American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2013 – Today, the White House Office of
Science and Technology Policy joined with a coalition of private-sector
partners from the telecommunications industry to launch “Warriors 4 Wireless,”
a new nonprofit program aimed at connecting veterans and returning service
members to jobs in the rapidly growing wireless telecommunications industry.
A White House release said the program includes stakeholders
from Joining Forces -- a national initiative that provides opportunities and
support to military members and their families -- as well as from the private
sector, the federal government, the U.S. military, and industry trade
associations committed to scaling successful training models for veterans with
wireless-relevant skills.
Warriors 4 Wireless builds on a Veterans IT Training and
Certification program, launched at the White House in April 2013 in response to
a call to action by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama asking
industries to make it easier for military service members and veterans to
receive civilian training and certifications, according to the release.
Although the majority of IT specialists in the military
receive training that is equivalent to their civilian IT counterparts, they
typically do not have industry-recognized certifications that reflect the IT
skills and expertise gained during service, the release said.
“The administration is committed to the care of all service
members, veterans, and their families,” Army Col. Rich Morales, executive
director of Joining Forces, said in the release. “We are proud to support
initiatives like Warriors for Wireless that play a critical role in connecting
members of the armed forces leaving military service to the jobs training and
certification necessary to obtain many high-tech, high-skilled jobs in the
private sector.”
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler said
in the release, “I wholeheartedly salute the Warriors for Wireless initiative
aimed at connecting our Nation’s veterans and returning service members to jobs
in the rapidly growing wireless telecommunications industry. It’s a win for the
increasing number of Americans across our nation who rely on wireless networks
at work and at home, and the exciting new opportunities that these networks are
helping create in health care, education and every corner of our economy. Let’s
work together to make it a success.”
The Warriors 4 Wireless program is designed to help address
the shortage of skilled jobs for returning veterans while satisfying the wireless
industry’s immediate need for skilled tower-climbers to rapidly, efficiently,
and safely deploy wireless telecommunications equipment and facilities.
The Warriors 4 Wireless pilot program was launched in
Washington, D.C., in 2012, achieving an 86 percent job-placement rate for the
more than 50 participating veterans, according to the release. Today’s event
will expand the pilot program to a nationwide initiative, with the launch of
new partners and industry commitments.
Industry partners -- including Cisco, American Tower, Dynis,
and PCIA -- are supporting Warriors 4 Wireless in a number of ways, including
by providing industry-recognized technical and safety training and
certifications to veterans, developing new curricula and skills-training modules,
and connecting transitioning service members to available wireless-industry
jobs across the country, the release said.
Among the new commitments announced at today’s event:
-- Dynis has trained and employed more than 50 servicemen
and women through the Warriors 4 Wireless pilot program over the past year.
Dynis will continue to support an expanded Warriors 4 Wireless program through
equipment contributions and curriculum development and by providing training
opportunities, training instructors, and funding.
-- MasTec is providing training facilities and instructors
to support Warriors 4 Wireless, and has committed to connect 1,500-plus
expected MasTec job openings in the first half of 2014 to veterans and service
members participating in the Warriors 4 Wireless program.
-- American Tower Company is partnering with Warriors 4
Wireless to help launch careers in the wireless industry for returning service
members. ATC will provide participants access to select assets in the ATC tower
portfolio for training and certification and it is working to help connect
program graduates with potential employment opportunities at ATC. Additionally,
ATC is supporting the design and implementation of the Warriors 4 Wireless
Training Program at Aiken Technical College in South Carolina.
-- Futures, Inc. is providing the “US IT Pipeline” online
platform, originally developed for the IT Training and Certification Program
launched last April, which will be the centralized hub for matching and
connecting service members with civilian training, certifications, and
employment opportunities as part of the Warriors 4 Wireless program.
-- Cisco is committed to helping train, connect and hire
veterans as they transition from the military to the private sector. Through
support of the US IT Pipeline, Cisco will continue to work with Futures, Inc.,
and other Warriors 4 Wireless partners to provide training and access to
high-skilled job opportunities to servicemen and women. Additionally, Cisco
will provide support to help enable wireless employers and veteran job
applicants conduct virtual interviews from anywhere around the globe.
-- Outside Planet Magazine, a telecommunications industry
publication, is supporting the mission of Warriors 4 Wireless by donating media
and advertising support to raise awareness about these efforts.
-- In addition, Pricewaterhouse Cooper, T-Mobile, Novation,
PCIA, the Wireless Infrastructure Association, CTIA, the Wireless Association,
and the Competitive Carriers Association will also provide additional support
and financial assistance to the initiative.
Tom Kalil, deputy director for technology and innovation at
the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said, “Today’s
employers require a workforce equipped with 21st-century skills and training.
Our men and women in the armed forces are uniquely positioned with the
knowledge and drive to succeed, but may lack certain industry qualifications.
We applaud this initiative aimed at enabling thousands of service members to
earn industry-recognized credentials and translate their military experience
into private-sector careers.”
William Towery, a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3
who received Fiber Optics Installer/Technician certifications and other
certifications through the Warriors 4 Wireless pilot program has a blog post
which can be viewed at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/11/19/guest-blog-how-i-transitioned-high-tech-job-after-20-years-military
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