Fort Riley TAP Career Skills Program, Home Builders Institute, has partnered with the Manhattan Area Habitat for Humanity to construct two new homes for lower income families in Ogden.
Representatives of the organizations held a groundbreaking ceremony at the location of the future homes, 210 S. Elm, Ogden on Friday.
“This is an amazing opportunity for our students. They do a lot of their hands on training in the classroom but this gives them an opportunity to get out into the field and see what it would be like in an an actual career. It also gives them an opportunity to get the volunteerism under their belt as well.” said Marie Gazelle, Regional Career Development Coordinator for HBI on Fort Riley.
This partnership allows transitioning Soldiers to gain valuable real world experience and skills in the construction industry as students of the Career Skills Program while they learn to construct, wire, and plumb homes according to local and state codes. Soldiers transitioning from their military service participate in the Fort Riley Transition Assistance Program.
Career Skills Programs are any career/technical training or work experience in related occupations or credentialing approved by the Secretary of the Army to facilitate the transition of Soldiers into private sector jobs and careers.
155 Soldiers have graduated from Fort Riley’s Home Builders Institute Career Skills Program and approximately 89 current students will participate in this project.