SAN JOSE, Calif., January 10, 2001- Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, --today announced the first active-duty military implementation of the Cisco Networking Academy Program. Scott Air Force Base in Illinois is one of the first among more than 90 Air Force Networking Training Centers (NTCs) worldwide that will be implementing the Networking Academy program by the end of October 2004.

Although the Air Force does not require commercial industry certifications for its communication and information (C&I) professionals, it does require all C&I employees to be trained, qualified, and certified in their job tasks. The Networking Academy program will teach C&I professionals the necessary networking and information technology skills that will enable Air Force personnel to manage, operate, and maintain the Air Force communications network. Upon successful completion of the Academy program, students will be prepared to test for their Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification, and, eventually, their Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification.

"The curriculum offered in our NTCs helps increase the skill levels of all our C&I professionals, to ensure continued network availability and improvement through the next century," said Senior Master Sergeant Ted Crincoli of the U.S. Air Force.

The Networking Academy program offered in the NTCs will focus on the networking skills most utilized by those active-duty military and Department of Defense civilian personnel who are responsible for the operations and maintenance of the Air Force network. The only prerequisite to enrolling in the program is that students be in one of the Air Force C&I career fields.

Cisco partners with government and worldwide agencies, community organizations, educators, and businesses to develop and deliver its Networking Academy program to educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and military and union retraining centers. "We are pleased to welcome the U.S. Air Force to Cisco's Education Ecosystem," said Kevin Warner, senior director of Worldwide Education at Cisco Systems.

In order for a particular location to receive a NTC, it must have a minimum of 100 C&I professionals. The Air Force considers 100 people to be the minimum number of student-base to adequately and economically employ the NTC.

"The Air Force's goal is to give our people the skills they need to do their job," Crincoli said. "The material offered in the NTCs is highly beneficial to the Air Force."

There is no set number of military personnel who will be enrolling in the Networking Academy this year. The Air Force is focusing on quality training, and each NTC location has unique training requirements, which can vary the speed and number of students completing any one portion of the curriculum.

"The Air Force, more and more, is being electronically linked in every aspect," Crincoli said. "This places a heavier emphasis on the skills needed to keep our network operating and providing the necessary information to the warrior in the field."