459 ARW reservist studies abroad, so can you

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Sarah Hanson
  • Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  A reservist with the 459th Air Refueling Wing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is taking advantage of a vocational training program he learned about at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce "Hire Our Heroes" job fair.
Staff Sgt. Joe Castro, a 69th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialist, is attending a senior program management course offered by the FDM Group at its headquarters in London, England.

According to its website, FDM Group is a global professional services provider with a focus on information technology. Its veterans initiative offers military veterans a tailored career path to support their transition into the corporate workforce. Castro is the first member of a reserve component to attend this specific course in London.

First, FDM provides vocational training for all qualified individuals. It offers courses in project/business analysis, software development, testing, quality assurance and much more.

"The training FDM provides is designed to complement the training a military member gets, but it's translated to a business or corporate environment," Castro said. "I am learning tools the corporate world uses to manage businesses, and there are a lot of similarities to what military personnel do already."

Castro is going through a four-week concentrated course filled from beginning to end with complex projects.

"I am learning how the worldwide financial market system works," he said. "I am creating business plans and looking at things like scheduling, risk management and budgeting. It's Monday through Friday, eight-hour days. In addition, you have projects and deliverables you have to do on your own."

After Castro graduates from the course, he will be placed with one of FDM's prestigious clients and serve as a consultant with salary and benefits for two years. Once the two-year period is up, the rate of companies hiring FDM consultants to come work for them is more than 90 percent.

"I absolutely recommend this to other people," Castro said. "I think it's a great option for military personnel to get into the corporate world."

"We have nearly 3,000 people deployed worldwide, and roughly 10 percent are former military," said Rod Flavell, FDM Group chief executive officer. "It's a fantastic kick-start for somebody who wants to get into a big IT corporation."

Veterans or reserve component members who are interested in taking advantage of the opportunity can apply online at the FDM Group website (www.fdmgroup.com/us/). Once the application has been submitted, a recruiter will call and give a five-minute interview over the phone. If the interview goes well, the applicant will be asked to take an aptitude test, which could either be in person or online.

"You'll be tested on your IT knowledge, project management skills and terminology that is used [in the business]," Castro said. "If they feel you have the aptitude to gain something from an advanced training course, then you go on to the next step."

According to John Tansill, head of the FDM's veterans initiative, last year, globally, the company had more than 40,000 applications, both college graduates and military members, and accepted only 1,300 people.

"If somebody is coming to a satisfactory end in the armed forces and is thinking about what to do next, FDM is a phone call away," Flavell said. "We'll be glad to demystify IT and the opportunities surrounding IT and make it real."

"It's worth exploring," Castro said. "It does require commitment because the training is full time, and then you have the [two-year] commitment. [But] if you're not having any luck getting your foot in the door, they definitely will help you. It's a mutually beneficial endeavor."

For more information on FDM's veterans initiative, visit www.fdmgroup.com/us/about/veterans-initiative/