Transitioning from Military Service to a New Career

Exiting the military is a major life change. In particular, transitioning from military service to a civilian career can be challenging. Yet when you choose the right career, you can make your transition smoother, less stressful, and more rewarding.

Experts who work with veterans recommend looking for work that aligns with your current military job. Or, a career that requires the skills you have developed during your military service. That’s why HVACR service is such a great fit for veterans seeking a new civilian career. Plus, you get many of the same great benefits you receive in the service (especially as a union member), along with better pay and long-term job security.

Here’s an introduction to HVAC and Refrigeration service careers, why veterans will feel at home in HVACR, and the benefits you can gain from joining our growing industry.

What do HVACR service technicians do?

Service technicians in the HVAC & Refrigeration industry (also known as HVACR) spend their days working on heating, cooling, and refrigeration systems. The work involves installing, repairing, and maintaining equipment to keep it operating efficiently. Technicians work in people’s homes and in commercial locations like office complexes, retail stores, restaurants, manufacturing, healthcare, schools, and other facilities. 

It’s a growing industry with many employers looking to hire people transitioning from the military and other careers. Plus, you don’t need a college degree or industry experience to get hired for an entry-level service position. 

Learn more about careers in HVACR Service

Transitioning from military service: why HVACR will make you feel at home

Military service is a way of life that’s often very different from civilian life. That’s why making the transition from military service can be stressful: there’s so much change. Choosing a new career that has many similarities to your current situation can make things easier.

Here are just a few reasons veterans will feel right at home working as a union service technician in the HVACR industry.

You’re serving others. 

Chances are, you joined the military in the first place to serve your country and you value doing service work. In HVACR, that’s exactly the type of rewarding work you’ll do every day. You will work on heating and cooling systems that are essential to people’s health and wellbeing. They’re also essential to the economy, so you’re also serving your country.

The union takes care of you for life. 

Here in NYC, shortly after you start working as an entry-level technician for a union shop, you’ll be able to join the local union (it’s known as Steamfitters Local 638). Just like the military, the union has your back and will be there to help if you have any problems on the job. And they take care of you for life with a generous pension, something you won’t get from other types of civilian careers.

The pay structure is familiar. 

When you become a member of the HVACR union, you’ll get automatic pay increases at set intervals (every 6 months to a year) until you reach full qualification after 5 years. Here’s what’s different: your pay will rise faster than it did in the military! In fact you can easily earn over $100,000 per year as a full journeyman.

The medical benefits are unbeatable. 

Many veterans are worried about one particular aspect of transitioning from military service: getting private health insurance. The cost is outrageous when you’re used to getting great benefits for free. As an HVACR union member, you get excellent health coverage for yourself and your family, all fully paid for by your employer. That’s unheard of for most civilian careers!

You get free training. 

Especially if you didn’t go to college, you may be worried about starting over in your civilian career. In the military, your training was free. In the HVACR industry, it’s the same. You get trained on the job (while earning good money) over a period of years until you’re fully qualified as a service technician. And you can also use your VA benefits to pay for trade school, which is not required but can be a helpful way to get started in HVACR.

Watch this video highlighting veterans who have made the transition from military service to HVACR careers:

HVAC union technician: a great career choice for veterans

When you’re transitioning from military service, you’re probably not looking for exactly what you had before. You’re looking to grow and build an exciting future. That’s what you get in the HVACR industry. 

Here are some of the benefits you can look forward to.

Better pay

Chances are, you can very quickly earn more money in HVACR service than you make now in your military career. Depending on your current rank, you might need to take a short-term pay cut for 6 months to a year. But after that your pay will rise fast. As we mentioned, after 5 years you can make $100,000 or more.

A secure job

The economy is hard to predict these days, and that makes it tough to start a new career. But HVACR offers long term job security. Why? There are a few reasons, but here’s an important one: no matter what the economy, people still need heat, air conditioning, and refrigeration.

Learn more>

Commercial Refrigeration Technician: Is It a Secure Job?

Interesting work

You want to make sure you’re going to enjoy your new career. HVACR service is not a desk job and you will never be bored! HVAC and Refrigeration technology is interesting and constantly changing, so there’s always something new to learn. Plus, you have a chance to work in different environments from luxury homes to hospitals to sports arenas. 

Advancement opportunities

Just like in the military, HVACR service gives you the chance to advance your career. You can choose to become a master technician specializing in a specific aspect of the work, such as working on chiller systems or complex refrigeration systems. Or, you can move up into supervision and management. The possibilities are endless.

Learn more>

HVAC Career Path: What Are the Possibilities for Service Technicians?

Are you well suited for a career in HVACR service?

You don’t need college or experience to get hired as an entry level technician. But employers are looking for certain skills and qualities in new technicians. Find out if you have what it takes: take our quiz! 

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HVACR Career Connect NY was created to promote the exceptional quality-of-life benefits of a career in HVAC and Refrigeration service, and also to provide a clear path for getting started in the profession. In doing so, we serve as a resource for employers in the New York City metro area to find and hire smart and capable new technicians. We also serve as an educational resource to support business growth and to help service technicians succeed in their chosen profession.