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Downers Grove, Ill. — Blue Star Families (BSF) and Creating IT Futures are partnering to engage more military spouses in Creating IT Futures’ successful IT-Ready career training. As a pathway to portable, flexible careers in information technology (IT), IT-Ready offers education, training and job placement for qualifying adults who lack formal job experience in the IT field. Classes are underwritten by grants and financial donations, so that students can attend for free. 

“Military families tell BSF their struggles through the Blue Star Families annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, BSF Chief Executive Officer. “Military spouse un/underemployment remains a top obstacle to financial security among military families; 30 percent of spouse respondents indicated they were unemployed and 56 percent of those who are employed believe they are underemployed. Partnering with Creating IT Futures is one way we’re working to increase employment opportunities for spouses who need careers that can flex with the demands of military life.”

“It’s not always easy for military spouses to find successful careers. Frequent relocations and deployments can hinder opportunities for long-term employment,” said Charles Eaton, CEO, Creating IT Futures. “In IT, it’s important to be a problem-solver and adaptable to change. Who can excel at these skills more than military spouses?”

IT-Ready graduates earn CompTIA certifications, valuable assets that lead to higher pay and better opportunities. And since IT professionals earn higher than average salaries, IT-Ready can help put them on a path to a financially rewarding and upwardly mobile career.

IT-Ready invests in its students’ success by making sure the program is the right fit for them. The multi-step application process helps to ensure that when a student starts the IT-Ready program, they’re going to succeed in it.

With classrooms available in Charlotte, NC; Chicago; Minneapolis – St. Paul; Phoenix; Portland, OR; San Antonio and San Diego, and also online, military spouses with Blue Star Families can apply at https://www.creatingitfutures.org/military-spouses. No previous experience is necessary, and only a high school diploma or GED is required.

About Creating IT Futures 
Founded in 1998 by CompTIA, Creating IT Futures is a 501(c)(3) charity with the mission of helping populations under-represented in the information technology industry and individuals who are lacking in opportunity to prepare for, secure, and be successful in IT careers. Learn more at www.creatingITfutures.org. 

About Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families builds communities that support military families by connecting research and data to programs and solutions, including career development tools, local community events for families, and caregiver support. Since its inception in 2009, Blue Star Families has engaged tens of thousands of volunteers and serves more than 1.5 million military family members. With Blue Star Families, military families can find answers to their challenges anywhere they are. For more information, visit bluestarfam.org.

Media Contacts:

Lisa Fasold                                       
Creating IT Futures                          
630-678-8558                                   
lfasold@comptia.org