{"id":5052,"date":"2022-12-14T17:56:52","date_gmt":"2022-12-14T22:56:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hiringourheroes.org\/?p=5052"},"modified":"2022-12-16T09:32:02","modified_gmt":"2022-12-16T14:32:02","slug":"mollie-raymond-career-forward-learner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hiringourheroes.org\/stories\/mollie-raymond-career-forward-learner\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Who Is Going to Join Me?\u2019 Spouse of Former Chief of Space Operations Encourages Enrollment in Career Forward"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One second, she\u2019s lending her support to match military spouses with \u201chard-to-fill career fields\u201d in Space Force. And the next, she\u2019s enrolled in Hiring Our Heroes\u2019 Career Forward program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, maybe it didn\u2019t happen in seconds. But Mollie Raymond\u2019s shift from Career Forward promoter to learner happened quickly. In addition, her commitment to learning in-demand skills available through a Google Career Certificate (GCC) with Career Forward encouraged more than 90 military spouses to say, \u201cI\u2019m in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt just shows you how important it is to ask others to come with me on this journey instead of always telling people [to do something],\u201d Raymond said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mollie
Mollie Raymond<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Career Forward Provides a Pathway to Start a New Career<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hiring Our Heroes launched Career Forward<\/a> with support from Google a year ago. Today, nearly 4,000 veterans, military spouses, and transitioning service members are on the path to completing a GCC with Career Forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This program is the first to provide a career path for military community members via Google Career Certificates. Available certificates include data analytics, IT support, project management, user experience (UX) design, and digital marketing & e-commerce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, Career Forward provides a pathway for military community members to start a new career or level up a current career in under six months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Help Military Spouses Connect With In-Demand Career Fields<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Raymond\u2019s Career Forward journey started when her husband, Gen. John \u201cJay\u201d Raymond, was the Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force. As a military spouse for nearly 35 years and with 19 relocations, Raymond knows firsthand the challenges facing military spouses. In her role, she promoted family engagements, community connections, and portable employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery military spouse regardless of branch struggles with employment, and it\u2019s because of the nature of the lifestyle. The challenges of moving and licensing,\u201d Raymond said. \u201cThe Space Force has recognized this issue and is trying very hard to help support military spouses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christina Parrett, director of civilian policy and programs for the U.S. Space Force, pioneered the Guardian Family Career Program. This program identifies transferrable employment opportunities within Space Force. Therefore, spouses have remote work options, and the Space Force has the talent to fill in-demand tech roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are trying to help spouses pursue their goals with portable remote jobs,\u201d Raymond said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Panel
Mollie Raymond, spouse of Chief of Space Operations, moderated a panel discussion focused on military spouse employment at the Air & Space Forces Association’s Air Space, and Cyber Conference on Sept. 20, 2022. You may watch a recorded video of that panel discussion here<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As a Guardian Family Career Program supporter, Parrett invited Raymond to join her for a meeting to learn how Google Career Certificates provide a pathway into technical in-demand career fields. Raymond planned to pass the information on to other spouses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn that meeting, it was said, \u2018Mollie, if you take a course, you would be leading by example,\u2019\u201d Raymond said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without hesitation, she was fully on board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy enrolling, I thought I could create awareness about Career Forward. And instead of just telling them about the program, they could do it with me,\u201d she said. \u201cI thought my participation would be so much more impactful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho Is Going to Take This Course With Me?\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Raymond took her idea to social media. She posted information about the Career Forward program on the Spouse of Chief of Space Operations Facebook page<\/a> and on LinkedIn<\/a>. Less than 24 hours later, she posted a poll asking spouses, \u201cIf you were to sign up for one of these sought-after job skills, which one would it be?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n