SkillStorm partners with MyCAA to provide military spouses with free technology upskilling opportunities through the Upskill Together Scholarship, aimed at alleviating persistent employment challenges
JACKSONVILLE, Florida., September 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — SkillStorm, a technology talent accelerator, today announced its participation in My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA), a Department of Defense workforce development and scholarship program that supports military spouses to obtain or maintain professional licenses and certifications leading to gainful employment. Military spouses can now apply for a full scholarship to enroll in four online, instructor-led CompTIA certification courses offered by SkillStorm, A+, Network+, Security+ and Project+ to launch their careers in cybersecurity and security. management of technical projects.
“Our job is to help bridge the gap between companies looking for tech talent and the workers who are too often overlooked,” said Joe Mitchell, COO of SkillStorm. “Through MyCAA, we give military spouses immediate access to training and credentials in today’s most in-demand skills, removing barriers to career opportunities while expanding the talent pool for businesses nationwide.
Unemployment and underemployment are a pervasive problem facing military spouses. A 2022 survey According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the unemployment rate for military spouses is two to four times higher than that of their civilian counterparts. In addition, research by hiring our heroes, Syracuse University The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and First Command Financial Services, Inc. revealed that nearly 90 percent of military spouses believe the military lifestyle impacts their ability to find employment suited to their skills and education level, which can have serious financial consequences for military families.
“The issue of unemployment and underemployment has cast a shadow over the lives of military spouses for too long, depriving them of economic stability and hindering their career aspirations,” said the retired lieutenant colonel. John Tansil, Director of Veterans Affairs at SkillStorm. “Through the collaboration of MyCAA and Upskill Together, we are leading the way to a better future, equipping military spouses with the skills and certifications needed to build successful careers.
The MyCAA and Upskill Together scholarships enable military spouses to master the skills most sought after in today’s fast-paced workplace without financial constraints. MyCAA will provide up to $2,000 per year, with a maximum tuition allowance of $4,000, to eligible spouses of active-duty military and National Guard personnel in pay grades E-1 through E-6, W-1 through W-2, and O-1 through O-3. Upskill Together will serve as a force multiplier, providing additional scholarships to eligible military spouses and providing access to SkillStorm’s essential skills development and certification preparation programs in CompTIA Security+, Network+ and Project+. Upskill Together Scholarships also provide access to a variety of courses leading to AWS, Salesforce, Appian and Pega certifications.
“Military spouses face a number of career challenges, such as frequent moves and limited job opportunities in more remote areas,” said Drew Garcia, military spouse and recipient of the Upskill Together Scholarship. “Completing the SkillStorm certification program will not only help me overcome these obstacles, but will also put me on the path to achieving my personal career goals.”
MyCAA recently expanded its funding to include spouses of O-3s and E-6s. The expansion is limited to the first 1,250 approved applicants, so spouses with sponsors from these two ranks should act quickly. To apply, visit https://info.skillstorm.com/mycaa-certifications.
SkillStorm is proud to support the military community and embraces the exceptional skills, unwavering commitment and invaluable expertise that military members and veterans bring to the workforce. SkillStorm is the recipient of two national awards for service to veterans, including one from Military Times Best 2022 for veterinarians: employers prices and the Ministry of Labor Hire Veterans Platinum Medallion price. SkillStorm supports and empowers the military community by creating pathways to meaningful civilian employment opportunities and aims to train more than 1,000 veterans in 2023. For more information, visit www.skillstorm.com/vet-tec.
Upskill Together and its founding partners welcome applications from employers or institutions of higher education interested in joining the initiative and committing to accelerating economic opportunities for current military members, veterans and their families. To learn more or apply for a scholarship, visit https://info.skillstorm.com/upskill-together-military.
About SkillStorm
SkillStorm brings together Fortune 500 employers, universities and government agencies to train tomorrow’s highly skilled technology workforce. Through partnerships with platforms like Pega, Salesforce, and ServiceNow, we help working learners and aspiring technology experts learn in-demand skills and earn industry-recognized certifications to compete in a growing economy. more dynamic. Our work is based on the belief that closing skills gaps and boosting economic mobility are two sides of the same coin, and that new training approaches can help both expand the pool of skilled technology talent and create new paths to opportunities.
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