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Transitioning Military and Veterans
Military personnel returning to civilian life often need alternative skills and career options beyond what they did in the military and outside of the GI Bill traditional education route. HBI’s transitioning military and veteran program creates a unique opportunity through job readiness and career connections that inspire hope, confidence, and long-term success for graduates in a career field that desperately needs their skills and experience.

HBI also wants to ensure that those who have courageously served in our military never find themselves out of work or living on the street. That is why we work closely with partners such as The Home Depot Foundation and Habitat for Humanity to ensure that service members leave the military prepared for their next chapter in civilian life. Our skilled trades training programs for transitioning military members and veterans are also available to their spouses and/or dependents.

HBI is a member of the DoD Skillbridge Program. With the approval of their chain of command, transitioning service members in each region served by an HBI training facility can participate in the cost-free 12-week program. No military or GI Bill funding is required as part of the Department of Defense (DoD) SkillBridge program. During the program, service members experience hands-on training, earn professional certifications, and receive job placement support. Prior to enrolling in the DoD SkillBridge Transitioning Military Program, service members complete an interview with HBI staff.

All 10 SkillBridge sites offer a 12-week carpentry/electrical program.

  • Camp Pendleton, CA
  • Ft. Carson, CO
  • Ft. Bliss, TX
  • Ft. Hood, TX
  • Ft. Riley, KS
  • Ft. Campbell, TN
  • Ft. Bragg, NC
  • Ft. Stewart, GA
  • Norfolk Career Center
  • Jacksonville Career Center (JAX also a 12 week HVAC program).
*Note: The Crestview Career Center and the BuildStrong Academy of Orlando are not DOD SkillBridge programs. Orlando and Crestview do not run the same 12-week programs.

For all Military program questions: military@hbi.org
BuildStrong Academy of Orlando: Orlando.academy@hbi.org
Crestview, FL Career Center: MyFuture@hbi.org
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Class Schedule

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

The transitioning military programs located at Crestview Career Center , Jacksonville Career Center, and the BuildStrong Academy of Orlando are sponsored by HBI and the State of Florida, Department of Economic Opportunity.

Home Depot Foundation
Florida Commerce Logo - Nearby Opportunities HBI Partner

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Charles Records

HBI Graduate

Charles Records, originally from Pennsylvania, joined the U.S. Army at 18, taking him in a different direction. While transitioning to civilian life at Fort Hood, Texas, he discovered HBI’s electrical training program and applied. Since graduating, he has built a career with a local company in Central Texas. Passionate about the trades, he hopes to one day teach or start his own business.

“HBI gave me the opportunity to follow my passion and build a career I love.”

Find A Military Program
Meet A Graduate

JUSTIN HARROD

John Pomelow

DAMARIS GARCIA & JUAN GARCIA

MIKAYLA BURESH

Contact Us - Military

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Justin Harrod

Foreman
HBI Carpentry Program Graduate, 2018

Justin’s wife Ashley was transitioning out of the military at Fort Carson in Colorado when she encouraged him to enroll in HBI’s Carpentry Program (which receives funding from The Home Depot Foundation). Justin was worried, but he learned quickly.

Justin Harrod

“HBI broke it down and made it easy,” he says. “They teach you the skills, plus they teach you OSHA 10 so you know how to complete a job safely.” Justin went on to learn complex roof framing, ADA requirements, and local codes and engineering requirements that helped him become a Foreman in only 17 months. “HBI gave me the confidence to learn, and that’s an advantage I have over others in the field. My Supervisor tells me he has only seen one person become a Superintendent in 5 years and I’m going to be the second.” 

John Pomelow

Construction Site Supervisor
HBI Carpentry Program Graduate, 2018

John Pomelow has always known he wanted to be a carpenter. While transitioning from military service, he completed HBI’s Carpentry Program at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. “HBI taught me the trade from the ground up,” he says. “HBI and The Home Depot Foundation, which funds the

John Pomelow

 program, really invested in my future. They started me on a career path that allows me to provide for my family and serve my neighbors here in Fayetteville.” John is now a Construction Site Supervisor with a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, where he builds homes for local residents. He’s also studying for his general contractor’s license. “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to build homes. And focusing that dream on those most in need feels right.”

