LIFT, the Detroit-based, Department of Defense national manufacturing innovation institute, and Big Bend Technical College (BBTC), have announced a partnership to provide free training to transitioning service members, National Guard, Army Reserves, and their families, along with veterans and other civilians for careers in advanced manufacturing through LIFT’s Operation Next initiative.
Operation Next provides an accelerated-hybrid program that combines online education with hands-on training to earn credentials for in-demand careers in advanced manufacturing. BBTC’s rolling start program will train students in Computer Numeric Control (CNC) and Welding. Each year 200,000 service members transition out of the military across the nation, and it is estimated that nearly 2 million advanced manufacturing workers will be needed to fill vacant positions in the U.S. by 2028.