Transition to Trades, an approved Career Skills Program (CSP) developed by Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical and U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Campbell, is honored to receive the 2018 HIRE Vets Medallion Program Demonstration Award from U.S. Department of Labor.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s HIRE Vets Medallion Program Demonstration Award recognizes leadership in recruiting, employing, and retaining our nation’s veterans. In 2018, 239 businesses, ranging from small non-profits to leading Fortune 500 companies, were awarded this honor. Award recipients demonstrate a commitment to veteran hiring and retention, provide veteran-specific resources, leadership programming, dedicated human resources, and compensation and tuition assistance programs.

This award, presented during a live ceremony at the U.S. Department of Labor on November 8, 2018, is the only federal-level award that recognizes job creators who successfully recruit, hire, and retain American’s veterans.

Transition to Trades, launched on July 5, 2016, allows separating soldiers the opportunity to attend Total Tech trade school (a subsidiary of Hiller, LLC) to learn valuable technical career skills while remaining active duty in the U.S. Army. Total Tech offers a unique approach to technician training through classroom and hands-on laboratory instruction in a 15,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility. As part of the program, students are guaranteed an employment interview at a Hiller branch location of their choosing. Soldiers desiring to return to their hometowns are provided key industry contact information to aid in employment searches in those respective areas.

Since its inception, Transition to Trades has proudly graduated 397 members from the HVAC, Electrical, and Plumbing trades. Of those graduates, 321 soldiers are now employed full-time in the industry, with 102 working full-time at Hiller, and 31 have reenlisted or gone back to further their education. The program has received United States Congressional Recognition and recognition from Tennessee’s Governor Haslam for its dedication to providing stable careers for veterans.

For more information regarding the HIRE Vets Medallion program, visit www.HireVets.gov.