Archive | Career/Education | Warrior Transition Command

Free Masters Program for AW2 Soldiers

Filed under Career/Education by jvargas on August 19, 2009 at 4:49 pm {no comments}

Are you an AW2 Soldier or AW2 Veteran interested in continuing to serve the Army? Do you want to be paid while earning a fully funded masters degree? If you answered yes to these questions, then the AW2 Education Initiative may be the opportunity you have been looking for.

The AW2 Education Initiative is an innovative program that was started in 2007 as the result of a directive from the Secretary of the Army to implement a program to train, retain and utilize the skills of wounded warriors being served by AW2. Members of the AW2 program may participate in the program in either Continuation on Active Duty (COAD) status or as medically retired civilians. The AW2 Education Initiative currently has twelve AW2 Soldiers and Veterans enrolled in the program and is excited to announce it is ready to take applications for five COAD slots and five civilian slots.

AW2 Soldiers and Veterans that are interested in the program should contact Scott Cox, AW2 Career and Education Coordinator via email at scott.cox4@us.army.mil or via phone at (703) 325-6925 as the deadline for applications is 30 September 2009.

To be eligible to apply for admission in fall 2010, you must be an AW2 Soldier or Veteran that meets the following requirements:

Be an AW2 or an AW2 eligible Soldier or Veteran whose injuries occurred in the Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom theaters
Have at least a Baccalaureate degree by the time candidate is selected and notified (1 January 2010) and must meet KU’s Graduate School entry requirements (for the desired curriculum)
Ready to commit to completing a two year long Masters degree program, in residence as a full time student, with a course load of at least nine semester hours of curriculum each semester
Prepared to accept a service commitment after graduation, equal to the length of the program
Regular Component Soldiers (AD) found unfit by a medical board must complete a COAD application and be approved as a COAD Soldier before being accepted
Reserve component Soldiers (Guard, Reserve) and AW2 Veterans must have been or will be medically retired after being found unfit for duty through the board evaluation processes

Selection Process

A selection committee meets shortly after the fall application deadline to review the applicant’s records
Qualifying Soldiers and Veterans conduct an initial phone interview with a member of the selection committee
Additional records are reviewed and possible follow-up interviews are conducted
Final selection process should be completed by the end of the calendar year to allow time for completion of University of Kansas entrance requirements, including registration completion, sponsor assignments and other logistics

Available Degree Programs

There are 13 degree programs available at KU: History, Economics, Higher Education Administration, Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Public Administration, International Studies, Informational Technology Management, Political Science, Computer Science, Sociology, and Education Curriculum & Instruction.

Benefits

A free advanced degree (e.g., a Masters degree)
Paid salary and employment benefits (as a GS 9 or NSPS or equivalent) while in school
Employment as GS-11 (or military assignment) with TRADOC upon graduation
Tuition, books, fees, and relocation costs as a “PCS” to the school will be paid by the Army.
Extra time on station before school is planned to ensure the AW2 Family is “settled-in” before class starts. Sponsors will be assigned to assist with the arrival information.
A dedicated Advocate will be assigned the AW2 Soldier before arrival to help assist with information flow, issues, and other topics.

Application packets will be accepted through 30 Sep 2009 and must contain:

Cover letter explaining your interest in the program, defining your career goals, and
highlighting the master’s program of interest to you;
Resume
A separate page (or pages if necessary) addressing each of the following:
1. Demonstrated leadership ability;
2. Ability to research, plan and organize work;
3. Ability to communicate orally;
4. Ability to communicate in writing.
Transcripts from all accredited educational institutions at which you have taken college courses. A copy is acceptable when applying but official transcripts must be furnished before 1 April 2010. Bachelor’s degree must be conferred by 1 January 2010.
A completed DA Form 1618 (applicants for military positions), and copies of all DD-214 (Member Copy 4) (applicants for civilian positions, if applicable).

For more information, please contact Scott Cox, AW2 Career and Education Coordinator via email at scott.cox4@us.army.mil or via phone at (703) 325-6925. You can also get more information by clicking here to download the application instructions (PDF) or here for the official posting about the 2010 AW2 Education Initiative.

Careers for Veterans are Going Green

Filed under Career/Education by jvargas on July 29, 2009 at 3:54 pm {one comment}

The Department of Labor announced 17 grants, totaling more than $7.5 million dollars, to provide approximately 3,000 Veterans with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers related to “green jobs.” Fields of employment include energy efficiency and renewable energy, modern electric-power development and clean vehicles.

