Interview: Justin Rost, director, Minnesota Helmets to Hardhats

After a four-year stint in the U.S. Marines, Justin Rost struggled to make the transition to civilian life. Rost, an infantry rifleman who was deployed in 13 countries, tried his hand at real estate and other careers in his post-military life. Nothing seemed to fit. “When I got back, it took me a long time to be comfortable walking around a mall or moving through my day without my regiment,” he said. “I felt like something was missing all the time.” He finally settled on a career in construction, specifically as a union sheet metal worker. Skills he learned in the military, such as the importance of good communication and punctuality, lent themselves well to the building industry. Two years ago, Rost landed his current job as director of Minnesota Helmets to Hardhats, a national program dedicated to connecting activity-duty military members, veterans, National Guard and reservists with construction training and career opportunities. In the following interview, Rost talks with reporter Brian Johnson about his journey from military to civilian work, the mission of Helmets to Hardhats, the outlook for construction employment and more.