Fort Riley’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) is making significant strides in preparing soldiers for civilian life through its Career Skills Program (CSP). A notable example is the partnership between the Fort Riley CSP, the Home Builders Institute (HBI), and the Manhattan Area Habitat for Humanity. This collaboration recently marked a milestone with a groundbreaking ceremony in Ogden, Kansas, on May 27th, signifying the commencement of construction for two new homes. This initiative provides invaluable hands-on experience for soldiers while simultaneously contributing to the local community.
Marie Gazelle, Fort Riley’s HBI regional career development coordinator, emphasized the unique benefits of this program for participating soldiers. “This is an amazing opportunity for our students,” Gazelle stated. “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 actual career. It also gives them an opportunity to get the volunteerism under their belt as well.” The Fort Riley Career Skills Program through HBI offers a bridge between classroom learning and real-world application, a crucial component in successful career transition.
Soldiers gain hands-on construction skills through Fort Riley Career Skills Program
Soldiers enrolled in the Fort Riley Career Skills Program are transitioning from military service and seeking to acquire marketable skills for the civilian job market. The HBI program is one of many CSP options available through TAP, designed to provide soldiers with practical experience in various industries. For those interested in construction, HBI offers comprehensive training in constructing, wiring, and plumbing homes, all while adhering to local and state building codes. This ensures that soldiers not only gain practical skills but also understand industry standards and regulations, making them highly competitive candidates for construction jobs post-military service.
Tabetha Love, a transitioning service member and current HBI CSP student, shared her personal experience with the program. “The program started out as being something that I could do to get myself a leg up on the civilian side,” Love explained. “I started the program not knowing what I was going to do, but now I’m looking into becoming an electrician. Just being part of HBI, learning these skills, and potentially being able to do something like this in my own community is important.” Love’s testimonial highlights the transformative impact of the Fort Riley Career Skills Program, offering direction and tangible skills to soldiers unsure of their post-service career paths.
Beyond individual soldier development, these projects foster stronger community bonds. The homes being constructed are designated for lower-income families, directly addressing housing needs in the Ogden and Manhattan, Kansas areas. This initiative not only provides critical job skills training through the Fort Riley Career Skills Program but also contributes to a vital community need, showcasing the program’s dual benefit.
Josh Brewer, Executive Director of Manhattan Area Habitat for Humanity, highlighted the program’s ongoing success. “This build represents a continuation of a pilot program that we started last year two blocks away from here,” Brewer said. “That proved that it was possible to build high performance residential homes at a price point that is affordable. That pilot proved it was possible and this proves that it is going to continue.” The continued partnership and expansion of the program underscore its effectiveness and the growing need for skilled tradespeople, particularly those with the dedication and discipline instilled through military service and further honed by the Fort Riley Career Skills Program.
For soldiers interested in exploring career transition resources, more information about the Transition Assistance Program is readily available. Visit https://home.army.mil/riley/index.php/about/dir-staff/dhr/SFL-TAP and https://www.armytap.army.mil to discover the diverse opportunities offered by the Fort Riley TAP and its Career Skills Programs.
