Bexar County military community now eligible for San Antonio’s Ready to Work program

Mike Ramsey, Ready to Work executive director, said the aim of the one-year pilot is to support and retain military-connected families in the local community while providing area employers with additional opportunities to fill critical vacancies with these individuals.

Military-connected people interested in participating can learn more about Ready to Work at the program’s website, which will be available for pilot program applications upon the launch of the initiative May 1.

“We are very excited about the potential benefit this will have on our veteran and military community here in Military City USA,” Ramsey said in a statement. “In addition, extending Ready to Work’s eligibility criteria to include military-connected individuals throughout Bexar County will provide an expanded talent pool for our ever-growing group of pledged employers.”

City officials said Ready to Work is designed to help remove financial, social and emotional barriers for qualified adults committed to earning industry-recognized certifications, or associate or bachelor’s degrees.

To date, Ready to Work has enrolled 1,413 San Antonians as participants and is partnering with 285 local employers who have pledged their support for the program, local officials said.

Expanded eligibility will include:

• Active-duty service members transitioning to civilian life within 12 months of separation
• Active-duty military spouses and dependents 18 and older (18-26 for dependent children)
• Reservists and National Guard members
• Veterans and disabled veterans
• Veteran spouses and dependents age 18 and older (18-26 for dependent children)

• Tuition assistance aligned with targeted occupations in high-demand, well-paid careers
• Support services and emergency assistance to ensure training completion
• Job placement and retention services

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Juan Ayala, the city’s military and veterans affairs director, said San Antonio’s large military community and history continues to provide tangible benefits to the community at large with a skilled pool of active duty service members and veterans ready for a new career.

“This change will ensure a larger number of transitioning veterans and family members will be able to compete for good paying jobs and remain in our community,” Ayala said of the program expansion.