The Virginia Department of Veterans Services’ (VA DVS) recent endorsement of the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) certifications greatly assists vets trying to reenter the workforce. This decision by the Virginia agency is applicable to vets in all 50 states. It allows retired military personnel to be reimbursed for testing costs for MSSC certifications nationwide.
The Department of Labor reported in April that 10.9 percent of post-9/11 veterans are currently unemployed, a full two percentage points higher than the national average. Among younger vets, ages 18-24, unemployment is almost 27 percent. The recent recognition of MSSC’s credentialing system by the VA DVS will put vets into advanced manufacturing and supply chain logistics career pathways. Many employers in this field not only greatly value their service to the country, but many are also looking for veterans specifically because of their security clearances.
MSSC has over 220 certified assessment centers with 500 authorized instructors located in community colleges in 33 states. While vets can take the MSSC certification exams without prior training, most individuals benefit from MSSC-authorized courses. Returning veterans can use funds provided in their “Post 911 GI Bill” toward these training costs. While a traditional education can take months or years, MSSC’s courses can take only a matter of weeks, if vets chose full-time, intensive training.
About MSSC
The Manufacturing Skill Standards Council is an industry-led training, assessment and certification system focused on the core skills and knowledge needed by the nation’s front-line manufacturing production and supply chain logistics workers. The nationwide MSSC System, based upon industry-defined and federally endorsed standards, offers both entry-level and incumbent workers the opportunity to demonstrate that they have acquired the skills increasingly needed in the high-growth, technology-intensive jobs of the 21st century. MSSC offers the Certified Production Technician (CPT) and Certified Logistics Technician (CLT) certifications.
For more information, visit www.msscusa.org.
