WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new type of battle is being waged by the U.S. Department of War. On July 2, television host Mike Rowe was presented with a $10 million check at the Pentagon to formally launch the Build Freedom Initiative.
The check was presented to Rowe, CEO of mikeroweWORKS Foundation, by Michael Duffey, undersecretary of war for acquisition and sustainment, and Michael Cadenazzi, assistant secretary of war for industrial base policy. The money will be used to help young Americans prepare for work in skilled trades such as welding, plumbing and electrical work through scholarships, a press release at war.gov/News said.
Funding for the program comes as part of a contract with the War Department’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program in conjunction with the Build Freedom workforce development initiative. The government’s initiative and mikeroweWORKS Foundation share the same mission: Strengthen the nation by getting more Americans into the skilled trade workforce.
Rebuilding the defense industrial base, which includes attracting more young Americans trained to build and repair ships, aircraft and munitions is a focus for the War Department. The challenge to rebuild the defense industrial base through programs like Build Freedom and mikeroweWORKS comes directly from the top, Duffey said in the recent press release.
“President [Donald J.] Trump and Secretary [Pete] Hegseth recognize the need for us to not only maintain peace through strength, but peace through industrial strength, and so they’ve charged us with the mission of reinvigorating the industrial base, rebuilding the military and reindustrializing our manufacturing base,” Duffey said. “Build Freedom ... will inspire the next generation to take that career path to build that skill set that’s essential to ensuring that we maintain that decisive battlefield advantage.”
‘Math is not on our side’
“Not a day goes by where [we don’t] get a call from some leader of some consequential industry in our country who is freaking out,” Rowe said in the press release. “They’ve done the math; they know that for every five tradespeople that retire, [only] two come in. It’s been that way for nearly 12 years. The math is not on our side.”
Rowe believes that for decades now, young Americans have been discouraged from doing things other than pursuing a four-year degree – to shy away from work that doesn’t involve college. He is passionate about reinvigorating involvement in the skilled trades.
“[These] stigma, stereotypes, myths and misperceptions that we deal with every day, those can be confronted, those can be changed,” he said. “This campaign is an attempt to do that. ... We’re going to make a persuasive case; we’re going to make a patriotic case, but we’re also going to make a personal case. We’re going to show people that they can support a family and revel in the joy of meaningful work by building freedom.”
Numbers paint the picture
The website buildfreedom.us is a partnership with the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, the National Labor Exchange and the Department of War. It states that 76 million baby boomers are retiring from the workforce. As a result, 320,000 welders are needed by 2029; 250,000 shipbuilders are needed in the next decade; and there will be 81,000 new listings for electricians annually for the next decade. Demand is rising for hands-on trades like welding, electrical, mechanical and manufacturing. These are among the hardest jobs to automate, according to the website.
Rowe said that trades scholarship money for 2026 is currently available. Application information is available at mikeroweworks. org/scholarship/.
“This year, we’re awarding $10,000,000 in work ethic scholarships to people willing to learn a skilled trade. Instead of focusing on grades or traditional college pathways, we reward those who show strong work ethic, responsibility, and a positive attitude.
Requirements for applicants include the following:
•Be a U.S. citizen.
•Be a high school graduate or senior.
•Enroll or plan to enroll in an approved program, two years or less, at an accredited school.
•Sign the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge.
•Provide an official tuition bill or cost statement from the accredited school.
The S.W.E.A.T. Pledge is a personal accountability commitment created by Mike Rowe and the mikerowe-WORKS Foundation to promote a strong work ethic in
_______________ the skilled trades. It stands for Show up early, Work hard, Enter the trade, Accept the challenge, and Take pride in your work.
_______
Scholarships for twoyear programs or less are available in the following in-demand skilled trade programs:
•Construction and Building (construction, electrical technology, heavy equipment operation, plumbing)
•Manufacturing and Industrial (Programs that power production, fabrication, and industrial systems - machining, manufacturing and welding)
•HVAC and Energy (Programs that keep critical systems running efficiently and reliably – HVAC and energy technology)
•Transportation and Equipment (Programs that keep people, goods, and equipment moving – automotive technology, aviation technology, commercial driving, diesel technology, and marine technology)
•Agriculture and Natural Resources (Programs in food production, land management, and agriculture – farming and agriculture)
•Technology (Programs in digital infrastructure and technical systems – information
health, safety, and community services – nursing: associate degree programs or LPN only; protective services such as personal protective services, police, fire science or EMT; veterinary technology)
•Service and Personal (Programs in hands-on service careers: cosmetology; culinary arts) Four-year programs do not qualify for scholarship consideration. Applications are being accepted now through Oct. 31. Scholarships are awarded four times a year. For applications received by Aug. 30, decisions will be announced in October. Applications received by Oct. 31, decisions will be announced in December.