While you are serving in the defense forces it is necessary to prepare yourself for a post military career should you decide to leave the forces at some point in the future. In the initial stages adjusting to a civilian life and work place is more often than not painful and involves a lot of problems for separated military people. Keeping this in view you must plan your transition to civilian career while still in military service. To let you adapt to civilian like in a better way the government has various assistance programs that allow you to earn a college degree, gain vocational skills or get technical education in your free time while you continue serving the nation. Innovative technological advancements in computers and the Internet allow you to undertake educational programs from any place in the world through the distance-learning mode that you can complete at your own pace. Subject to certain conditions the government takes care of all your training and educational expenses in order to give you every opportunity to prepare yourself for a desirable post military career.
In pursuance of these objectives the government also provides assistance to spouses of serving personnel who want to prepare themselves for high demand careers that can greatly help the serviceman family’s transition to civilian life and also provide military spouses with jobs following military moves as long as the member remains in service. There are a number of accredited institutions in the country that offer educational and training courses to military spouses under the CAA (Career Advancement Accounts) that funds the educational expenses of military spouses of active duty military personnel under the Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative.
The CAA program is geared to provide military spouses with portable career opportunities. A ‘portable career’ is one that has a credential which is recognized in several states and for which job opportunities can be found across the nation. A number of ‘high demand occupations’ that exist in several ‘high growth industries’ for military spouses have been identified by the Department of Defense and the Department of Labor. These are selected high growth industries, which are expected to add a large number of jobs to the economy. These are industries that offer the widest scope in portable careers.
The high demand occupations within these industries are growing at a pace much faster than average creating high employee demand.
Five industries have been identified by the government and categorizes as ‘hi-growth’. These include Financial Services, Health Care, Information Technology, Construction and Education.
Given below is a list of portable careers under each separate category. The list is not exhaustive but provides a fair idea of available job opportunities for qualified military spouses and is important from the point of eligibility for funding under Career Advancement Accounts. Any occupation under these industries is eligible for CAA funding.
Financial Services:- Credit Analyst, Claims Adjusters, Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerks, Bank Teller, Tax preparer etc.
Health Care:- Dental Hygienist, Radiology Technician, Practical/Vocational Nurse, Pharmacy Technician etc.
Information Technology:- Database Administrator, Data Communications Analyst, Computer Support Specialist etc.
Construction:- Pipe fitters, Steamfitters, HVAC mechanics and Installers, etc.
Education:- Teacher’s Aide/Assistant, Child Care Worker etc.
Some occupations outside the above industries but falling under the CAA ‘in-demand occupations’ are also eligible for CAA funding support.
By: Smartie Arties
Posts Tagged ‘Educational Expenses’
Career Advancement Accounts for Military Spouse Education and Training
October 25th, 2009Online Continuing Education More Popular Every Year
October 15th, 2009Advancing your education while working has become increasingly popular in the last few years, with online continuing education one of the fastest growing ways to improve your knowledge and skills while continuing to earn a living. In fact, most employers offer so many incentives for continuing education that over thirty million adults pursue some form of continuing education annually, with online courses making up a significant portion of those students.
If you are currently working and have been hesitant to return to school because you feel like you can’t afford the time or money to get an advanced degree or certificate, think again. Today’s businesses increasingly expect employees to push themselves to excel through not only their performance at work but through education and learning opportunities outside of the office or workplace.
Some of the reasons that today’s professionals are pursuing online continuing education include the convenience and the reduced cost. Enrolling in an online continuing education program saves you time. You can schedule your work according to your own schedule and don’t have to figure in commuting times or plan around someone else’s schedule. The cost savings is obvious. There is no commuting, no room and board, even if you are attending full-time via the Internet. A less subtle advantage can be that, if your employer is open to the idea, he may be more open to reimbursing you for educational expenses if you can show that you’ve taken a cost savings into consideration.
How Continuing Education Contributes to Success
It is easy to see why so many people who are already working bother to take more classes and get a specialized or advanced degree. It’s simple, in today’s rapidly changing marketplace, you have to have an edge to succeed and get ahead.
In certain fields, including the legal, information technology, criminal justice and health care fields, advanced are always being made. After a few years, even the most recent information can seem a bit stale. Taking new courses will introduce you to new trends, practices and protocols. With online continuing education, you can keep abreast of the most recent advancements in your field, making you a real asset.
Many industries expect employees to periodically update their credentials or licensing. Periodically taking courses to brush up on your knowledge will ensure you can pass any licensing exams with flying colors.
Higher education, especially when it is specialized, is a sign of expertise. You’ll advance more quickly in almost any industry if you can offer specialized knowledge that others don’t have. It will also make you the “go to” person who will be remembered at promotion time.
Some people worry that continuing their education with an online college or university may not be viewed as being as prestigious or impressive as doing so through a more traditional, physical campus. While this was a feeling with some employers two decades ago, recent studies reveal that this perception is long gone. In fact, today employers see no difference at all between a degree conferred by an online continuing education institution and a physical school as long as both are properly accredited. Some employers, however, do still favor an online degree that comes from a college that also has physical campuses since they have the same curriculum and demanding programs.
With over 2.6 million adults taking online classes in the fall of 2004 alone (and the number growing every year), it may be time for you to consider online continuing education.
By: Andy West
