches," the school says, and can work at a store service counter or as independent contractors. The course is also the final test every VWI student must pass to be considered for the mechanical program.

The Watchmaker Program runs 16 months (2,560 hours) plus a three-month internship, for 19 months in all. It covers lathe work, escapements, hairsprings, chronographs and precision timing. VWI says graduates will be "fully capable of making any repair to mechanical or quartz watches."

Roots in a postwar school

In 1945, Arde Bulova founded a tuition-free school to teach watchmaking to disabled veterans, and its first class graduated in 1946, according to Bulova. Bulova calls itself VWI's founding sponsor and names the school an authorized service center.

VWI's history page says the school "has taken the best of the Bulova idea and updated it for the next millennium."

For Sussex veterans interested in the trade

VWI's office takes calls at 302-378-7088, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, according to its website.

Help is available

If you're a veteran in crisis, or worried about one, call 988 and press 1, text 838255 or chat through the Veterans Crisis Line. It's free, confidential and open 24/7.