ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the
United Service Organizations (USO) and Coursera – one of the
world's leading online learning platforms – announced a specially
designed course to help active-duty, Reserve, and National Guard
members navigate the challenges of transitioning from military to
civilian life.
"Making Your Military Transition a Transformation" is a free
eight-week course taught by Cory
Boatwright, an Air Force veteran and military transition
expert, who offers actionable steps for building meaningful
careers. This professional development opportunity combines
Coursera's robust online learning resources, the USO's 80 years of
military support experience, and Boatwright's personal experience
and expertise to ensure that participants can succeed regardless of
where or when they begin planning for post-military life.
As part of the USO Pathfinder® Transition Program, "Making Your
Military Transition a Transformation" will supplement existing
career services such as the USO Mentorship offering and
Professional Certificate programs that are already running in
partnership with Coursera. Through the USO Pathfinder Transition
Program, Transition Specialists guide participants through the
process, develop a personalized Action Plan, and help connect them
to additional resources and networks.
"This online learning opportunity is a continuation of our
commitment to stand by service members from the moment they enlist
to the moment they are settled back into civilian life," said
Lisa Elswick, Vice President of
Transition Programs at USO. "We are proud to partner with Coursera
so that the military community can set and reach their personal and
professional career goals."
Topics covered during the two-month course include analyzing
personal motivations, prioritizing career pursuits, creating a
career journey map, avoiding common transition pitfalls, and more.
Participants will engage with a variety of videos, readings,
discussions, quizzes, and USO Pro Tips – key points to accelerate
transformation – along the way. "The lessons I teach are designed
to give military community members the tools they need to recognize
personal or systemic challenges, develop clear career goals, and
succeed in a rapidly changing world," said Boatwright. "Hopefully,
my personal experience as an Air Force veteran, corporate leader,
and now entrepreneur, will make the course both relatable and
inspiring."
The course's kick-off follows many months of thoughtful lesson
planning from the USO, Coursera, and Boatwright. The end goal was
to create an easily navigable, highly engaging space for service
members to kickstart careers. Initial feedback suggests that the
new course will be a success in these respects. "This course is
exactly what I needed when I transitioned from the Marine Corps. I
found there were few programs that actually addressed finding your
purpose," reflected beta tester Derek
Ludlow. "I love that this course addresses both finding your
purpose and going after it! And that's just one takeaway – from
start to finish, there is so much great advice here and actionable
content."
"We are proud to partner with the USO to offer coursework
designed for the specific needs and interests of military members,"
said Betty Vandenbosch, Chief
Content Officer at Coursera. "This collaboration will provide
service members with a flexible, fully-online learning program to
help them prepare for and succeed in civilian careers."
To learn more about "Making Your Military Transition a
Transformation" and other USO Pathfinder Transition Program
offerings, please visit USO.org/transition.
About the USO:
The USO strengthens America's
military service members by keeping them connected to family, home,
and country, throughout their service to the nation. At hundreds of
locations worldwide, we are united in our commitment to connect our
service members and their families through countless acts of
caring, comfort, and support. The USO is a private nonprofit
organization, not a government agency. Our programs, services, and
entertainment tours are made possible by the American people, the
support of our corporate partners, and the dedication of our
volunteers and staff. To join us in this important mission and
learn more about the USO, please visit
USO.org or follow us
on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About Coursera:
Coursera was launched in 2012 by
two Stanford Computer Science professors, Andrew
Ng and Daphne Koller, with a mission to provide universal
access to world-class learning. It is now one of the largest online
learning platforms in the world, with 82 million registered
learners as of March 31, 2021. Coursera partners with over 200
leading university and industry partners to offer a broad catalog
of content and credentials, including Guided Projects, courses,
specializations, certificates, and bachelor's and master's degrees.
More than 6,000 institutions have used Coursera to upskill and
reskill their employees, citizens, and students, including in
high-demand fields such as data science, technology, and business.
Coursera became a B Corp in February 2021.
Media Contact:
Dan
Drummond
ddrummond@uso.org
202-243-8621
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SOURCE USO