Job Grant Gives 700 Laid-Off Workers Free Cybersecurity Training
Thanks to the nearly $5 million awarded to Maryland’s Anne Arundel County by the federal government, 700 laid off workers will be able to receive free cybersecurity job training that could lead to certifications in microcomputer operations, networking, cyber forensics and computer-based security, Hometown Annapolis reports.
The funding will finance a program over three years called the Pathways to Cybersecurity Careers Consortium, led by Workforce Development and Anne Arundel Community College. Although the college will be the primary location providing the training, the consortium of other partners will include schools and workforce agencies in Baltimore City and Carroll and Howard counties.
Kirkland Murray, president and CEO of the county’s workforce development, said many of those who will be able to take advantage of this training are individuals whose jobs were cut due to the current economic slump
“This is a good way to get people the skills to get back to work,” he said. “With Cyber Command coming to our area, we’re trying to really increase the pipeline of qualified workers – that’s the real purpose of this program.”
According to county officials, this sort of training could prepare workers not only for public-sector jobs, but for private business as well.
“Defense contractors can’t find people with these certifications right now,” Murray said.
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“Defense contractors can’t find people with these certifications right now,” Murray said.” Bull, I graduated in May I have a B.S. in Informations Assurance from a school that is NSA and Homeland Security certified I have the CNSS 4011 and 4013 certificates. I am have a hard time finding a job with any one the fact is that most contractors are not willing to pay for your security clearance. Job posting after job posting read must already have a security clearance. I do not see how spending this money isgoing to help any one but the school!
john,
It’s not that most contractors are not willing to pay for your security clearance, it’s the fact that it takes over a year for the clearance package to go through. If company XYZ could hire a non-cleared person on Monday, and have him cleared to work at the work site by the following Monday, they would be happy to pay for the investigation. The way it is now, they would have to keep him on the payroll for a year before they could use him (her) while they wait for approval.