A Tour of Training Facilities Paves the Way
Finding Utah Veteran Employment
Rob Mason, International Field Representative for the Plasterers’ & Cement Masons’ International, spent the summer in Salt Lake City, Utah spreading the word about Helmets to Hardhats. Whenever he worked booths at job fairs or gave promotional speeches at presentations, he had a difficult time convincing his audience that training for the building and construction trades is important. "The audience would give me this deer in the headlights look. I could tell that they were thinking, ‘How much training is involved in construction?’ I realized that the only way that they would understand what I was talking about was to take them to the training sites," says Mr. Mason.
Mr. Mason worked with Dale Cox, District Representative of the Utah Building Trades, to make key players aware of the importance of training. Says Mr. Mason, "Utah Trades wanted to be part of the solution by putting the men and women that served our country in a career they have earned." First, they contacted various Salt Lake City, Utah training facilities for permission to conduct a tour. Next, they assembled a group of OSHA representatives and Veterans’ representatives from the Department of Labor.
On July 22, this group went on a tour that opened their eyes. At the electricians, the plumbers, the operating engineers, the iron workers and the cement masons the directors of apprenticeships explained the programs, the safety, and the future of their craft. Walking through, the visitors realized the training involved in creating skilled craftspeople. Dale Cox can't overstate the importance of training. He says, "An apprenticeship, in my opinion, is equal to a bachelors degree from a college. You can go on to get your masters in construction by working and doing journeyman upgrades, you get your PhD by opening your own company and perpetuating the craft."
Dave Maxfield is a Disabled Veterans Outreach Specialist with the State of Utah who knew about the apprenticeship programs prior to the tour. He says, "The tour only increased my favorable impression." He sees Helmets to Hardhats as a valuable tool for vets who want to move into advanced levels of skill and salary. Mr. Maxfield points out that the program is valuable to the Utah economy as well. "I believe the economy can benefit from Helmets to Hardhats because smart, capable, trainable individuals are vital to the growth of any industry."
Before Mr. Mason took the lead, there was very little Helmets to Hardhats presence in Utah.
Mr. Mason and Mr. Cox have another tour scheduled for September with Utah State Senators and
House Reps. He hopes the tour will help build support for a resolution drafted by Utah State
Senator Gene Davis. This Helmets to Hardhats initiative is a proclamation that will allow
apprentice programs to amend apprentice requirements to take into account prior military training.
State Senators Gene Davis and Karen Mayne have been especially supportive of Helmets to Hardhats.
Senator Mayne points out that the program offers another choice for veterans to meet their
occupational needs and give them access to a wide variety of skills.
Mr. Cox and Mr. Mason plan to continue their tours and are in the process of inviting business
members and transportation officials to tour the apprentice training facilities. The tours have
been a successful way to build support for Helmets to Hardhats and pave the way for veterans’
employment. Says Rob Mason, "We want to put the men and women who bled on the battlefield back to
work."
