Sheet Metal Worker at Metal Workers Local #19,Philadelphia, Pa.
Army medic goes from patching up soldiers to patching up ductwork through the help of Helmets to Hardhats.
by Warren Duffie

Rocco Chidoni has a keen understanding of on-the-job stress. As an Army line medic, he served three combat tours in Iraq – treating and evacuating wounded soldiers and setting up triage while dodging enemy fire.

By comparison, his civilian job installing ductwork into industrial-sized heating and air-conditioning units is much less harrowing, though still very rewarding.

“Obviously, there aren’t many similarities between the construction industry and being a line medic,” says Chidoni, 25. “But there’s a strong bond between co-workers and union members – a brotherhood that’s a lot like the one found in the military.”

An employee of Philadelphia’s Metal Workers Local #19 union, Chidoni works with various construction firms throughout the city. He normally labors Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 3:30. When he works overtime, he is paid on a time-and-a-half basis.

“The Army taught me discipline and accountability,” Chidoni says, “which are very important in this industry. I really can’t think of a better field for military veterans who enjoy working with their hands. The pay and benefits are outstanding.”

Helping Veterans Build a Bright Future
So how did this former specialist find such a great job? It was Helmets to Hardhats — a national program that connects National Guard, Reserve, and transitioning active-duty military members with quality career training and employment opportunities within the construction industry. The program is administered by the Center for Military Recruitment, Assessment, and Veterans Employment headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Helmets to Hardhats is co-sponsored by all 15 building and construction trades organizations, as well as their employer associations, which together represent about 82,000 contractors. Labor leaders have also embraced the program … eager to help military personnel transfer their experience into secure careers.

Most people hired through Helmets to Hardhats participate in apprenticeships sponsored by their respective unions, after which they attain journeyman employment status.

The sheet-metal apprentice program in which Chidoni participates lasts four years — during which he receives wages, benefits, and top-of-the-line instruction at no cost. In the first and second year, apprentices learn about drafting, sheet-metal tools, safety procedures, pattern layout and development, and how mathematics applies to the trade. In the third year, apprentices work more on their own—learning how to install HVAC equipment, welding, hoisting and rigging, and retrofitting environmental systems. Finally, in the fourth year, they learn about fine-tuning HVAC systems and welding techniques.

In Uniform
Chidoni enlisted in the Army in 2002: “I was interested in being an Airborne medic because the idea of helping others really appealed to me. Plus, I wanted to be part of an elite unit.”

Based at Fort Bragg, N.C., Chidoni served three tours in Iraq – one in Baghdad, two in Mosul – with the 82nd Airborne Division. In April 2006, after three years of combat, he decided to leave the Army and pursue a career completely different from the medical field. Easier said than done.

The Transition
For six months, he couldn’t find work in either North Carolina or Alabama, living off the money he had saved while in uniform. Then in September, a friend told him about Helmets to Hardhats. After viewing the Web site, Chidoni liked what he saw and inquired about jobs in his hometown of Philadelphia. A Helmets representative soon contacted him for an interview and teamed him up with the training supervisor of Metal Workers Local #19.

“I wanted to learn about heating and air conditioning because those are things everyone needs, all year long,” Chidoni says. “Helmets to Hardhats really helped me start a new life, and I highly recommend it to anyone.”

What are the perks? For starters, the pay is great, Chidoni says. And by belonging to a union, he receives first-class medical benefits and a pension plan. He also has a wealth of career choices in his field. Instead of installing ductwork, he could fabricate it. Or he could work in a metal shop as a foreman.

“The construction industry is looking for discipline and dedicated veterans,” he says. “They realize that we bring a variety of experiences and skills to the table.”

Chidoni’s Advice

Visit the Helmets to Hardhats Web site, (www.helmetstohardhats.org) today.

Make sure you research the field in which you want to work. That way you’ll find a job you’ll truly enjoy.