Elizabeth de la Cruz 
Microsoft has partnered with information technology trade group CompTIA to help U.S. transitioning service members pursue civilian information technology careers through an IT training program.
CompTIA said Tuesday Microsoft has accepted the association’s Network+ and Security+ vendor-neutral skills certifications as prerequisites to the Microsoft Software & Systems Academy training course.
The 18-week program aims to help transitioning service members and veterans fulfill a demand for cloud developers, cloud administrators, database and business intelligence administrators within the IT industry.
Microsoft offers military veterans who complete the MSSA course a job interview at the technology company or one of the firm’s approximately 220 hiring partners.
“CompTIA is pleased to be a part of the [MSSA] and to expand our involvement with the nation’s military community by helping our service men and women transition to rewarding civilian careers in the IT workforce,” said Joe Padin, vice president for U.S. federal and education sales at CompTIA.