$2 Million Committed to Military Talent Pipeline

by Jonathan Petty,
Director of Enrollment Marketing and Communications

KILLEEN — Texas A&M University–Central Texas is starting the new year with a new program for military personnel. Administrators at the university announced a $2 million commitment to develop the Military Talent Pipeline (MTP), assisting in the training and credentialing of active-duty military members, their spouses, and veterans transitioning to the Texas workforce.

The university is in the process of developing the program that will roll out later this spring. Additional information and a dedicated web page describing the program in detail are currently being developed. The MTP will provide military members with:

• College credit for hours of training and prior learning
• Stackable micro-credential education that can be applied toward a bachelor’s degree
• Training and education preferred by growing industries in specialized fields that require highly skilled labor

Additional benefits of the MTP include connecting service members to:

• No cost transition services to advertise their portfolio to employers
• Companies with human resource departments committed to hiring veterans
• A small business development center for new entrepreneurs

With the steady growth of the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing industry in Central Texas, the MTP is focusing on training in those areas in its initial push. Other areas of focus will include:

• Cybersecurity
• Data analytics
• STEM education
• Criminal justice
• Future expansion considerations include healthcare

University Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Clifton T. Jones, Ph.D., said the MTP is designed to provide the education and credentials needed to keep highly skilled labor in Central Texas.

“The vision is to provide services to veterans and active-duty military who want to upskill and get into some new areas for career options and possibilities,” he said.

The development of the MTP comes on the heels of the university’s announcement of its expanded partnership with Temple College. This MTP will also pair the two schools, along with other educational partners, as lower-level courses will be offered at local community colleges. Those course credits will transfer seamlessly into A&M–Central Texas’ programs and can be applied toward bachelor’s degrees.

Scott Efflandt, US Army-retired, will lead the MTP program for A&M–Central Texas. Efflandt is working to put the remaining pieces in place. He said this program will be a major benefit to those leaving the military for civilian life.

“A lot of military personnel are interested in getting a good job with upward mobility and taking care of their families,” he said. “Through the MTP portal, they will be able to explore opportunities to find what fits them, then work toward the credentials and degrees they need to be successful upon discharge.” The university plans to make more information available in April and for service members and their spouses to begin enrolling soon thereafter.