Washington D.C. (October 2019) – In 2016, INSTALL – the nation’s leader in floorcovering installation training and certification – partnered with Helmets to Hardhats to help veterans transitioning from military to civilian life and work. To date, INSTALL continues this partnership and has assisted many veterans start a career in floorcovering and carpentry that value the skillset developed within the military.

H2H connects military personnel transitioning from active duty with opportunities in the construction industry, which has seen a steep decline in available skilled laborers. With the skills acquired in the military, these individuals quickly become effective workers on the jobsite.

An Effective Transition
The differences between military and civilian life are drastic, and it can be difficult to acclimate. Ironically, the main difference- heightened discipline, is a major value proposition to employers. INSTALL is committed to properly training these candidates for a successful future in the industry.

Dakotah Vanover was connected to the program in 2018. He was confident in working with his hands but was not aware of the possibilities for a career. After conducting an interview his counselor set up with a flooring company, Vanover was hired on the spot.

“The teamwork, comradery and chain of command of the jobsite is similar to what I experienced in the military” said Vanover, “the program added consistency to my life that I needed during the transition to find a sense of purpose.”

John T. McGrath Jr., executive director of INSTALL, emphasized the benefits of the program for veterans. “Skills acquired in the military, such as attention to detail, work ethic and time management equate to an efficient leader on the jobsite,” McGrath added, “veterans learn the ability to adapt to different scenarios, which is a skill that is tough to learn but must be present in any working environment.”

Veterans can apply to this program year-round and are given assistance by INSTALL from application to completion. After training, these INSTALL-certified veterans can install a variety of commercial flooring correctly the first time.

Getting Involved
Contractors that would like to support this partnership must commit to sponsoring a veteran in the INSTALL apprenticeship program and ultimately hire the veteran. Flooring contractors interested in learning more about this program should contact:

John T. McGrath Jr., executive director of INSTALL: info@installfloors.org.

Veterans interested in pursuing this program should begin the process by contacting Helmets to Hardhats:

United States: rschwartz@helmetstohardhats.org

Canada: info@helmetstohardhats.ca

About INSTALL
INSTALL, the International Standards and Training Alliance, is an association of professionals representing the entire flooring industry: installers, contractors, manufacturers, associations and consultants. By bringing together stakeholders at every level of floor covering installation, INSTALL has the resources, capability and commitment to deliver work we can all take pride in. Rigorous standards, comprehensive training using manufacturer-directed curriculum, and the industries only free, extended and non-proprietary third party warranty on labor demonstrate our commitment to long-term value. For more on INSTALL, visit www.installfloors.org.