Career Skills Program affords ETSing Soldiers employment potential

By Sharon LewisJuly 1, 2015

FORT HUACHUCA, Arizona (Dec. 5, 2014) -- The Veteran's Opportunity to Work, VOW Act of 2011, made significant changes to transition procedures for separating Service members.

The Army's Soldier Life Cycle is the last portion of the VOW Act to be implemented. Beginning in fiscal year 15, the Soldier Life Cycle (Start Strong-Serve Strong-Remain Strong-Reintegrate Strong) begins.

As part of the Reintegrate Strong phase, the Education Center, in cooperation with the Soldier for Life-Transition Assistance Program, SFL-TAP, and Cochise College, is offering a pilot Career Skills Program, also known as CSP, under the category of Education and Job Training for transitioning Soldiers. This program is designed to facilitate the transition from Soldier to Civilian while affording the Soldier the greatest potential for employment after successful completion.

To be eligible to participate in the CSP and be released from daily unit duties, a transitioning Soldier must have completed at least 180 continuous calendar days of active duty service in the U.S. Army and must expect to be discharged or released from active duty approximately 180 calendar days of the commencement date of participation in such a program. A Soldier must also have an anticipated character of service upon separation of honorable or under honorable conditions to be eligible to participate in a CSP.

The Cybersecurity Program

CIS 150, Essentials of Networking (Net+), and CIS 160, Intro to Information Security (Security+), are requirements for both the Associate of Applied Science, AAS, in Cybersecurity and the AAS in Network Technology with Cochise College. Tuition Assistance or the GI Bill can be used for payment, if eligible.

Tuition Assistance, TA, is an off-duty program, thus the Soldier has to be released from regular duties to attend these classes. The CIS 150 course dates are Jan. 12 -- Feb. 2 and the CIS 160 course dates are Feb. 3 -- Mar 9.

All classes will be held at the Cochise College Fort Huachuca Center, Building 67601, Cushing Street, 8 a.m. -- noon, with independent study time, 1 -- 4 p.m. Education Center counselors will issue a letter of participation to the Soldier, if eligible, which must be approved and signed by the Soldier's battalion commander.

Tuition Assistance use

Courses must be a part of a degree or certificate. TA will fund one certificate, one associate, one bachelor degree or one master degree -- at a level a student has not yet met.

A Soldier must have one year of service, post Initial Entry Training, (Advanced Individual Training, Basic Officer Leadership Course, Warrant Leadership Course) -- verified through Joint Services Transcript.

The Service member must pass undergraduate courses with a grade of C or better and B for graduate classes.

Federal TA covers full tuition up to $250 per semester hour for a maximum of 16 semester hours per fiscal year. TA does not cover fees or books. There are no lab fees associated with these courses, but there is a $118.65 cost for Web access for instructional materials.

If TA is not available, GI Bill funds can be used, provided the Soldier has served 36 months on active duty. The education counselors will address funding options with each prospective student.

For more information, call 520.533.3010 or visit the Education Center, Building 52104.