Program shows military veterans what it takes to gain entry into the building trades

ADDISON, Ill., Aug. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Military veterans in Northeastern Illinois are invited to a free Open House to learn about careers in the Bricklaying, Tuck Pointing, Tile Setting and Plastering trades. The program is scheduled for September 21, 2010, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. It is sponsored by Helmets to Hardhats, a non-profit organization that helps veterans find careers in the construction industry.

The Open House will be held at the Bricklayers District Council Training Center at 2140 Corporate Drive in Addison, IL. Hands-on demonstrations will provide attendees with a look at career options in the skilled trades and what it takes to become a construction industry professional.

Instruction and career counseling will be provided by Apprenticeship Coordinators and Trainers from the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties.

The event is open to all veterans who are registered with the Helmets to Hardhats program. Registration is free and can be completed in a few minutes online at www.helmetstohardhats.org.

Bill Mulcrone, Midwestern Regional Director for Helmets to Hardhats, says, "The training and discipline received during military service makes veterans very attractive to construction industry employers." The Open House, he adds, is an outstanding opportunity for veterans to learn how their military service can segue into a well-paying and enjoyable career in construction.

Andrew Gasca, Vietnam Veteran and Program Coordinator for the Bricklayers District Council Training Center, says, "This is a great opportunity to receive valuable insights into the trades from some of the most knowledgeable and experienced craftsmen in our area." He also hopes that many local veterans will take full advantage of this event. "Outreach efforts such as these, designed to facilitate quality employment opportunities for veterans, were not widely available during the Vietnam era. I encourage today's veterans not to pass up on chances like these in honor and recognition of their service."

About Helmets to Hardhats

Helmets to Hardhats links veterans and soon-to-be veterans with building and construction trade organizations, apprenticeship programs, and construction industry employers across America. Launched in 2003 with funding from the Defense Department, the program is administered by the Center for Military Recruitment, Assessment and Veterans Employment (CMRAVE) – a joint labor-management committee created by the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO, and its principle employer associations. These organizations represent three million construction workers and more than 82,000 contractors nationwide. For more information about Helmets to Hardhats, visit www.helmetstohardhats.org.

SOURCE Helmets to Hardhats

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