Marine Corps Base Quantico welcomes Microsoft Software and Systems Academy into the Voluntary Education Center program

Photo By Frances Seybold | Tweet  

QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES

01.12.2018

Story by Valerie OBerry 

Marine Corps Base Quantico

According to Melora McVicker, education specialist, the Voluntary Education Center (VEC) has been working toward launching the program aboard Quantico for a long time and finally a valuable opportunity can be offered for service members to use their skills and competencies in cyber security to serve their country.
MSSA affords transitioning service members and veterans the ability to receive training for high-demand careers in information and computer technology, such as cloud development, cloud administration, cyber security administration, or database and business intelligence administration.
Many figures showed up to celebrate the momentous ribbon-cutting such as Col. Joseph Murray, Marine Corps Installations National Capital Region-Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCINCR-MCBQ) commander, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Ronald Green, Congressman Robert Wittman, ERAU President Barry Butler and Senior Director Marc Langlois, senior director, Department of Navy Microsoft.
Langlois said the courage, dedication, accountability, adaptability and teamwork set forth in the inaugural class will continue to push them through the circumstances of the most challenging environments.
In fact, few were more excited to celebrate the momentous occasion than the nine service members accepted into the program.
Three out of the nine accepted to attend MSSA are Marines from Quantico, Sgt. Jeremy Cotto, Sgt. Saul Huerto Magdaleno and Sgt. Timothy Jackson.
“When I think about my future, I think about the opportunity that has been set forth for me by my family and the Marine Corps,” Magdaleno said. “It is my duty to me, my parents and my fellow Marines to get the education I need to become a productive member of the community.”
Magdaleno is an infantry Marine who has always had an interest in the information technology field.
Seeing the potential to defend against one of the quickest growing threats in the nation, cyber terrorism, Magdaleno hopes the skills he learns from MSSA will help him defend his country.
According to Magdaleno, the process of getting into MSSA was not easy, but it was well worth the investment into his future.
After graduating from the 18-week program, graduates are set apart from the competition when applying to more than 240 affiliated companies including Microsoft, Dell, Facebook, Amazon Web Services, Accenture and the Department of Defense, making starting salaries averaging $70,000.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella tweeted about Quantico’s milestone expressing his excitement that the partnership between MSSA and the base will assist service members in navigating the necessary critical technology skills to flourish in information technology and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields prior to civilian transition.
As MSSA continues into the new year, this campus is the first of four scheduled programs to launch on the east coast.
Murray and MCINCR-MCBQ Sergant Major Charles Williams were able to visit the inaugural MSSA class Jan.12 and welcome all service members to Quantico as they take the next steps towards impactful careers.
MSSA information sessions are held every Tuesday at noon in Building 3089, next to the VEC building off of Roan Street. Virtual information sessions are also available.
For more information, service members and veterans can call ERAU Campus Director Yanci Beers at 571-406-6845 or email her at [e-mail], call the VEC at 703-784-3340 or email [e-mail].

• Date Taken: 01.12.2018
• Date Posted: 02.08.2018 15:36
• Story ID: 263741
• Location: QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, US