We invite agencies, organizations, and companies to partner with us to achieve common goals.
We invite sponsors or donors to support specific Field School sites, projects, or individual participants.
CPI Foundation
National Park Military Training Program
CPI Field School locations at Alcatraz Island and Pearl Harbor, irreplaceable national cultural treasures deserving of the highest preservation investment, are unique locations in the world helping tell the powerful story of concrete’s role as a foundation of modern civilization. The original military purpose, design, and construction of their structures demonstrates long standing concrete durability that has fallen victim to to the forces of time, use, and the environment. Averaging over a million visitors a year at each site, the popular NPS sites face deferred maintenance issues also plaguing overall U.S. infrastructure. CPI’s high profile, publically promoted projects attract media and PR attention helping educate broad audiences about needed infrastructure resources and highlighting our responsibility to deliver on promises made to military service members and their families.
Specific topic video shorts:
Craftspeople
Restoration
Training
Leadership
Safety
Veterans
Women
Diversity
Alcatraz Field School Overview, 2016 - 4 minutes
CPI Alcatraz Island Field School
Founding Sponsor
Additional Sponsors, Donors, &
Partners
Thank You Sponsors, Donors, Partners
CPI Pearl Harbor Field School
Founding Sponsor
Alcatraz Field School Overview, 2014 - 10 minutes
Downloads
Participant Profiles
About Alcatraz Island, 2016 - 2 minutes
CPI is a nationwide non-profit foundation that serves as an official U.S. military active duty Career Skills Program, partner of the National Park Service, and partner of concrete and construction companies who sponsor our programs and hire our alumni. Field School participants gain in-depth, hands-on training for all types of industry careers while completing repair and maintenance projects in National Parks. Our Career Placement Program connects these and other soon-to-be veterans to civilian careers in the growing and critical sector of the U.S. economy responsible for designing, building, and maintaining structures and infrastructure.
Our Commitment to Careers
Career Placement Program
Our Commitment to Public Lands
Why National Park sites?
Concrete and construction are among the world’s largest industries. Their companies support CPI and hire our participants for skilled trades and management careers. Our important landmark preservation work attracts candidates who may not otherwise have considered these industries. We encourage employers to make job offers prior to service members’ expiration terms of service so their final military move is to their job location. For college-bound participants, our staff with university teaching/leadership backgrounds provide connections to related college programs.
Apply now for any session:
12 Week CSP/Skills Bridge Application
40-Hour Career Exploration Application
Our Commitment to Service
Active Duty Military Preparing for Civilian Careers
We honor their service by providing powerful, goal-oriented, industry-connected experiences leading to solid career opportunities for active duty service members seeking job training while they complete their military service. We are dedicated to operating ahead of the veteran-to-civilian transition curve that too often results in veterans unemployed or underemployed.
As a partner of the US National Park Service, we bring needed expertise, people power, & resources to extend limited federal budgets. Our full-time, year around presence allows us to not only complete our projects, but also complete continuous stewardship and maintenance that extends the lives of major capitol investment projects completed by others.
Our Commitment to National Parks
Education, Preservation, & Continuous Stewardship
Highlights
Summer 2016
CPI has partnered with Pacific Historic Parks to win a $250,000 American Express grant award for preservation in National Parks. The award funds initial preservation of a Pearl Harbor Battleship Row historic mooring quays as part of the CPI Field School at Pearl Harbor. Read More
Spring 2016
CPI was approved at the first overseas Career Skills Program for the US Army. Active duty service members from any service branch may participate.
Fall 2015
Henry Freimuth, US Navy veteran and 2015 CPI Alumni, was highlighted in the RMC Research & Education Foundation 2015 Year-end Update. Read more
We are committed to a culture of safety every day in our work and personal lives. Field training participants and everyone involved with CPI will experience this culture and be asked to join us with their own personal and professional safety commitment.
Our Commitment to People
Personal & Job Site Safety
View our Training Programs in Action
Our Programs & Commitments
Increasing Readiness for Our Veterans, Our Infrastructure, & Our National Parks
Our Commitment to the Environment
Why Concrete?
Our Commitment to Local Communities
Youth Mentoring & Veterans Coming Home
Our Commitment to Lifelong Learning
lndustry Professional Development
Our Commitment to Advancement
Applied Research
Our Commitment to Training
Field Training Program
Concrete is the second most consumed material in the world next to water. It is sustainable and long lasting but does require maintenance over time. Concrete evaluation, repair, and maintenance are relatively new fields growing in response to current needs. CPI’s directors, two of whom were named among the five most influential people in the industry by Concrete Construction magazine, are internationally recognized leaders dedicated to advancing the industry through workforce development, professional training and certification, appropriate use of technology, and emphasizing high-quality, long-term durable solutions. We teach Field Training participants in the context of repair and maintenance, preparing them for careers in any area of construction so they can help our country create and maintain buildings and infrastructure.
We positively impact communities with our military participants mentoring local youth during CPI community service projects and by helping service members find careers in communities where they have family roots and seek to establish their meaningful civilian futures.
The significance of our Field Training Program is strengthened by leading industry subject matter experts serving as guest lecturers and the opportunities we provide for mid-career professionals to gain professional development and serve as Field School mentors. The US Army Corp of Engineers recently brought their engineers to Alcatraz for first-hand exposure to the latest developments in repair and to inspire Field School participants.
We partner with industry and agencies for applied research that advances the craft and science of evaluation, construction, repair, and preservation. We are currently working with NASA to adapt their outer space travel Co2 reduction technology for use in the worldwide cement industry and develop ultra-durable cement for use in commercial and infrastructure concrete applications.
Please contact us if you would like to share our story or invite our CEO as a presenter at your conference, meeting, or event.
Partner with us to interview our Field School participants and Career Placement Program candidates for management careers, skilled trade and craft jobs, and internships.
Training Program Links
News | Highlights | Schedule
Past Articles & Newsletters
View Slides: Alcatraz Fall 2017 Team Last Week & Graduation
"CPI Partners to win $250,000 American Express grant award" Summer 2016
"Working at Alcatraz" Concrete Construction Magazine, January 2015
CPI News January 2015
CPI News December 2014
"Preserving Concrete on 'The Rock'" American Society of Civil Engineers
by Kevin Wilcox, June 3, 2014
"Hidden History Found Beneath Alcatraz" BBC News: Science & Environment, by Rebecca Morelle, February 26, 2014
Active duty military personnel may apply to either the Alcatraz Island or Pearl Harbor programs.
Military veterans, reservists, and other military-related personnel; college students; and other young adults over age 18 may apply for the Alcatraz Program.
Get lnvolved
We complete significant structural repair, evaluation, maintenance, and new construction projects on landmark structures and sites that increase longevity, visitor access, and safety. Participants serve 12 weeks learning and earning industry certifications while completing all management and hands-on aspects of significant projects. We encourage individuals with or without experience, and/or an interest in construction, to apply and discover where they fit into the future of US construction and infrastructure.