DAMARIS GARCIA & JUAN GACIA

Carpenter HBI Carpentry Program Graduate, 2020

Damaris and her father Juan completed the HBI Carpentry program at Fort Carson near Colorado Springs together. The program, which receives funding from The Home Depot Foundation, gave Juan the in-demand skills he needed to start a post-military career and it prepared Damaris for job possibilities she never dreamed of. 

Damaris and Juan

“HBI’s excellent training is just the beginning,” she says. “They helped me and my dad find jobs right after graduation, at the same company! And they still stay in touch to see how we’re doing!” Juan adds, “Damaris and I have great careers ahead of us, and we’ve even talked about starting our own company someday. I was deployed a lot during my 22 years in the military, so being able to spend time together is important to both of us!” 

Mikayla Buresh

Norfolk Career Center Graduate

Mikayla Buresh fell in love with aviation as a young girl. Once she was old enough, Mikayla decided to enlist in the US Navy where she worked as an Aviation Electronics Technician at Naval Air Station Oceana fixing and flying planes.She came across HBI’s transitioning military program at the Norfolk Career Center and decided to enroll in the electrical program.

Mikayla received no-cost, hands-on electrical training and had the opportunity to volunteer with Habitat Humanity building homes for local families. “The transition from classroom to work site felt seamless,” says Mikayla.

After graduating from HBI’s electrical program, Mikayla began work with Mid-Atlantic Engineering Technical Services (MAETS) as an Electronics Technician while simultaneously pursuing a degree in Aviation Science from Liberty University. Mikayla hopes to one day use her skilled trades knowledge and experience to build a dream home, complete with a runway and hangar for her plane. Mikayla says “I highly recommend HBI’s free training program for transitioning military. They teach a lot of practical skills, even if you just want to repair your own house. Knowledge is power.” 

Contacts Us

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MARIO GONZALEZ

Vice President of Workforce Training & Employment

Mario joined HBI as a Regional Career Development Coordinator of HBI’s Military Services in 2019 and was promoted to Associate Vice President of WTE Community & Corrections Programs in 2022.
Now serving as Vice president of WTE (2024), he oversees the daily operations of HBI’s WTE Community & Corrections, Military Services, & Academies programs, working with partners to advance HBI’s expansion and enhance job placement opportunities for graduates. Mario serves as the liaison between HBI and external stakeholders to include military installations. He ensures successful outcomes for HBI graduates from transitioning service members & veterans to justice involved adults & youths. Internally, he provides strategic operational perspective to HBI’s senior leadership team. Prior to joining HBI, Mario served for 21 years in the U.S. Army across multiple locations globally & nationally and has an MBA from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN. Mario resides in Tennessee with his wife and children and spends time in Texas where his mother, adult children, and grandchildren reside. He enjoys the outdoors and serving in his community. 
JOSEPH F. LANDERS

Executive Officer of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts

Joseph F. Landers, 71, is the Executive Officer of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts having assumed that role in 2018 with a mandate from the Board of Directors to harmonize the five MA local associations, increase communications from the state to the membership, increase the public profile of the association,

create a path to financial stability and elevate the states lobbying efforts. Prior to taking on the challenging state association role, Joe was Chief Executive Officer and founder of Customized Structures Inc., a custom manufacturer of single-family, multi-family and commercial modular and panelized structures which began operations in 1984. Joe has been involved in the building industry, both site-built and factory-built, since 1973 and has worked in all phases of construction from development through design and production including on site management and sales. Customized Structures produced on average 330 single family homes per year, had an employee base as high as 180 and was known as the innovator in the production and design of modular components.

After the sale of Customized Structures Inc. to a private equity firm in 2003 Joe remained on the Board of Directors of the Company and functioned as a consultant to the CEO. He further took on the role of helping failing building systems companies return to profitability and successfully oversaw the sale of those companies. Mr. Landers has lectured frequently on the benefits and utilization of systems-built construction to building professionals around the country and has utilized his substantial professional and industry background to provide consultation services to both national and foreign companies interested in the processes and pitfalls of building and developing utilizing building systems components.

