Proudly Serving Veterans
Each year, approximately 200,000 men and women leave their careers in the military and begin transitioning to civilian life. This transition can be challenging and, at times, even overwhelming, because these veterans have to find a new career path. With so many options available, one career choice seems like a perfect fit: construction. Veterans in construction are highly skilled and highly valued. Without going back to earn a degree, veterans in construction are able to find a rewarding career with growth and they’re able to earn the family-sustaining salaries they deserve.
But first, it’s important to find the right construction role for you. Here, we’ll take a look at becoming a heavy equipment operator, why this is the perfect job for veterans after their military careers, and how PTS can properly prepare you for this new career.
How does PTS help veterans build a rewarding career? Learn more about our veteran resources here.
How Veterans Can Excel as Heavy Equipment Operators
First, what do heavy equipment operators even do? In the construction industry, heavy equipment operators operate skid steers, backhoes, bulldozers, excavators, and more. According to a 2024 survey by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) comparing the salaries of different construction jobs, heavy equipment operators made an average of $70,797. Those are significant earnings, especially for a job that doesn’t require an additional degree. Veterans in construction are choosing heavy equipment operation more and more because the growth potential is tremendous.
Veterans can easily transition to heavy equipment operation because they have many transferable skills that are highly valued by their employers. Veterans are easily adaptable to changes in their environment and are able to communicate with their coworkers effectively to get the job done. Being a team player is also important because a construction project requires many different workers to accomplish a task. Veterans also have self-discipline and are able to complete physically demanding work, which is necessary in heavy equipment operation. Thinking critically is key as well. Construction sites may be dangerous if you don’t have the proper training or critical thinking skills to safely perform your job.
Veterans possess all the skills necessary to find a successful career as a heavy equipment operator, one that will leave room for growth and will enable a comfortable transition back to civilian life. But they need to find the best heavy equipment operator training school that can prepare them for success – and that’s where PTS can help.
Trust PTS to Help Veterans in Construction Build a Rewarding Career
PTS offers high-quality training programs that provide the fundamental education necessary to find entry-level employment as a heavy equipment operator. Veterans in construction can also take advantage of several programs in order to help fund heavy equipment operator training at PTS. For instance, the Post-9/11 GI Bill may provide payment for tuition and fees, and the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Program can also provide you with certain benefits if you are eligible.
As one of the top training schools in the country, we have an experienced team of NCCER Master Trainers, NCCER Craft Instructors, NCCCO Certified Instructors, and NCCCO Certified Examiners who are ready to help you succeed.
Each training course lasts three weeks, and during that period, you’ll gain valuable knowledge that you can take with you to any job site. Our programs include both classroom learning and in-the-seat instruction, where you’ll learn how to safely operate various types of equipment. We have several courses available:
- Heavy Equipment Operator 1: in this entry-level course, you’ll gain the necessary knowledge required for the basic operation of several types of heavy equipment, as well as heavy equipment safety, earthmoving, and soils. You’ll learn valuable skills, like preventative maintenance, and will practice operating five types of equipment that are commonly used on construction sites: skid steers, wheel loaders, compactors, backhoes, and articulated off-road dump trucks.
- Heavy Equipment Operator 2: in this follow-up course, you’ll gain additional knowledge about heavy equipment operation, including excavation math, interpretation of civil drawings, and finishing and grading. You’ll practice operating bulldozers, scrapers, excavators, and motor graders, and you’ll be qualified for a wide range of construction jobs.
We also offer a mobile crane operations course that will prepare you for entry-level work as a NCCCO certified crane operator. No matter what course you choose, expect small class sizes, dedicated instructors, and a supportive team that wants to see you succeed above all else. Contact PTS to see how we support veterans in construction build rewarding careers. Schedule a tour today and earn a $500 tuition reduction scholarship.