Launched in January 2003 with funding from the 2003 Defense Appropriations Act, and now active in 22 states, Helmets to Hardhats works through agreements with construction trades organizations and apprenticeship training programs to assist recently separated military personnel begin careers in construction soon after they apply. Once registered, candidates in the Helmets to Hardhats are given credit for training and experience they gained while serving in the military. Many of the apprenticeship programs offer paid training funded by the various construction trades’ labor unions.
Jobs available through Helmets to Hardhats cover the entire gamut of the construction trades industry; from manual jobs like carpenters, electricians, plumbers and bricklayers, to technical careers such as civil engineers and project managers.
The 22 states currently participating in the Helmets to Hardhats program are: California, Indiana, Ohio, Connecticut, West Virginia, Illinois, Washington, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, Virginia, Missouri, Maine, Kentucky, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Delaware, Hawaii, Wisconsin and New Jersey.
Both job candidates and potential employers can register and get more information on the Helmets to Hardhats Web site.
