February 2009: Blackstone Career Institute understands the need for military personnel and their spouses to find education and career training that is flexible and adaptable to their unique lifestyle. Many of Blackstone’s students are from military families and find that the training programs offered can easily travel with them through deployments and relocations in the U.S. and overseas, as well as prepare them for new careers in high-growth fields. Blackstone is proud to announce its participation in two new programs that benefit military personnel and their family members: the Army Vocational/Technical (AVOTEC) Soldier Program and Operation Life Transformed.

AVOTEC is a pilot program created to assist active duty soldiers, officers and wounded warriors with training in vocational-technical programs that prepare them for employment in high-demand fields when they transition to the civilian sector. Funds are available for active duty military members (including the National Guard and Army Reserve) to enroll in educational programs that are non-degree based and lead toward licensure or certification at the state or national level. Blackstone’s Legal Assistant/Paralegal and Allied Health Programs qualify for this initiative, but the participant must complete their program within 18 months to be eligible to receive funding under AVOTEC. This pilot began on February 1, 2009 and will end on September 30, 2009.

BCI is also partnering with Operation Life Transformed (OLT) to offer Medical and Dental Office Assistant Training to military spouses and caregivers of war-wounded soldiers. Founded in 2007, OLT assists caregivers and military spouses with job training and placement that meets the needs of their demanding lifestyles, fitting readily around medical and rehabilitation schedules, as well as deployment and relocation.

In conjunction with the DETC (Distance Education and Training Council), Blackstone is also a participant in the Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative program sponsored by the Department of Defense and the Department of Labor. Under this initiative, funds are available for training in target industries that represent portable careers, including health care. Blackstone’s Allied Health training programs (Medical Transcription, Medical Billing & Coding, Medical Office Assistant, & Dental Office Assistant) qualify for this program.

In addition, Blackstone works with military members through DANTES (Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support) and with veterans through the Montgomery G.I. Bill. For more information on all of these initiatives, visit BCI’s Military Families Web page.

more news