Northern California Carpenters Regional Council Saluting Veterans Everywhere
Sgt . Christopher Dupzyk honorably served in the Marine Corps for eight years . After his service , he found that transitioning back to civilian life and finding employment was challenging .
“ I spent five years after the military trying to decide what career I should pursue , and , eventually , turned to the construction field ,” says Dupzyk . “ Thanks to the carpenters union ( United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America ), and their Helmets to Hardhats program , I was afforded an opportunity to develop my skills and fast track my career .”
Helmets to Hardhats , a national nonprofit program , connects National Guard , Army Reserve , and retired and transitioning active-duty military service members with skilled training and quality career opportunities in the construction industry . Not only does the program help veterans like Dupzyk successfully transition back into civilian life , it also offers them the means to secure a quality career in construction .
and went through the nonprofit ’ s preapprenticeship program . Today , he works as a foreman in the greater Sacramento region and has worked on numerous commercial high-rise projects , such as hotels , medical office buildings and strip malls .
The Helmets to Hardhats apprenticeship program , like other union-management programs , is regulated and approved at both the federal and state level . Because of this , veterans are able to utilize their Montgomery GI Bill benefits to supplement their earnings while learning the trade .
“ This program has not only positively impacted my life , it has also advanced my career ,” says Dupzyk . “ I am extremely grateful for the support this program offers , and , likewise , the different opportunities I ’ ve had access to in the construction industry because of it .”
Veterans interested in Helmets to Hardhats are encouraged to visit https :// helmetstohardhats . org to learn more .
Thanks to Helmets to Hardhats , I was able to finetune my skills and accelerate my career .”
— CHRISTOPHER DUPZYK
Northern California Carpenters Regional Council
After learning about Helmets to Hardhats three years ago , Dupzyk started the process
HelmetsToHardhats . org www . nccrc . org
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