Free Microsoft Training and Certification for Military Veterans and Families

Today is Veterans Day.  Here are President Woodrow Wilson’s words in the resolution to honor veterans on November 11.

Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed; and

Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and

Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.

Today, our veterans are leaving the service to enter an economy that is flat; finding a good job is much harder for most of the men and women returning from war or transferring their families to another duty station.  As of June 2011, one million veterans were unemployed and the jobless rate for post-9/11 veterans was 13.3 percent.

On November 10, 2011, Microsoft announced the Elevate America Veterans Initiative in partnership with the Department of Labor, which will provide additional support to veterans in their transition to the civilian workforce. Here in Northeast Florida, one of just four regions in the country to receive the grant, Microsoft will offer 2,000 technology training and certification packages to local U.S. military veterans and spouses over a two year period.  The technology training and certification will be available at intermediate and advanced levels and delivered through e-learning.  This partnership is an extension of the overall Microsoft Elevate America Veterans Initiative which makes a national investment of $12 million in cash, product and related support for U.S. veterans.

WorkSource will be receiving 700 vouchers for Intermediate IT skills (IT skills for all jobs based on MS Office 2010 and Windows) and 300 Advanced IT skills vouchers.  Trainees can also receive a voucher for free certification testing.  The region will receive another 1,000 vouchers in November, 2012. The vouchers are good for up to 12 months from receipt.  Honorably discharged military veterans and their spouses can come into any WorkSource Career Center or Mobile Access Point to learn more about the training vouchers.  We’ll assess their current IT skills and give them information about the training, certifications and the technology and computing requirements for downloading the training at home. 

If you know a veteran or military spouse who could benefit from this IT training, ask them to visit a WorkSource Career Center and ask for a veteran rep.  You can read more about the Microsoft Elevate America Veterans Initiative and other training here.

WorkSource thanks all veterans for their service to our country, and is proud to count many veterans and military spouses among our staff members.  Our offices are closed today, November 11 to honor the many veterans who have served.