For example, the Long Beach, CA, office of the United States Veterans Initiative will get $500,000 to train about 100 Veterans in Los Angeles County and find work for them. Swords to Plowshares received an additional $300,000 to aid 75 Veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area. Way Station Inc. in Frederick, MD, will receive $500,000 to provide 190 Veterans with job training focusing on green jobs, and $299,999 to assist 120 homeless Veterans in finding work.

To view more information about this initiative, visit the Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration at http://www.doleta.gov/ and look for the “green jobs” heading. More information on the Labor Department’s unemployment and re-employment programs for Veterans is available on the Department of Labor at http://www.dol.gov/vets/.

The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Department of Defense does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations.

GI Bill Transfer Options Take Effect in August

Filed under Career/Education by jvargas on July 24, 2009 at 3:51 pm {no comments}

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Army News Service, July 23, 2009) — Although the Post 9/11 GI Bill is not effective until Aug. 1, service members may submit a request to transfer benefits to their spouses and children now.

“Transferability of Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits has been the most requested initiative we receive from our service members,” Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy Bill Carr said, “and we believe it will assist us in retaining highly qualified military personnel.”

Career service members on active duty or in the selected reserve on Aug. 1 who are eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill may be entitled to transfer all or a portion of their unused Post 9/11 GI Bill entitlement to one or more Family members.

Among the first to take advantage of the Post 9/11 GI Bill was 1st Sgt. Steven Colbert, Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) at Fort Myer, Va. The Old Guard conducts ceremonies in the national capital area, funerals in Arlington National Cemetery, showcases the Army to the nation’s citizens and the world, and defends the dignity and honor of fallen comrades at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

“I will be the first to say that the Army is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. It has given me some of the advantages that I didn’t have as a child growing up. One of the reasons why I stayed in so long is because of Jordan (9), my son. Now I have the opportunity to give him something I never had,” Colbert said.

Colbert has spent 23 years in the Army with tours throughout Europe and across the U.S.

During his years in the Army, Colbert took advantage of tuition assistance and graduated with a B.S. degree in Management. His wife, Danielle, currently a junior at Prince George’s Community College, is working towards her B.A. in Business Administration. Jordan already has big plans.

“I want to go in the Army and play football,” Jordan said with a big smile. “But I want to attend Virginia Tech first.”

“I didn’t put that in his head,” Colbert said. “He already has picked that out and with us being here in the DC area, the Post 9/11 GI Bill is perfect. It’s a pricey school but these benefits are going to help me be able to take care of that…it’s just wonderful. I’m just overwhelmed about the opportunity to really be able to take care of him,” Colbert said.

For Soldiers and Army spouses who might want to continue with their studies, the Post 9/11 GI Bill can be used for all levels of degree programs, including a second degree, a master’s degree or even a doctorate.

Defense officials are advising service members to transfer at least a month’s worth of GI Bill benefit to every dependent before they leave service. This will lock in an opportunity to change the number of months transferred at a later time.

Any family member not approved for transferability before a member retires or separates will be denied the opportunity forever, unless the member re-enters service.

Likewise, veterans who remarry or have more children after leaving service will not be able to transfer GI Bill benefits to these new family members.

“It’s recommended that Soldiers add all Family members as potential beneficiaries of their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. Once a Soldier has retired or separated from the Army, they can no longer add new Family members as potential beneficiaries,” said Bob Clark, the DoD’s assistant director for accession policy and military personnel policy.

As a first sergeant of The Old Guard, Colbert also wants to make sure his Soldiers know about this benefit.

“Because I’m the first sergeant here at Headquarters Company, with all these assets like the Regimental Career counselors, I’m in a unique position to pass this knowledge on to my Soldiers,” Colbert said.

A program he’s particularly proud of is College 101 which the Fort Myer military community developed with the Army Education Center. Representatives from local colleges and universities will hold an educational fair

“We will have people come in from the education center who will advise Soldiers to take advantage of these benefits, because they have to have some type of educational background to be successful. A lot of us in the Army don’t realize it but, hey, it’s tough outside that gate, real tough. You’ve got to have a balance. You’ve got to be more competitive than the next person,” Colbert said.

