Google Cloud partners with American Legion in California to help veterans build cloud computing skills

Today, the American Legion Department of California announced a new partnership with Google Cloud to connect 500 California veterans with no-cost access to Google Cloud Skills Boost. This new collaborative effort will help train, upskill, and provide credentials to veterans in cloud computing skills – creating pathways to technical, in-demand jobs. 

As companies, nonprofits, and governments increasingly leverage cloud computing technology to strengthen their organizations, skilled cloud talent is in high demand nationally, with particularly high demand in California. According to Lightcast, there were 27,180 unique cloud roles open in the U.S. as of October 2022. Cloud skills are the most in-demand skill set by IT departments: more than one-third of tech learners said professionals with cloud skills are the most challenging to find.

Veterans can tap into the demand for cloud talent by building skills on Google Cloud Skills Boost. Google Cloud Skills Boost combines award-winning learning experiences with the ability to earn credentials to validate new skills. Learners can prepare for certifications like Cloud Digital Leader, which assesses general cloud knowledge, and Associate Cloud Engineer, which assesses the ability to implement cloud solutions based on technical requirements. Among Google Cloud certified individuals, an estimated 70% who applied for a new job received at least one offer (2020 Google Cloud Certification Impact Report).

“As service members we face an immediate four-year educational disadvantage when we join the military; and with this program we will be filling the gap and helping to ensure that veterans have a fair chance in this industry,” shared Roberto Arnold, Charles P. Rowe Post 30 commander of American Legion. 

“Google is proud to offer no-cost access to Google Cloud Skills Boost for California veterans in partnership with American Legion,” said Alice Kamens, Google Cloud Workforce Development program manager. “Through this partnership, we're advancing our work to ensure everyone has access to the technical training needed to pursue cloud computing careers.”

Those interested in learning more about the program or applying for a Google Cloud Skills Boost scholarship can learn more here. Scholarship recipients need access to a computer, and the internet.