Tech Apprenticeship Program Works with Amazon and Honolulu Community College to Help Military Service Members Transition into Civilian Tech Roles

HONOLULU, Feb. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Apprenti™, the nation's first registered tech apprenticeship program, announced today that it will work with Amazon and the Pacific Center for Advanced Technology Training (PCATT) at Honolulu Community College to train and place military service members and veterans into tech positions. The apprenticeship program was created by the Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) in 2016 and started as a pilot program in Seattle to recruit, train and place diverse talent into tech roles. The program is also running in Oregon, Michigan, California and Ohio.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 100,000 veterans in Hawai'i. In 2016, a survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation found that 44 percent of veterans left their first post-military job within a year, with difficulty transitioning into the role being a key factor.

"When service members leave the armed forces, there isn't always a clear pathway into tech – even though they possess many of the same skills they need to excel in the industry," said Jennifer Carlson, executive director of Apprenti. "The problem is, tech employers oftentimes overlook their exceptional talent. Through Apprenti, we're providing them with a path into a tech career, and we're proud to launch our program in Hawai'i."     

Once accepted into the program – which starts in April – apprentices receive between 14-20 weeks of certified technical training provided by PCATT at Honolulu Community College followed by one year of full-time, paid, on-the-job training in Amazon AWS data centers in the continental United States. They will be trained in various job roles, including computer hardware repair and troubleshooting; networking configuration and administration; Linux administration; and server installation and maintenance.

"This program is a win-win, and we are committed to providing best-in-class employer-driven training and workforce development for our veterans and service members. As technology develops at an accelerated pace, we are seeing exponential growth in the need for talent in tech. We are excited to work with Amazon and Apprenti to help our veterans and service members get the training they need to succeed in the tech industry," said Steven Auerbach, director of PCATT and Continuing Education and Training at Honolulu Community College.

The technical training is entirely funded by the Hawai'i Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) through its $2.9 million American Apprenticeship Initiative grant.

"This is a great opportunity for active service members in Hawai'i to get the high-quality training they need to start a career in tech. This was only possible through the collaborations with Amazon, Apprenti, PCATT, and the City and County's American Job Center Hawai'i," said DLIR Director Leonard Hoshijo.

Apprenti provides screening and selection support, administrative management and program oversight. As a hybrid competency and time-based program, those with a strong determination to complete the rigorous training are encouraged to apply. Active military members separating from service and veterans in Hawai'i should apply at ApprentiCareers.org by March 2. Those interested must be willing to work in another state. For more information about this program, visit: ApprentiCareers.org.

About Apprenti
Apprenti is a registered apprenticeship program powered by the Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA). Apprenti trains future tech workers with an emphasis on underrepresented groups including women, minorities and veterans. Apprenti is an industry recognized, state and federally accredited program. Apprentices receive two to five months of full-time, industry recognized training before beginning one-year of paid on-the-job training with one of the program's hiring partners. The program is partially funded through a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) ApprenticeshipUSA contract and a grant from the American Apprenticeship Initiative (AAI), with support from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), and JP Morgan Chase. For more information on how to apply, donate or become a hiring partner, please visit www.ApprentiCareers.org.

About PCATT
The Pacific Center for Advanced Technology Training (PCATT) is a not-for-profit consortium of the University of Hawai'i Community College System. The mission of PCATT is to provide leadership and innovative training solutions that inspire lifelong learning. Training offered through PCATT is technology centered and is geared towards meeting industry and workforce development needs. PCATT is also a grant partner of the Hawai'i Department of Labor's American Apprenticeship Initiative grant. Please visit https://pcatt.org to learn more about PCATT.

SOURCE Apprenti