Fort Riley’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) is empowering transitioning service members through valuable career skills, notably with the Home Builders Institute (HBI) Career Skills Program. This initiative recently showcased its impact through a partnership with Manhattan Area Habitat for Humanity, constructing new homes in Ogden, Kansas. A groundbreaking ceremony on May 27th marked the commencement of this project, highlighting the practical, real-world experience gained by soldiers enrolled in the program.
“This is an amazing opportunity for our students,” stated Marie Gazelle, Fort Riley’s HBI regional career development coordinator. She emphasized the program’s unique benefit: “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.” This collaboration provides soldiers with invaluable hands-on experience, bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world construction environments.
Soldiers from Fort Riley's Career Skills Program participate in a groundbreaking ceremony with Habitat for Humanity, gaining construction skills.
The Fort Riley Career Skills Program, under the umbrella of TAP, offers soldiers a diverse range of opportunities to develop skills for civilian careers. The HBI Career Skills Program specifically focuses on the construction industry, providing soldiers with comprehensive training in constructing, wiring, and plumbing homes. This training adheres to local and state codes, ensuring that the skills acquired are directly transferable and highly sought after in the civilian sector.
For soldiers like Tabetha Love, a current HBI CSP student, the program offers a significant advantage. “The program started out as being something that I could do to get myself a leg up on the civilian side,” Love explained. Her initial uncertainty about her post-military career path was clarified through the program: “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.” The HBI program not only provides technical skills but also fosters a sense of community contribution and future career direction.
Beyond individual soldier development, these projects, such as the Habitat for Humanity partnership, strengthen the bond between Fort Riley and the surrounding communities. The homes being constructed are designated for lower-income families, directly addressing local housing needs and demonstrating a commitment to community welfare.
Josh Brewer, Executive Director of Manhattan Area Habitat for Humanity, highlighted the ongoing impact of this collaboration. “This build represents a continuation of a pilot program that we started last year two blocks away from here,” Brewer said. He underscored the proven success and future potential: “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 Fort Riley Career Skills Program, through its partnership with HBI and Habitat for Humanity, is not only building homes but also building brighter futures for transitioning soldiers and the local community.
For those seeking more information about the Transition Assistance Program, resources are available at https://home.army.mil/riley/index.php/about/dir-staff/dhr/SFL-TAP and https://www.armytap.army.mil.
