Workforce Development: OJT to Degree Pathways + Digital Badging
The Story
This initiative not only empowers service members but also sets a precedent for future collaborations between military organizations, corporations, higher education institutions, and workforce development programs.
Overview
Grey Solutions LLC, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, spearheaded a transformative initiative to bridge the gap between military training and civilian career opportunities. Acting as the Project Manager for a U.S. Air Force (USAF) Public Health pilot project, Grey Solutions collaborated with Walmart, Craft Education, and Louisiana State University to align military training with academic pathways. This groundbreaking effort aimed to translate USAF Public Health training into academic credit for a Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree, empowering service members to transition seamlessly into higher education and civilian careers.
Our Solution
Competency-Based Framework Development: Partnered with Craft Education to map USAF Public Health occupational skills to Louisiana State University’s degree requirements, creating a framework that integrates military training into competency badges eligible for academic credit.
Digital Credentialing Infrastructure: Updated the Craft Connect tool to enable service members to upload verifiable work products and receive validated skills and competency badges. Collaborated with SOLID to develop an API for seamless integration into the MapMyFuture Learning Employment Record (LER) system.
Stakeholder Coordination: Managed collaboration among USAF supervisors, Craft Education, and Louisiana State University to ensure smooth execution of the pilot.
Training and Recruitment: Provided tools and training for USAF supervisors and participants to validate and document skills, while recruiting service members for the pilot.
Sponsorship and Funding: Secured Walmart’s sponsorship, which provided critical funding to support the initiative.
Impact & Results
Epowered Service Members
Enabled USAF personnel to translate military training into validated digital skills badges, recognized by civilian employers and academic institutions.
Advanced Competency-Based Education
Demonstrated the scalability of integrating military training into academic pathways, reducing barriers to higher education and workforce entry.
Strengthened Workforce Alignment
Aligned military training with civilian workforce needs, particularly in public health, addressing critical workforce gaps.