SCTE and Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) are partnering with Georgia Institute of Technology to recruit and train military veterans for careers as cable techs.
The partnership is with Georgia Tech Professional Education's Veterans Education, Training and Transition program. Under the pilot training partnership, two initial groups of up to 20 veterans will be trained for cable telecommunications engineering careers.
According to a Society of Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) announcement, Comcast will be the first to use the program to recruit and train potential engineering employees.
"These highly motivated, talented participants will have the chance to explore exciting career paths in our industry, and we look forward to the opportunity to have them join our team," said Carol Eggert, VP of military and veteran affairs for Comcast, and a U.S. Army brigadier General.
Initial student screening is being handled by Georgia Tech, which is vetting service members residing in close proximity to Fort Gordon, Fort Stewart and Warner Robins Air Force Base.
The program entails a seven-month process, whereby selected students embark on a "self-paced" online training course put together by the SCTE's International Society of Broadband Experts ISBE arm. Beginning in the second quarter of this year, students in the first class will complete ISBE online course certification for one of two tracks — field technician or headend technician.
Students who successfully complete their certifications will advance to a second phase that includes additional training from Georgia Tech's veterans program and Comcast internships.
"Our military veterans represent a deep pool of highly skilled, well-trained talent that would be a tremendous asset to cable," said Mark Dzuban, president and CEO of SCTE/ISBE. "Our hat is off to Comcast for working with Georgia Tech Professional Education, the SCTE Foundation and SCTE/ISBE to show how the vast resources of our industry and its training partners can help these dedicated men and women transition their military training to new civilian careers."
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