Located on the Kentucky – Tennessee border, Fort Campbell is home to the 101^st Airborne Division and the 160^th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.  Fort Campbell was the first installation to offer Operation Next to transitioning service members beginning in 2018.  A community partnership led by Workforce Essentials and including the Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Hopkinsville Community College, regional chambers of commerce and others ensured the success of the program and positioned Operation Next for national growth.

LIFT opened its “Operation Next” advanced manufacturing certification program to industry for the first time to support small and medium-sized manufacturers recovering from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new civilian program, funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and awarded to LIFT by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, will support the training of 125 workers, at no cost to the individuals or their employer, in Detroit at the LIFT Learning Lab and Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan.  The workers will participate in industry-standard training in CNC machine operations, industrial technology maintenance, welding and robotics.

LIFT opened its “Operation Next” advanced manufacturing certification program to industry for the first time to support small and medium-sized manufacturers recovering from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new civilian program, funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and awarded to LIFT by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, will support the training of 125 workers, at no cost to the individuals or their employer, in Pittsburgh.  The workers will participate in industry-standard training in CNC machine operations, industrial technology maintenance, welding and robotics.

“Operation Next” advanced manufacturing certification program is being made available to members of the Michigan National Guard and Reserve at the institute’s facility in Corktown.

LIFT will host the Guard and Reserve members at its Learning Lab and guide them through their educational experience in either CNC Operations, Welding, or Industrial Technology Maintenance to the attainment of nationally-portable and industry- recognized credentials from either the National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) or the American Welding Society (AWS).

“Operation Next” advanced manufacturing certification program is being made available to members of the Florida National Guard and Reserve at Valencia College in Orlando.

Operation Next will be offered within Valencia College’s Accelerated Skills Training program. Members of the Guard and Reserve will have the opportunity to gain the skills and expertise needed to earn a national credential in either CNC Operations, or Industrial Technology Maintenance from the National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) or the American Welding Society (AWS).

Operation Next advanced manufacturing certification program is being made available to members of the Wisconsin National Guard and Reserve at Western Technical College in LaCrosse.

Operation Next will be offered within Western Technical College. Members of the Guard and Reserve and their spouses will have the opportunity to gain the skills and expertise needed to earn a national credential in either CNC Operations or Robotics  from the National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) or the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA).

The Hampton Roads Virginia region is home to one of the largest military concentrations in the nation with installations from all branches of service and over 15,000 individuals transitioning from military to civilian life each year.  The Maritime Industrial Base Ecosystem, partnering with the Hampton Roads Workforce Council and multiple education providers, is offering Operation Next to transitioning individuals from more than 15 installations. Strong employer engagement ensures that program graduates will have the opportunity to establish their civilian careers in Hampton Roads.

Operation Next’s advanced manufacturing certification program is available to transitioning soldiers at Fort Drum, home to the 10^th Mountain Division, and members of the New York National Guard and Reserve.

A statewide initiative led by the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY) is partnering with educational providers and private industries to provide training to service members and their spouses. Representing over 300 businesses and organizations across New York, MACNY will connect program graduates with employers.

In partnership with AIDT, a division of the Alabama Department of Commerce, LIFT’s Operation Next advanced manufacturing certification program is available to members of Fort Rucker, Maxwell Airforce Base, and the Alabama National Guard and Reserve and their spouses.

AIDT, a division of the Alabama Department of Commerce, will recruit military members and their spouses to enroll in the Operation Next program and will guide students through their educational experience to the attainment of nationally portable and industry-recognized credentials

Earn a credential in welding or Computer Numeric Control (CNC) operations  through Elizabethtown Community and Technical College’s Advanced Manufacturing Career Skills Program’s partnership with LIFT and Operation Next. ECTC partners with multiple employers to connect service members throughout the country with career opportunities in Kentucky, and help participants gain skills that can be used in positions nationwide. Training is provided at ECTC’s Elizabethtown campus with housing available at Fort Knox. As a Military Friendly college, ECTC’s Military and Veterans Center, Career Center, and Fort Knox campus are all ready to help service members succeed. Only an hour from Louisville and less than two hours from Lexington, the greater Fort Knox Region offers unlimited possibilities, with a welcoming community, thriving economy and partners who understand the unique needs of military families.