Joe attended Northeastern University and St. Anselm’s College graduating with a B.S. in 1972. 

Joe has been a member of the National Association of Home Builders since 1974. He is past president of two local Home Builders Associations and has served two terms as President of the  State of NH Home Builders Association. Joe is also a past president of the Modular Building  Systems Council of the NAHB, has been Chairman of the National Building Systems Council (BSC)  and has served five terms as a Trustee of the BSC during which time he created the BSC logo and  wrote the brochure “Most Frequently Asked Questions about Modular Homes”. 

In 1989, Joe received the National Pacesetter Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership  and contribution to the housing industry and in 1991 was awarded the title of Builder of the Year  by the Home Builders Association of N.H. In 1992 he was appointed by the Governor to the NH  Board of Fire Control within the Department of Safety and since then was reappointed three times.  He has served as a member on the State of New Hampshire Building Code Review Board and was  appointed by the Governor of NH to the Shore Land Protection Commission. Joe was selected to  receive the 2000 S. A. Walters Chairman’s Award, the premier award in the U.S. Systems Built  Housing Industry and was installed to the New Hampshire Housing Hall of Fame for his significant  and lasting contributions to the housing industry in the State of New Hampshire.  

Joe is a Senior Life Director of the National Association of Home Builders; he is served six terms on the NAHB Budget & Finance Committee serving as Vice Chair for four of those years, he has served  as Chairman of the Resolutions Committee, the International Housing Committee and the Building  Products Issues Committee of NAHB serving on the NAHB Executive Committee multiple times. 

In 2001 Joe was elected an Area Vice President of the National Association of Home Builders  representing builders through out the northeast. 

Joe is active in his community having served as finance chairmen of his church, is a member of the  International Order of Odd Fellows, and has served on multiple boards and committees on a  volunteer basis.  

Joe and his wife, Denise, reside in Plymouth, MA, they have two children, Jessica and Brad and two  grandchildren, Lily and Jack ages 13 and 11. 

Seth Appleton

President of U.S. Mortgage Insurers

The Honorable Seth Appleton is President of U.S. Mortgage Insurers. In this role, he leads USMI’s efforts to enable sustainable access to affordable mortgage credit for borrowers while protecting taxpayers. Seth previously served as President of MISMO, the real estate finance industry’s standards organization. Prior to that, Seth served as the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research at the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD),
a position for which he was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate. In addition to his service as Assistant Secretary, Seth concurrently served as the Principal Executive Vice President of Ginnie Mae, a government corporation guaranteeing the timely payment of
principal and interest on more than $2 trillion in mortgage-backed securities.

Before joining HUD, Seth worked on Capitol Hill, including serving as Chief of Staff for U.S. Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer for more than eight years. A native of Missouri, Seth is a graduate of Stanford University and is a co-chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Housing Council. 

Zach Harris

BuildStrong Academy of Greater New Orleans Graduate

Zach Harris is a native New Orleans resident, two-time graduate of Tulane University and a 27-year-old construction entrepreneur. Zach comes from a family of builders and grew up around real estate and residential construction. In fact, Zach enrolled in no-cost trades training at the BuildStrong Academy of Greater New Orleans with his mother in 2022, followed by his father and two brothers in 2023.

Zach Harris - HBI Build Strong Academy New Orleans Graduate

His construction company, Zach the Builder, crafts safer New Orleans homes via reliable roofing services. “The Academy classes cater to different experience levels and different interests. I had the construction business experience but needed to understand the craft,” says Zach. “You can’t be a great coach if you haven’t played football before.”

Outside of running his company, Zach enjoys using his in-demand skill set to give back to the community. To commemorate Memorial Day 2023, Zach and other students and graduates from BSA Greater New Orleans volunteered to help build a home for a veteran in the Lower 9th Ward.

2023 MVP Class Schedule
2023 MVP Class Schedule - HVAC