From Soldiers to Real Estate Leaders: Rehab Warriors Celebrates Army Veterans in Real Estate Project Management

June 14 marks the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday — nearly two and a half centuries of service, sacrifice, and unshakable commitment to country. At Rehab Warriors, this day carries extra meaning. Many of our apprentices, mentors, and leadership team members come from Army backgrounds. Their stories don’t just inspire us — they shape the future of this program.

Today, we don’t just honor their past service. We celebrate their future. Because for Army veterans transitioning to civilian life, the mission may change, but the leadership, grit, and sense of purpose don’t.

Why the Army Birthday Matters at Rehab Warriors

Every branch of the military instills discipline, integrity, and resilience. But there’s something distinct about the legacy of the U.S. Army — a long-standing tradition of leadership in the face of challenge.

At Rehab Warriors, we see that same spirit in our Army apprentices. Whether they served as infantry, logistics specialists, or combat engineers, they bring their experience into the real estate industry with a level of preparedness that can’t be taught in a textbook.

This birthday isn’t just a date in the calendar. It’s a reminder that the Army builds leaders, and those leaders are just getting started.

The Civilian Transition: What’s Next After the Army?

Leaving the Army is more than hanging up a uniform. It’s leaving a family, a chain of command, a daily sense of mission. And while the Army prepares Soldiers for war, it doesn’t always prepare them for the job market.

That gap can be overwhelming. You’re told to translate your skills, but no one gives you a blueprint. You’re expected to start over, but you know you’ve already done the hardest job in the world.

Rehab Warriors was created to fill that gap. Not with handouts, but with a clear path forward: a fully remote, paid Registered Apprenticeship in Real Estate Project Management built for veterans, by veterans.

For Army veterans, this is a new mission: building sustainable communities, revitalizing neighborhoods, and leading construction projects from the front.

Why Army Veterans Thrive in Real Estate Project Management

You don’t need to teach a Soldier how to manage logistics, solve problems, or lead a team under pressure. The Army already did that.

That’s why Army veterans don’t just succeed in our program, they excel. They treat job sites like missions. They handle compliance with the precision of an ops order. They communicate clearly, stay calm under pressure, and follow through.

Here’s what Army vets bring to the table:

• Operational excellence: Many have led troops, managed timelines, and coordinated complex operations.
• Accountability: They understand responsibility at a high-stakes level.
• Mission-first mindset: They focus on the outcome, not the clock.
• Adaptability: From deployments to dynamic environments, they know how to shift gears quickly and effectively.

The transition to project management isn’t a reinvention — it’s a redirection. Army veterans already know how to lead. We just give them the tools, structure, and civilian context to do it in a new industry.

Real Impact, Not Just a Job

Many transitioning veterans are told to start at the bottom; to “work their way up” in fields that often don’t honor their past experience.

We reject that narrative. At Rehab Warriors, Army veterans enter a career path designed for upward mobility. From day one, they’re treated like professionals-in-training, not trainees.

Through our 12-month Registered Apprenticeship:

• They complete 2 months of virtual certification training
• Spend 4 months in supervised, remote project work with Rebuilding the Fort
• Follow it up with 6 months of field-based experience through an employer partner
• And (optionally) complete an in-person Job Readiness Fellowship to launch their career with confidence

This isn’t theoretical. It’s job training with real outcomes: 96% job placement, 98% program completion, and over 100 veteran-led businesses started — many of them by Army vets.

From Camouflage to Construction Boots: Army Apprentices in Action

Marc Yañez, an Army veteran and current Rehab Warriors apprentice, is a powerful example of what happens when military training meets real-world opportunity. After nine years of service, Marc wasn’t looking to start over — he was looking to build forward. Through Rehab Warriors, he completed remote instruction while supporting his family and began applying his skills on the job with ICON Custom Homes. From procurement to project planning, Marc seamlessly translated his military experience — logistics, leadership, and mission execution — into impact on the job site. His proudest moment? Taking everything he learned in training and using it to operate with confidence and precision as a purchasing agent.

He’s not alone. Shareese Blakley, our Vice President of Education and an Army veteran herself, has not only completed the Rehab Warriors program, but she’s become one of its strongest leaders and advocates. When she left the Army, she sought purpose and found it through real estate development. Within two months of starting the program, she had built her team, launched her business, and purchased her first investment property. Today, she brings that same discipline and fire to mentoring the next generation of veteran apprentices.

These aren’t one-offs — they’re the standard. Our Army veterans don’t just complete their on-the-job training. They lead from the front, bringing the mission-first mindset of military service into the future of real estate.

Why This Isn’t Just a Program. It’s a Platform

Many programs for veterans focus on survival: get a job, get stability, move on.

We’re focused on leadership. On legacy. On building the future — not just for the veteran, but for the communities they serve.

We built Rehab Warriors to be more than a certificate. It’s a platform. A way for veterans to:

• Earn 10+ industry-recognized certifications
• Get paid while training
• Work on live projects that improve housing, infrastructure, and opportunity
• Connect with a national network of employers, cities, and fellow veterans
• Build generational wealth through upward mobility, not entry-level stagnation

And most importantly, to belong to a community that sees them as who they are, not where they came from, but where they’re going next.

Looking Ahead: Army Values, Civilian Vision

If the Army taught you anything, it’s that leadership isn’t about barking orders — it’s about showing up, doing the work, and lifting up others along the way.

That’s exactly what we see in our Army apprentices:

• Quiet confidence
• Unshakable responsibility
• A desire to lead with purpose, not just punch a timecard

These are the values we build on in every cohort. As we continue to grow, we’re expanding opportunities for Army veterans across the country to transition into high-impact careers that reflect the strength, intelligence, and grit they’ve carried all along.

Celebrating Service by Investing in Their Future

On this Army Birthday, we don’t just say thank you. We say: We see you. We believe in you. And we’re building with you.

If you’re an Army veteran — or know one — who’s ready to turn your experience into leadership in real estate, we invite you to learn more about Rehab Warriors.

Let’s rebuild communities. Let’s rebuild futures. Let’s do it together.