Connecticut Laborers' District Council

Connecticut governor signs resolution to help military personnel find employment

On March 7, Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed a resolution supporting the Helmets to Hardhats program. The statewide program helps active and former military personnel find training and civilian employment opportunities in the construction industry.

A resolution signing ceremony was held at 11 a.m. at the New England Laborers' Training Academy in Pomfret, CT. Marine Corps. Maj. Gen. Matthew P. Caulfield, executive director of the national Helmuts to Hardhats program; Armand Sabitoni, New England Laborers’ general secretary-treasurer and New England regional manager; Charles LeConche, business manager for the Connecticut Laborers' District Council; and many other dignitaries participated in the ceremony.

The resolution will facilitate career training through apprenticeship programs and offer civilian employment opportunities for National Guard, Reserve and transitioning active duty military personnel. In addition, military personnel will get credit for their training and service.

"The men and women who have served our country deserve the chance to have great careers after returning home from battle," says Maj. Gen. Caulfield. "A signing of this kind will help speed up the process to place our troops into quality construction careers in Connecticut."

Defense Industry Magazine - Helmets to Hardhats Success!

One of the biggest challenges facing many U.S. military personnel when returning to civilian life is finding a good job. The Helmets to Hardhats program from the Department of Defense is intended to help by connecting transitioning active-duty and reserve members to jobs and training opportunities in the construction industry.

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.