Laying the Foundation for Military Transition & Green Careers
NON-TRADITIONAL PATHWAY TO GREEN CAREERS
We love our vets. We thank them for their service and appreciate everything they do to preserve our freedom. Although all too often, our appreciation for them ends at a “thank you”, leaving many veterans without the means to successfully integrate back into civilian life. However, The Home Builders Institute is leading the way in skilled-labor job placement for veterans!
WHO IS THE HOME BUILDERS INSTITUTE?
Since 1968 the Home Builders Institute (HBI) has worked in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor to help vulnerable populations find jobs in skilled labor. Through this program, recruits are able to apply their existing leadership and problem solving skills to transition into those jobs. With an 85% placement rate, the HBI program provides more than 8,000 students with a job every year. Corporate sponsors and partners include Bank of America, Houston Community Colleges, St. Joseph Habitat for Humanity, The Home Depot Foundation and many more. The HBI program focuses on career skill building to accelerate learning and connecting with companies that want to hire you!
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
The HBI program is conducted at several different locations nationwide with two locations right here in Texas at Fort Bliss and Fort Hood. The program consists of a 12-week training session that helps students develop skills in electrical, HVAC, carpentry, and plumbing with each location having their own specialties in what areas they train in. Students are able to build skills in these fields through in-class and hands-on training. Over 75% of training involves real-world practice by working on residential projects with non-profits or through community service. The HBI transition program is also one of three apprenticeship curriculums approved by the Department of Labor, meaning that upon completion of the program all students receive a certificate to show employers that they have the skills needed to excel in the workplace. Most graduates from the HBI program go on to work in industries like carpentry, building construction technology, solar installation (hbi.org/solar-installation) and many more.
The best part about this training is that it is completely free to veterans! The training is funded by a $50 million grant from The Home Depot Foundation’s and requires no funding from the military or your GI Bill.
THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED
When we talk about clean energy careers, most people think of climate scientists or environmental engineers. While those careers are invaluable to the progression of our climate change efforts, so are our trade jobs. If you’re a vet you know what it’s like to take the road less traveled and be a leader. By going through the HBI program to do solar installation, you will continue to be a leader in your community and create a cleaner and more sustainable future.
“HBI’s Military and Veterans Program Services is very proud of all our students. Hiring employers are welcome to visit any of our locations to meet our transitioning service members and veterans. You will see the hands-on skills our instructors are preparing students to utilize in the civilian world. With a combination of the students’ military training, discipline and leadership abilities along with their trade skills training from HBI, this makes them the ideal candidate for any employer in the construction industry. If you are a transitioning service member or a veteran and would like more information on our program, please email us at military@hbi.org.”
BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE
Doing your part to build a better future doesn’t have to stop after your service ends. You can continue to make a difference through furthering solar efforts by helping others take their power back! To learn more about how you can apply to the HBI Military program visit hbi.org/military-programs.
INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT ALTERNATIVE ENERGY FOR YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS?
Leave A Comment