Wounded Warrior: Part of A Team Again
Spc. Jay Fox is a Carpenter
For Specialist Jay Fox, a wounded warrior, some days are worse than others. Back and knee
injuries he received while in military training cause him constant pain. Mr. Fox manages to cope
with his situation by controlling his mind to shut off the suffering-- a skill he learned in the
military. Enlisting to serve his country, Mr. Fox spent six years in the Massachusetts Army
National Guard and three years on active duty as an Army finance specialist. He left the military
with the core values of discipline, teamwork and unity. Now he is part of a team again as an
apprentice with Local 33 of the Boston Carpenters' Union.
Mr. Fox is not new to carpentry and mechanical work. He attended a trade school for high
school, worked at three office furniture companies, and worked as an auto mechanic. Most
apprentices take four years to complete their training but the union credited Mr. Fox for his
previous experience as a carpenter and entered him as a "3a." He is halfway through the training
required to become a journeyman. Mr. Fox explains, "I have always had mechanical inclination and
the ability to want to learn new things."
Carpentry presents plenty of opportunities. Construction is thriving and there is a critical
shortage of skilled tradespeople. In two years, Mr. Fox will complete his apprenticeship and become
a journeyworker. He looks forward to health and dental insurance, a pension, an annuity, and a
decent wage. The benefits come in other ways too. Says Mr. Fox, "It seems whenever anyone [in the
union] sees a new face they ask questions and wonder how you got there, but once I tell them I came
from Helmets to Hardhats they say, 'Thank you Soldier for your service and dedication to our
country.'"
Most of his work is in Boston, two hours away from his home. Ten-hour classes are scheduled
on Saturdays and are in addition to a regular workweek. Mr. Fox completed his OSHA training and
will soon be brushing up on construction math and labor history. Recently, he requested overtime
which will require him to juggle his classes with 70-90 hours of work per week. "It's all in what
you put into it," he says. The GI Bill helps Mr. Fox pay for time towards classes, tools, uniforms,
equipment and gas.
When Mr. Fox chose to start a civilian life he knew it would be difficult to get a good job.
After working with Helmets to Hardhats, he describes his transition as smooth. Riche Eckler, the
New England Regional Director, guided Mr. Fox through the application and follow-up process. "I put
in my application and I thought that was all I had to do," Mr. Fox says. Regular phone calls from
the regional director helped Mr. Fox secure his job with Local 33. "He helped me out a lot. My
region didn't have a lot of work so the Helmets to Hardhats staff suggested that I work in Boston.
Helmets to Hardhats is really good. Look at me, I applied and within a month I was working. They
really work for you."
