Helmets to Hardhats Doubles its Texas Veteran Job Placements in '08.

WASHINGTON -- More than 50 military veterans in the state of Texas secured lucrative construction industry careers in 2008 thanks to a rapidly growing veteran assistance program called Helmets to Hardhats.

The 2008 placement figure represents a 100 percent increase over last year's tally and is a promising indicator of growing support among local construction industry employers and transitioning military veterans for the nonprofit program.

Construction opportunities, including new nuclear energy projects, exist in several major metropolitan areas, including Dallas/Ft.Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, El Paso, and the coastal bend. These projects represent a large pool of great-paying construction industry careers for military jobseekers interested in the building trades.

Helmets to Hardhats is a national, nonprofit program that connects National Guard, Reserve and transitioning active-duty military members to career opportunities in the construction industry. Through the program's website, www.helmetstohardhats.org, veterans can learn about federally-approved apprenticeship training programs, where career opportunities are currently available and how to access GI Bill benefits to offset living expenses while learning a new trade. The website also encourages jobseekers to contact one of the program's 15 Regional Directors for career advice and placement assistance.

Interested employers are also encouraged to register with the program to find qualified employees who possess military skills, values and discipline.

During last week's special session of the Texas Workforce Commission Conference, Labor Commissioner, Ronald Congleton, (who started as Teamster in Dallas Local 745 and served in the Navy during Vietnam) introduced Dylan Tete, Helmets to Hardhats South Central Regional Director to the conference attendees. Dylan Tete spoke about the mechanics of the Helmets to Hardhats program, as well as its relevancy in Texas during the rough economy.

"More companies, especially industrial refineries in the coastal bend, are getting involved with education and training for the next generation of skilled labor. The building trades in Texas are standing strong and poised to commit its labor and training resources into construction projects that may receive attention in the President Elect's economic stimulus package," Mr. Tete said.

This year's conference, "Texas Workforce Solutions - Together, We Make Texas Work," attracted employers, federal, state, and local government officials, local workforce board members, and workforce center staff, members of the economic development community, chambers of commerce and workforce professionals from across the nation, Canada, Germany, and Puerto Rico. This year's turnout was approximately 1,800 participants.

For more information, please contact Dylan Tete at [e-mail]