Air Force Service Member Receives Advanced Career Training Through EDD Veteran Connection

Veterans entering the civilian workforce are desirable candidates for employment due to their military skillsets. Many veterans looking to change careers utilize America’s Job Center of California^SM (AJCC) that offer employment strategies to meet the need of a veteran.

Michael Burk, an active service member with the US Air Force took full advantage of the services provided at the Yuba County One-Stop in Marysville, CA.

“Definitely make use of all the resources available,” Burk said when asked what veterans can do to set themselves up for a post-military career.

Burk spent the last two decades working as an aircraft load master, a position that loads cargo onto cargo planes. Now, he is now looking to enter the civilian workforce in the field of cyber security.

“I’ve had a consistent pay check for the past 20 years, now entering the job force it’s pretty terrifying so, Craig’s help has been awesome,” Burk Said.

Marine Corps veteran Craig Grays is an EDD local veteran employer representative at the Yuba County One-Stop in Marysville, CA. Through Grays’ guidance and experience, Burk was eventually connected to a Sacramento-based organization that received a grant from Safe Credit Union to fund training for veterans in the Information Technology (IT) field.

Grays said Burk is currently enrolled in an online training program to get a specialized IT credential. Once the certification is complete, Burk’s resume will be much more likely to grab the attention of potential employers.

“Having that certification will show that I have the knowledge and experience for an entry-level cyber job,” Burk said.

The goal for Burk is to separate from the Air Force in the spring of 2023 with the goal of landing an information technology position with Amazon.

“It’s that transition from the military into the workforce doing what he wants to do, and that’s the icing on the cake,” Grays said.

One-Stop Career Centers are located statewide and provide services pertaining to employment, training, education, and employer assistance. Burk said the website, careeronestop.org, led him to the American Job Center Finder and to Grays in Yuba County. “Definitely glad I made use of that resource,” Burk said.