By 1st Lt. Michael Anderson
CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION Q-WEST, Iraq - Soldiers from the Special Troops Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade will lead the way in obtaining the latest industry certifications.
Warrant Officer 1 Slyvester Price, a communications technician with the brigade, has been the leading force in providing this unique opportunity to the brigade.
"These certifications provide a high level skill set for the Soldiers," Price said.
Certifications allow individuals to validate that they are an expert in that area of the industry, and is especially prevalent in the constantly changing world of information technology, said Price.
"This will allow a Soldier to market themselves better," added Price.
Soldiers will be able to take Computing Technology Industry Association, or CompTIA, exams. CompTIA is a non-profit organization that provides introductory certifications for people entering the IT world, Price explained.
"As we get more people to participate, we will add more options for Soldiers," said Price. Cisco, Microsoft, and Java are among the vendors to be added.
Company A, 15th STB, will provide a room to serve as the Pearson/Vue Testing Center. This area will allow official certification tests to be taken and earned.
"Having the option to obtain certifications on [COL] Q-West encompasses a multitude of advantages that we are really lucky to have," said Capt. Adrian Robinson, the A Company commander.
Another additional benefit that Soldiers will receive is the ability to obtain vouchers. These vouchers allow the Soldiers to take these certification exams at a reduced price, Price said.
These certifications will allow the 15th Sust. Bde. Soldiers to stay current with the latest IT industry changes and eventually be better prepared for life in and after the Army.
"We have the ability to receive the most up to date training there is to offer [and] to become more proficient in [our] tasks," added Robinson
The A Company testing center is scheduled to open in December.