NATIONAL POLICY FORUM HELD AT THE PENTAGON SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON IMPORTANCE OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Worker shortages are creating headaches for employers across the country. Hiring firms can’t find enough employees with the skills they need, and these gaps in the labor force are often due to limited awareness of career and technical education. To address the issue, the U.S. Army and the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) are working together to raise the visibility of high-demand, lucrative career opportunities available to those with the right education.
“The best technical programs in the world are coming out of the U.S. Army,” says Michael Connet, Senior Director – Outreach and Partnership Development, ACTE.
To shine a spotlight on the quality of these programs, ACTE hosted a national policy forum in Washington, D.C. last month which included a tour of the U.S. Pentagon, a major employer in our nation’s capital and across the country. Career and technical educators from around the nation were given a 360 degree view of the opportunities for career development that exist within our military. Guided by the esteemed U.S. Army Honor Guard, attendees received a one-hour behind-the-scenes look at the extensive U.S. Department of Defense headquarters.
In addition to the Pentagon tour, career and technical educators heard from panels of experts and individual speakers, all of whom offered insights on how to connect with the next generation of learners. Employers are broadening their skill requirements, and ACTE and the U.S. Army are joining forces to deliver for individual learners and the broader U.S. economy.
For more information about ACTE, please visit acteonline.org. To learn more about technical education and career paths with the Army, visit goarmy.com.
