US veterans will first be trained, and can then go on to have sustainable additive manufacturing careers at Dremel. In addition, they will help teachers and students in New York, California, Florida, and Texas to implement Dremel’s Idea Builder 3D printer into their school districts.This new veterans’ career program is called the 3D VetSquad Initiative, which aims to introduce “our Nation’s Heroes to our Nation’s Future Leaders with STEM.”
George Velez, manager of Dremel 3D Education, said, “Veterans have provided a tremendous service to our country, and we want to honor that by supporting their transition back to civilian life. We couldn’t be more fortunate to introduce these heroes to our nation’s students.”
The 3D Veterans organization is a veteran- and minority-owned small business. It was founded two years ago, to give both veterans and transitioning service members training and job placement assistance in fields centered around emerging technologies. This past summer, a partnership between the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and 3D Veterans was announced by the White House, with an objective of helping our nation’s veterans gain opportunities by training them on skills for this century’s job market.
Michael Moncada, co-founder of 3D Veterans, said, “Through our partnership with Dremel, veterans will now have the unique opportunity to launch exciting new careers while continuing to be of service to their country by helping children master the job skills of the future.”
3D Veterans developed the 3D VetSquad through the use of a grant, and support from America Makes, Google.org, and the VA Center of Innovation. These organizations worked together to build training boot camps, which are “centered on the needs of employers in emerging technology-focused industries.”
Andrea Ippolito, Innovation Network lead of the Department of Veteran Affairs, said, “As part of Memorandum of Understanding, VA Center for Innovation is excited to collaborate with 3D Veterans, Dremel, and America Makes to help train veterans on 21st century skills, such as 3D printing, and allows them to gain access to impactful careers and to continue serving America’s schools and students.”
Leanne Gluck, America Makes deputy director of workforce and educational outreach, said, “The 3D Veterans program successfully advances and accelerates the adoption of 3D printing in the U.S., by meeting two core needs: providing job training and workforce skills to veterans and technical support to schools and educators. America Makes strongly supports this program.”