Helmets to Hardhats Launches Improved Program for Veterans

March 22, 2007 • The Center for Military Recruitment, Assessment, and Veterans Employment (CMRAVE), Washington, D.C., yesterday announced the launch of the revamped Helmets to Hardhats training and employment program. This national program connects National Guard, Reserve, and transitioning active-duty military members with quality career training and employment opportunities within the building and construction industry.

The Helmets to Hardhats program is jointly sponsored by the 15 unions of the Building and Construction Trades and their signatory Construction Industry Employer Associations. The trades and employer associations recognize that, in addition to having certified skills, veterans possess hard-to-find traits such as maturity, accountability, responsibility, and teamwork. Those groups support the program because it fulfills an important promise to returning veterans to help ensure their successful return to civilian life.

“When you get back from serving America, we stand ready to serve you. You defend our future. Let us help you build yours,” said Edward C. Sullivan, president of the building and construction trades department of the AFL-CIO and labor co-chairman of the CMRAVE, while speaking to a group of returning service-members.

This commitment is wholeheartedly supported by the signatory employers and contractors in the construction industry.

"These folks served our country…they fought for our country and no one deserves a better opportunity for a career in the construction industry than they do,” said Iz Cakrane, Washington group international and employer co-chairman of the CMRAVE.

Military.com and Monster Government Solutions (MGS), subsidiaries of Monster Worldwide, collaborated to provide the technology and expertise to power the revamped Web site and enhanced program. Monster Government Solutions, which has developed technology for many successful government programs such as USAJOBS, powered the technology behind the Helmets to Hardhats Web Site, while Military.com, which operates the largest online military community on the Web with more than eight million members, lent its military expertise and resources.