Thousands of U.S. military personnel who have risked their lives in war have built technical, leadership and other skills while abroad. Despite risking life and limb, finding employment is a battle they're often not prepared to fight alone. The realities of seeking employment that set in when veterans return stateside can be daunting.

That's why today we are joining forces with The White House, North Carolina-based Futures Inc., and key learning partners to aid veterans and service members who are transitioning out of the military.

Both Cisco and Futures Inc. are playing key roles in the pilot announced today with The White House directed at pairing transitioning military with high-demand IT jobs. We are honored to assume the lead in rallying the IT sector behind the initiative, known as the IT Training and Certification Pilot. This program takes advantage of Cisco's WebEx collaboration technology to enable service members to participate in virtual interviews and leverage its partner network to provide opportunities for training, networking and successful new careers.

In an effort to leverage the unique skills, experience, and qualifications that military personnel hold, we are working with our partners Global Knowledge to deliver ANSI-accredited Cisco Training and Pearson VUE to provide the corresponding Cisco certifications that will allow transitioning military personnel to prepare for Cisco CCNA? certification exams and other globally recognized industry certifications for participants. Through the opportunities provided by the training program, participants will receive fast track training and IT certifications that will help address the nation's workforce gap in IT jobs. We are delighted to be one of several IT companies working with U.S. channel partners and suppliers encouraging them to hire and train veterans.

Cisco is committed to helping offer a brighter future for the individuals who put themselves at risk for our country.

To learn more, please visit: www.cisco.com/go/military.