SAN JOSE Calif., April 14, 2008 - Injured soldiers returning from Iraq face a multitude of physical, emotional and professional challenges, and the hard work required to overcome these challenges extends far beyond the time soldiers spend in the hospital. As a part of its ongoing efforts to support injured soldiers, the Walter Reed Equal Employment Opportunity Office (EEOO) has begun to offer online classes to help prepare injured veterans for careers in information technology (IT) and tech support. The program uses WebEx Training Center's Online Classroom, an on-demand application from collaboration leader Cisco WebEx, to allow participants to continue their professional education even after they have been discharged from Walter Reed.
"At Walter Reed, we strive to not only provide the physical care that our soldiers need, but also help them to gain the confidence they need to excel professionally when they return home," said Karen Ruby, Walter Reed Equal Employment Opportunity Office. "WebEx has allowed us to offer a full range of training, from basic IT support skills to advanced certification programs."
"The early program was a huge success, with a number of men and women passing their first level of certification; however, many of those participants were unable to complete advanced levels because they had been discharged from the hospital. With the help of WebEx, we can easily train injured veterans for productive jobs in the information technology industry no matter where they are located," Ruby added.
Thousands of U.S. soldiers have been injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. The goal of the government's Assistive Technology Training Program (ATTP) is to provide these men and women with the tools and certifications they need to start successful, rewarding careers when they return home. With the help of WebEx Training Center, ATTP educators are able to work online with injured soldiers to help them gain the tools and skills they need to become Microsoft and Network+ certified technicians. Once they are certified, WebEx Training Center enables participants to expand their skills and qualifications with advanced training taught by a network of educators across the country.
"We are honored to have the opportunity to support the work that Walter Reed is doing to help our nation's wounded soldiers," said Doug Dennerline, senior vice president, collaborative software group, Cisco. "Effective training is no longer confined to the classroom; with WebEx Training Center it can happen at any time, in any place. Online collaboration has transformed both the 'how' and 'where' of work and training. "
Delivered over the WebEx MediaTone platform, WebEx Training Center allows organizations to extend the value and reach of their training programs. The program provides a host of features specifically designed to meet the needs of training organizations, such as real-time application sharing, breakout sessions, virtual hands-on labs, automated assessment and e-commerce capabilities. These features enable training organizations to maximize the value of their training resources, provide their learners with greater access to knowledge and expertise, and create new business opportunities for their training offerings. WebEx Training Center is an open-service platform, allowing partners and solution providers in the content management, training management and self-paced training markets to easily integrate with the service.
To learn more about WebEx Training Center or to register for a free 14-day trial, go to http://www.webex.com/go/wtcpr
