How to Use Your GI Bill® for Veteran-Friendly Heavy Machinery Classes

If you’re a veteran transitioning to civilian life, you might be wondering about where to start. There are a lot of different directions you could take, but there is immense value in transitioning to skilled trades. The question is: how do you get there? PTS can help with our expert heavy machinery classes. Let’s explore the benefits of heavy machinery training, and how veterans can use the GI Bill® to help offset the costs of tuition at PTS. 

Ready for a new path forward? Check out this free ebook from PTS to learn more about how veterans can take advantage of heavy equipment operator training. 

Why Choose a Career in Heavy Machinery Operation? 

When you become a heavy equipment operator, you’re joining an in-demand and high-paying career that has strong job security. There are many heavy machinery opportunities in construction, mining, infrastructure and more. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job openings for heavy equipment operators are projected to grow 4% annually from 2023 to 2033, approximately 45,700 openings per year. It’s clear that this is a career that is in demand.

Veterans transitioning to heavy equipment careers can also expect to earn significant salaries. According to the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), heavy equipment operators made an average of $70,797 per year. That means veterans could earn high wages after their military careers, without earning an additional degree. Heavy machinery is a field that values discipline, focus and precision — all traits common in veterans, making this the perfect next step. 

PTS understands the value veterans can bring to this job, which is why we accept the GI Bill® for our heavy machinery classes. Let’s learn more.

A Closer Look at the GI Bill®

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® is designed to help veterans pay for school, trade programs, or other job-training expenses. Military members who were on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 qualify for this bill, and this program can help veterans with tuition and fees, housing, books and supplies, on-the-job training, test fees, work study and more. 

There are certain eligibility requirements you must meet to qualify for the GI Bill®, including: 

• Serving for at least 90 days of active duty on or after September 11, 2001 or
• Receiving a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged or
• Serving for at least 30 continuous days on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged with a service-related disability or
• Being a dependent child using benefits transferred by a qualifying veteran

Using the GI Bill® for heavy machinery classes is easy at PTS. As a designated Military Friendly® school, we’re eager to support our valued veterans as they transition to civilian life. With our comprehensive training and career assistance programs, veterans feel ready to start their new jobs as heavy equipment operators. 

At PTS, we offer a number of heavy machinery classes, including: 

• Heavy Equipment Operator 1: In this introductory course, you’ll learn how to operate skid steers, wheel loaders, compactors, and more. In addition to basic equipment operation and safety techniques, you’ll learn preventive maintenance, earthmoving, and soils. 
• Heavy Equipment Operator 2: Here, you’ll learn how to operate bulldozers, scrapers, excavators, and motor graders. You’ll also be exposed to grades, site work, excavation math, and more, allowing you to be qualified for a number of heavy equipment operator jobs.

In as little as three weeks, our heavy machinery classes will leave you ready to start a new and rewarding career. We offer personalized support, and a balance of hands-on training and classroom instruction, giving you the experience you need to find employment after graduation.   

Heavy machinery classes are a smart move for veterans and PTS is ready to help you use your GI Bill® to get started. Schedule a tour of our facility today to earn a $500 tuition reduction scholarship and see us in action for yourself.