Tuition is not the only benefit extended to potential college-goers. For students attending school more than half the time, the Post 9/11 GI Bill also pays housing costs, up to a rate equivalent to the Basic Allowance for Housing rate for an E-5 with dependents in the ZIP code where the school is located.

Students are also entitled to a yearly stipend of up to $1,000 to cover the cost of books and supplies, and students from highly rural areas who are transferring to a school may also be entitled to a one-time payment of $500.

“I get choked up just thinking about the benefits I’m able to give my son,” Colbert said.

Soldiers could actually elect to transfer benefits to family members beginning June 29, through the Transferability of Educational Benefits Web site at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/TEB.

The Department of Veterans Affairs administers the “Post 9/11 GI Bill,” and determines eligibility for education benefits. Further information on eligibility, benefit levels, and application procedures can be found at the VA Web site.

Transferability Options For Post 9/11 GI Bill

Filed under Career/Education by jvargas on June 24, 2009 at 12:05 am {no comments}

The Department of Defense announced its policy for transferring educational benefits to the spouses and
children of service members under the “Post 9/11 GI Bill,” which takes effect Aug. 1, 2009.

Career service members on active duty or in the selected reserve on Aug. 1, 2009, and who are eligible for the “Post 9/11 GI Bill,” may be entitled to transfer all or a portion of their education entitlement to
one or more family members. To be eligible, service members must have served in the Armed Forces for at least six years, and agree to serve four additional years, from the date of election to transfer.

Service members with at least 10 years of service, who by DoD or service policy are prevented from committing to fouradditional years, may transfer their benefits provided they commit for the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute.

Additionally, to maintain proper force structure and promotion opportunities, temporary rules have been developed for service members eligible to retire between Aug. 1, 2009 and Aug. 1, 2012. Depending on
their retirement eligibility date, these service members will commit to one to three additional years, from the date of election to transfer.

Beginning June 29, 2009, eligible service members may make transfer designations by visiting: https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/TEB.

The full transferability policy is available here: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/DTM 09-003 Post 9-11 GI Bill.pdf.

Raytheon to Hire Wounded Warriors

Filed under Career/Education by jvargas on June 17, 2009 at 4:39 pm {no comments}

Raytheon, a major technology leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets, has launched a new Operation Phoenix program to employ wounded warriors or their spouse/caregiver at their missile systems division in Tucson, Arizona. Specifically, Raytheon is looking for wounded warriors or caregivers with skills in a number of engineering or business fields.

Engineering: Systems, Software, Electrical, Aerospace, Hardware, Test, Quality Assurance, Optical, Mechanical, Field

Business: Intelligence Analysis, Information Technology, Supply Chain, Fiance, Contracts, Program Management, Business Development, Communications, Logistics, Legal

To be eligible for the program, candidates must meet the following criteria:

Severely wounded or injured during combat operations in the global war on terror on or after Sept. 11, 2001
Disability rating of 30 percent or greater from the Department of Veterans Affairs (Veterans Health Administration)
Meet the Wounded Warrior criteria as specified and described by the military branches of the U.S. government
Special Note: This program is open to the Wounded Warrior spouse or one caregiver in cases where the Wounded Warrior is too severely injured to be the primary wage earner for his or her immediate family

For more information and for assistance with Raytheon’s specific resume format for these positions, please contact an AW2 Career and Education specialist at AW2careerprogram@conus.army.mil.

Job Program in San Diego

Filed under Career/Education by jvargas on June 11, 2009 at 4:29 pm {no comments}

Wounded Marine Careers Foundation is taking applications for an on-the-job training and job placement program in San Diego. The Foundation serves all branches of the military and provides skill-based training and job placement for motivated about-to-retire Active Duty or medically retired veterans who seek new careers in the civilian entertainment industry. Classes start September 8, 2009 and application deadline is Monday, June 15, 2009.

For more information visit http://www.woundedmarinecareers.org/ or contact the Training Center Director, Tim Streaty, at (858) 974-8134 or wmcftimstreaty@me.com.

New Wounded Warrior Education Initiative

Filed under Career/Education by jvargas on June 9, 2009 at 4:27 pm {no comments}

–By Steve Rochette–

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, June 8, 2009) — Wounded warriors have a second chance to serve their country thanks to an Army educational partnership formed last year.

The Wounded Warrior Education Initiative allows wounded Soldiers, on active duty or medically retired, to pursue their master’s degrees at no cost from the University of Kansas.

