The best HVAC techs aren’t just technically sharp. They’re also disciplined, calm under pressure and do what needs to be done all while treating everyone with respect. If that description also sounds a lot like a military veteran, Trane is counting on exactly that. The company’s Trade Warriors program is now in its fifth year of connecting service members preparing to leave the armed services with new careers in HVAC. More than 300 veterans have been placed with Trane and American Standard dealers across the country since the program launched, and approximately 80 percent of graduates are still with their initial employer after 90 days.

Great solution

Craig Johnson, director of contractor experience for Residential HVAC and Supply at Trane, says the program was designed with the reality of the shortage in the next generation of skilled tradespeople squarely in mind.

“At Trane and American Standard, we consistently hear from our dealers that workforce shortages are the single greatest constraint on growth,” Johnson says. “Trade Warriors was created to build a structured, reliable pipeline of trained talent while providing meaningful career paths for transitioning service members.”

The program launched in 2021 at the U.S. Army’s Fort Bragg in North Carolina and was developed in partnership with RightTek HVAC Training, a tech school based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the Army’s Career Skills Program. All military men and women within six months of their separation date are eligible to apply, as well as veterans.

Job ready

The program includes an intensive eight-week curriculum that blends classroom instruction with hands-on lab work and field simulations. Students also get after-hours access to Trane’s internal Learning Management System for additional support between sessions.

“The curriculum is developed in collaboration with internal technical experts and training partners to support consistency and national scalability,” Johnson says. 

By the time students graduate, they’ve prepared for EPA 608 certification and received foundational training in diagnostics, installation, safety protocols and customer communication. And before earning their “Trane Certified Technician” status, students must also pass the NATE Ready-to-Work exam and log 1,000 hours toward a North Carolina HVAC License.

Trade Warrior training, however, doesn’t just end upon graduation. The program extends to 30-, 60-, and 90-day follow-ups and also connects graduates with alumni from previous training cohorts — a support network that acknowledges the real emotional weight of leaving military life behind.

“Close coordination between training teams and hiring dealers is essential to ensure smooth onboarding and long-term retention,” Johnson explains. “Setting clear expectations and providing mentorship pathways significantly strengthens early success rates.”

Current cohorts run 10 to 15 soldiers, and with the Fort Bragg location now GI Bill-eligible, Trane is aiming to push cohort sizes toward 20 — a capacity the existing facilities can already support.

The program has continued to evolve based on feedback from graduates. Recent updates reflect where the industry is heading, including new refrigerants, electrification and training on digital equipment. Trane has also expanded recruitment beyond Army candidates to include Marine vets, and is also working with distributor partners and Trane’s Commercial and Parts businesses to create employment pathways beyond the traditional dealer network.

Why vets make great techs

Ask any contractor what they want in a new hire and the answer usually starts with attitude — someone who shows up on time, follows through and doesn’t rattle when a customer is frustrated and the equipment isn’t cooperating.

Vets, Johnson says, arrive with exactly that profile.

“Veterans bring discipline, accountability, problem-solving ability, and comfort working in high-pressure environments — all critical traits for in-home service and installation roles,” he explains. “Their professionalism, punctuality, and team-oriented mindset often translate into strong service-call performance and positive customer interactions.”

Dealers who’ve hired Trade Warriors graduates have echoed that sentiment. Feedback has consistently highlighted work ethic, coachability, and maturity in customer-facing settings. And there’s another factor that hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“Many dealers note that veterans often demonstrate a high level of loyalty to their employers compared with non-veteran hires,” Johnson adds.

What’s in it for dealers

For a business owner who’s spent months, if not years, running shorthanded or, worse, burning out existing techs, the program’s structure is designed to remove friction from the hiring process as much as possible. Dealers can register their interest in hiring graduates at no cost. When a veteran nears graduation and is planning to relocate to a dealer’s area, Trane notifies the participating contractor and facilitates the connection.

The financial calculus also tilts in a dealer’s favor. 

“Anecdotal feedback indicates that the net cost to the dealer after co-op support is substantially lower than what many would typically invest to train a new ‘green’ technician,” Johnson says, “even before considering how much sooner a Trade Warriors graduate can begin contributing to the business’ revenue generation.”

In the past year alone, the dealer network participating in the program has grown by 100 contractors, with Trane continuing to work toward closing geographic coverage gaps across the country.

Johnson’s long-term vision for the Trade Warrior program is to provide a nationally recognized talent pipeline that delivers skilled technicians into dealer and distributor networks for years to come.

“Over time, success will also be reflected in the continued growth and advancement of program graduates,” he explains. “The goal is to see more alumni move into leadership roles within their organizations, and potentially even become business owners themselves.”

For an industry that has struggled to replace an aging workforce, Trade Warriors represents something rare: a program that solves a business problem and does genuine good at the same time. 

“We see it playing a meaningful role in strengthening the residential HVAC workforce while creating sustainable careers for veterans.”

For dealers still wondering whether to get involved, the answer from those already in the network seems clear. The talent is out there. It’s just might be wearing a different uniform right now.

Interested dealers can register for the Trade Warriors program through Trane’s dealer network. Service members and veterans can find more information through the U.S. Department of Defense SkillBridge website (https://tinyurl.com/2p8xzxn5).