Every year, roughly 200,000 men and women leave active duty in the military to return to civilian life. The change can leave many unsure of how to translate their experience into careers outside the service. A study published in Clinical Psychology Review found that 44% to 72% of veterans experience high levels of stress during the transition to civilian life, including difficulties securing employment, among other factors.
At the same time, the roofing industry has been grappling with persistent labor shortages, a challenge that has only intensified in recent years. Roofing work demands physical endurance, mental focus, and a strong commitment to safety and precision — the very qualities that the military instills in individuals who serve.
Bridging the gap, from boots to hard hats
To bridge these two needs, GAF, North America’s largest roofing manufacturer, launched the GAF Roofing Academy in 2020. The program offers tuition-free, hands-on training designed to help participants, including service members, transition into the skilled trades workforce. The program creates a direct pipeline to meaningful careers, while connecting qualified talent with the roofing industry. Since launching, more than 5,000 individuals have been trained and more than 2,800 graduates have been placed into jobs in the industry.
Over the last five years, GAF has expanded access for veterans through partnerships with The Army Career Skills Program, NextOp, Work for Warriors, Veterans Affairs, Colorado Veterans Project, and Team Rubicon. Most recently, the program was also approved by the Department of Defense to be part of the DOD SkillBridge program network. The results have been significant: 43% of service-member graduates have secured stable jobs with good pay. The initiative not only strengthens the roofing workforce but also helps veterans find long-term careers in a field that values their skills and discipline.
During the transition to civilian life, many veterans want opportunities that mirror their experience in uniform. With structure, opportunities for upward mobility and tangible results, roofing can provide that.
For Navy veteran Jacob Radford, the road to roofing started with a simple web search after deployment. “I wanted to understand roofing from the ground up,” he says. “What I found was a stable, blue-collar industry with incredible potential. A lot of people don’t realize how viable this trade is.”
Radford explained that the Navy prepared him well. “Service members are wired to work hard and adapt quickly,” he said. “In both the Navy and roofing, you’re problem-solving under pressure. No two missions — or roofs — are alike.”
Roofing careers provide structure that aligns with veterans’ skillsets, including:
- Structure and teamwork: There are clear roles and a chain of command similar to the military.
- Mission mindset: Each roof completed offers a real-world sense of accomplishment and pride.
- Leadership pipeline: Veterans often advance quickly to supervisory roles.
- Discipline & safety mindset: These values are critical in a high-risk work environment requiring precision.
Another veteran, Brian Hall, believes that graduating from the GAF Roofing Academy gave him a clear path forward. “Programs like the GAF Roofing Academy make the transition a lot smoother by giving you the technical knowledge and business know-how to hit the ground running,” he said. “The program gave my wife and I a chance to perfect our skills, learn the ins and outs of both residential and commercial roofing, and hear directly from instructors who had decades of trade experience.”
Likewise, Radford, the owner of Texas State Commercial Services, is now working in commercial roofing and values the stability and growth that the industry provides. “Your success is based on the work you put in,” he said. “It’s not just a job, it’s a career you can build on. Programs like the GAF Roofing Academy are like a bootcamp. You learn fast, get mentored and come out better for it.”
The ripple effect: rebuilding communities, not just careers
What began as a workforce initiative has evolved into something deeper, a movement that reconnects veterans to service through community rebuilding. Across the Gulf Coast, the Midwest, the Southeast, and other regions prone to hurricanes and severe weather, graduates of the GAF Roofing Academy are putting their new skills to use where they’re needed most. They’re repairing homes for families devastated by storms and helping fellow veterans return to safe, secure housing.
For participants, that sense of continuity is transformative. Every repaired roof tells two stories: one of a family made whole, and another of a veteran rediscovering their mission.
“In the military, you’re serving people, protecting them, and making sure they have what they need. Roofing feels like an extension of that, just in a different way,” says Hall. “Now I’m serving families by protecting their homes. That sense of purpose is the same as what I had in the military. It’s about helping others, just with a hammer and shingles instead of a uniform.”
For veterans like Hall and Radford, roofing offers something many miss after military life — purpose, teamwork, and clear results. It’s hard work, but it’s honest, visible, and rewarding.
“Even though I’m always learning new things, I approach every project with the same dedication the Navy taught me,” Radford said. “It’s an addition to a long-term career, not just a job.”
And for hundreds of veterans across the country, every climb up a ladder isn’t just about a paycheck — it’s about another way to serve.
To find a class near you or sign up to be notified when new GAF Roofing Academy training sessions are scheduled, visit gaf.com/roofingacademy.
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