The partnership was formed in February of 2008 and announced then during a ceremony with Secretary of the Army Pete Geren and KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway. Seven wounded warriors are currently working towards graduate degrees.

“These individuals were serving their country, went through the trauma of being wounded on the battlefield but still wanted to serve their country in some capacity,” said Lt. Col. Warren Dewey, Wounded Warrior Education Initiative program manager. “This program gives them an opportunity to get their graduate degree and continue to serve.”

Wounded warriors are enrolled in courses fulltime, and those on active duty are assigned to Fort Leavenworth, Kan. After graduation, participants serve the Army in either active-duty or civilian status. Six of the current participants are slated to serve as instructors at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. In the future, graduates will serve in a variety of Training and Doctrine Command positions throughout the Army.

“These wounded warriors bring their talent, life experience, and knowledge to the great learning environment at KU,” said Secretary of the Army Pete Geren. “They enrich classroom discussions while pursuing the higher education that will help them provide even more value to the Army.”

“The people of Kansas are great neighbors with the U.S. Army, and I’m grateful for the strong support of the KU administration and faculty,” said Geren.

Dawn Tallchief, a university administrator, said the relationship has been mutually beneficial.

“All of the participants have done well and it’s been a success so far,” said Tallchief. “I’m glad we have this partnership with the military.”

All seven of the participants have grade point averages above 3.0 while two have perfect 4.0 GPAs. They are majoring in subject areas such as history, international studies and political science.

One of the participants, Capt. Tim Hornik, is pursuing his master’s degree in social work. He was wounded in November 2004, losing some of his eyesight. He remained on active duty serving in a variety of administrative jobs.

“I was at that point where I needed to do something different and my personal goals involved pursuing higher education,” said Hornik.

Hornik said his experience has added a unique perspective because most classmates have limited experience with military issues.

One of his goals is to use his education to work with Soldiers who have experienced traumatic injuries.

“I’ve always wanted to help Soldiers and their families,” said Hornik. “I’d like to counsel in the future and help others who have been wounded.”

Educational advancement and the opportunity to serve also motivated Jason Gladney to apply for the program.

“Education transcends military careers and stays with you for life,” said Gladney, a former first lieutenant. “I feel blessed to stay on the Army team and also continue my education.”

Gladney is partially deaf as a result of an improvised explosive device explosion. He will serve as a military history instructor after receiving his graduate degree.

The CGSC has identified 13 degree programs for future participants, including military history.

“One of the advantages of this program is we identify candidates’ preferences and goals early on and tailor their education to the needs of the Command and General Staff College,” said Dewey.

Next year’s participants include five medically discharged wounded warriors who will arrive at Fort Leavenworth this summer. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree and have been wounded in combat to be eligible for the program. They also must be a part of the Army’s Wounded Warrior program.

“Having a disability does not mean your career is over,” said Hornik. “The Army is flexible with wounded and disabled Soldiers and higher education can put you in a good position to advance your career.”

Dewey concludes, “Providing wounded warriors the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree helps us retain their talent, combat experience, and capitalize on their newly acquired graduate credentials. This program demonstrates our commitment to never leave a fallen comrade.”

For more information on the Wounded Warrior Education Initiative, please contact Scott Cox, Career Coordinator with the Army Wounded Warrior Program, at scott.cox4@conus.army.mil or 703-325-6925.

Job Opportunity for AW2 Soldiers

Filed under Career/Education by jvargas on February 11, 2009 at 9:56 am {no comments}

-by Rose Marie Tinker, AW2 Career Coordinator -

Construction professionals are needed now by the United States Corps of Engineers (USACE) in Alexandria, Virginia. USACE has the daunting task of constructing a one-billion dollar office facility with 1.75 million square-feet of office space for 17 federal agencies and 6,400 workers.

The work has just begun, but the mandated completion date is not far off – September 15, 2011! The USACE program office is actively recruiting professions for this major construction endeavor – both in field and office settings: engineers, construction managers and inspectors, contract administrators and program analysts.

This once in a lifetime challenge requires a collection of highly motivated individuals who are willing to join the team for the opportunity of a lifetime. All of the jobs are located in the Alexandria, Virginia area.

If you are interested in a career with the USACE, send your resume to your AW2 Advocate today. For additional information, contact the AW2 Career Cell at (703) 325-0579.

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