VA Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson, former Congressman Chet Edwards (right) and Rosye Cloud (left) from the Veterans Benefits Administration were among the participants in the accelerated learning programs roundtable.
Today, the White House and VA hosted a roundtable that brought together leaders in government, education and industry to discuss how accelerated learning programs can help our nation’s Veterans. The discussion is part of the White House’s Skills and Demand-Driven Training Initiative.
VA is exploring accelerated learning programs as a potential alternative or supplement to traditional education that results in career competitive skills and employment opportunities for Veterans. In this first phase of exploration, VA is focusing on information technology programs, due to the high growth, in-demand nature of the IT industry. In conjunction with the roundtable, VA will release a full report later this year that provides an overview of its preliminary research on IT programs.
“We must do all that we can to make sure our Veterans who were ready for war are also ready for life outside the military,” Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson told roundtable participants “We talk a lot about how hiring Veterans is the right thing to do. The fact is hiring Veterans is the smart thing to do, and we must do all that we can to support them.”
Accelerated learning is a non-traditional form of education that engages multiple learning styles to increase learning effectiveness and generate measurable increases in skills and knowledge. Individuals with career competitive skills gaps may pursue such intensive or self-paced learning with a career or industry skills development focus. Types of accelerated learning programs are varied and include bootcamps, accelerated certificate programs, online courses and apprenticeships.
VA intends to use the insight provided by industry leaders and education innovators to inform projects that will test the effectiveness of these programs in targeted communities where VA can maximize the impact for Veterans and transitioning Servicemembers.
The joint White House – VA roundtable discussion brought together key government agencies, education entrepreneurs and thought leaders, social impact subject matter experts and private sector employers to discuss the potential benefits of accelerated learning programs.
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I am very excited about this opportunity for vets. I am service connected disability at 100%. Would I still be allowed to go to school using VA vocational rehabilitation program ? Some veterans have told me I can’t do anything with educational programs unless I pay for them myself due to fact I would be a student for life. Is there a reason why I can’t continue my education and try to help others?
An opportunity such as this is exactly what I am looking for. Thanks you..
I am currently using my GI Bill to get a BMIS degree; I would love to find a contact to connect with this program. I already have IT background and I am working on my management skills. Please have someone contact me or have someone put a link out there to sign up for this program. If there is already one please send me the link. I am also already a VA employee motivated to help the VA exceed in helping other veterans. I would greatly appreciate this opportunity. Thank you!
Hi Robert, glad to hear you are making good use of your GI bill benefits! The IT programs discussed in the report were assessed for their potential as accelerated learning opportunities, so there’s not really an over-arching program to sign up for. However, you can find IT-related training for Veterans through the Veterans Employment Center, located on eBenefits. On the site, scroll down to see “Training and Vocational Resources,” where you can find programs that may interest you.
We also have great IT transition programs for veterans here at New Horizons Computer Learning Center in Jacksonville, FL. All three members of the admissions department are career military veterans and we have successfully transitioned numerous veterans into the IT field, usually in just a couple of months. Post 9/11 GI Bill and/or VA Voc Rehab are outstanding programs and, if used properly, can help vets get started on excellent career paths. After the Navy I went to a traditional 4-year college and received my Bachelor’s, but 4 years is a very long time for veterans to be unemployed or under-employed. Many of my students make more than I do in the IT field after only a few weeks of training.
Thank you for sharing your experience, John! It’s great to hear about successful Accelerated Learning-type programs. Based on our initial findings, we think they’re a great supplement for Veterans’ educational benefits.
I’m a service connected veteran who is about to finish my undergraduate degree thanks to the Vocational Rehabilitation Program. My two inquiries are : Can Chapter 31 aid me through a graduate program? Can it also help me with a certification in Information Technology?
Yes and yes. It can take you farther than that, if you’d like. I wrote an article covering just that – http://t.co/HwDqFQ4FDg
It is about time that someone came up with a plan for service men and women to get back into the job market without going back to college. Before retiring I taught a computer administration and Cisco networking class in the private sector. Our classes were taught next to a Marine base. We had Marines that were due to be discharged take the course. After graduation most were successful in finding high paying IT jobs. They paid $4000 out of their own pockets to take this program.
An opportunity such as this is exactly what I am looking for. Thanks you..
You’re welcome, Bradley! Please check out the Veterans Employment Center on eBenefits to view the many training and employment opportunities that you can connect with today.
This is exciting news. My name is Teresa Taylor, Career Consultant at New Horizons Computer Learning. We are a Military Approved Non-Traditional Information Technology Training school offering accelerated certificate programs. We accept Chapter 31 & 33 for tuition. Looking forward to contributing to the success of Veterans!
I am a service connected veteran that has participated in the chapter 31 program and I still have time left and would greatly appreciate the opportunity to be a part of your program. My family and I would benefit greatly for me to be in the IT field. A reply from your agency would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Hi what type of training are you offering ??
Can you send me more info on this
I wanted to become an IT Tech forever but did
not know where I could go together trained
I was also wanting to get online type training
Please send me more info
Thank you
Manny Monroy 9277
What is Chapter 31 and 33 ? never knew this before..
Chapter 31 is VA Voc Rehab and Chapter 33 is Post 9/11 GI Bill. (Chapter 30 is Montgomery GI Bill)