On Wednesday Google announced it would invest $20 million in tech reskilling and economic support for the military community. Of the funding, Google.org is investing $10 million in Hiring Our Heroes, an organization that helps to place people in and around the military in long-term careers. With the grant the foundation will launch an initiative called Career Forward to skill 8,000 veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses for jobs in tech, according to a press release.
Currently, 200,000 military service members leave active duty each year and almost 80% do so without the promise of a job. Hiring Our Heroes will offer online job training via Google Career Certificates. The online programs run through Coursera and take about three to six months to complete.
"The program's unique structure will enable us to reach segments of the military community often underrepresented in employment programs, such as our members stationed overseas and transitioning service members who decide to separate after one term, and in particular, those who do not have college degrees," said Eric Eversole, president of Hiring Our Heroes, in the release.
The news follows Google's announcement last week that it will offer all of its career certificates for free to U.S. community colleges.