[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 74 (Tuesday, May 8, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 MEANINGFUL WORK AND MENTORSHIP GIVE VETERANS A FUTURE, NOT JUST A JOB

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PAUL A. GOSAR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 8, 2018

  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the work of Embry-
Riddle Aeronautical University, and include in the Record an article by 
P. Barry Butler on its program.

       Joseph Scanlan left for Marine boot camp the day after his 
     18th birthday. At 23, he was ending his service as a platoon 
     sergeant. Unlike many veterans, he knew where he was going 
     next: Microsoft.
       Although the veteran unemployment rate hit its lowest point 
     in more than a decade in December 2017, U.S. Bureau of Labor 
     Statistics experts say the data do not reflect 
     underemployment. Many are trapped in minimum-wage jobs that 
     only add to the pressure of transitioning to civilian life.
       Today, Scanlan is a Microsoft Premier Field Engineer based 
     in Boulder, Colo. He entered the skilled workforce through 
     the Microsoft Software & Systems Academy (MSSA) program, 
     available through Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is 
     now pursuing a degree in Technical Management from Embry-
     Riddle and hopes to work on artificial intelligence or cloud 
     computing.
       Microsoft launched the MSSA program in November 2013 at 
     Joint Base-Lewis McChord. The reskilling program is now 
     accessible to military personnel across the country. 
     Enrollment is open to transitioning service members within 
     six months of separation and honorably discharged veterans 
     who recently transitioned from the military.
       The two-term, 18-week program available through Embry-
     Riddle prepares graduates to launch careers as server and 
     cloud administrators, cloud applications developers and 
     cybersecurity administrators. Graduates are guaranteed an 
     interview for a full-time job at one of the more than 280 
     industry hiring companies.
       They enjoy a 92 percent placement rate in the IT industry 
     at an average starting salary of more than $70,000. For the 
     80 percent who enter the program without a degree, this 
     triples their earning potential.
       By 2020, Microsoft estimates they will graduate 
     approximately 1,000 students annually from the MSSA program.
       ``Along the way, we've learned valuable lessons about the 
     importance of mentorship, communication, interpersonal 
     training, and dedicated one-on-one career support--and I 
     believe this model is ripe for expansion,'' said USMC Maj. 
     Gen. (Ret.) Chris Cortez, Vice President of Microsoft 
     Military Affairs.
       Scanlan is part of that one-on-one equation. After his 
     graduation, he mentored the first MSSA cohort at Fort Carson, 
     Colo. He had no IT background going into MSSA, so he can 
     speak directly to the anxieties of veterans with minimal 
     technical skills as they tackle a challenging mix of theory, 
     practice, virtual labs and certification testing. He cites 
     his work ethic and willingness to learn as qualities that now 
     make him successful at Microsoft.
       Corporations and universities have a strong incentive to 
     reach out to veterans like Scanlan. Bringing them into 
     technology fields such as IT fills a science, technology, 
     engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills gap and promotes 
     diversity in the workforce.
       The United States invests in military personnel and 
     entrusts them with the highest level of responsibility. We 
     can benefit from this investment by welcoming veterans as 
     skilled employees with demonstrated potential as leaders and 
     mentors.
       We cannot afford to squander talents just because a 
     person's active service has ended. A job allows them to 
     survive. A career--with the opportunity to mentor others--
     gives them back a future.

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