America Makes and the Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Innovation, 3D Veterans developed a core curriculum and execution plan that would teach veterans computer aided mod- elling, a component in understanding additive manufacturing, traditional manufacturing, and foundational concepts in material sciences and mechatronics. The most exciting component was one that had veterans designing and prototyping assistive solu- tions for disabled veterans. With a memorandum of understand- ing, 3D Veterans worked with the local VA hospital to under- stand what the biggest needs were for their disabled veteran population. Among those needs were aesthetically pleasing prosthetics, custom bracing, and mobility enhancing devices. All three issues were addressed by our veterans through innovative prototypes. Some of the veterans have even decided to pursue entrepreneurship and commercialization of these devices in order to make them accessible to any veteran who needs them. There is a tremendous impact created when there is incentive to create a better world and life for those in need.
Impact for Veterans The highlight of the program was the undeniable boost
in confi dence and perspective that these men and women came out of the training with. They gained a sense of under- standing that there are problems in every aspect of life and that technology can be used to solve many of them. The veterans also came away with a confi dence that empow- ers them to serve their communities by applying the skills learned. They are now qualifi ed to work in various vertical markets that apply this technology and immediately impact their organization with these new skills that shrink the gap. Through the expansion of 3D Veterans program, more veterans will be served, and the gap will continue to shrink as we continue to create the opportunities they so deserve.
Expansion of Training Offerings 3D Veterans is developing new bootcamps with some of the nation’s most innovative companies to continue a suc- cessful model of training and employing veterans in meaning- ful emerging technology careers with additional support for those who choose the entrepreneurship and higher educa- tion paths. As technologies continue to be developed and companies seek to grow, there will continue to be a demand for a workforce that understands 21st century technology, and 3D Veterans seeks to create it. Public/private partner- ships are key to the expansion of workforce programs due
Piecing It all Together There is a great opportunity for advanced manufactur- ing organizations to develop workforce talent with current employees through programs that also benefi t their com- munities. Project-based training is a great way to involve the locals and additionally create awareness of the technolo- gies of the future, the organization and those who will be the workers working in it for generations to come. We are in an exciting time where these innovations are pushing the boundaries on a day-to-day basis. It is up to manufacturers to do what some think is unconventional. 3D Veterans has seen tremendous success in many areas, from retention of knowledge, to the innovative solutions that veterans are developing with the new access of information, the skillsets, and the awareness of the technology that is and will keep changing the world for the better. If you want to fi nd out how you can help 3D Veterans mission to empower veterans by creating opportunities, please reach out to Michael Moncada at
Michael@3DVeterans.com.
Michael Moncada, US Army veteran and CEO of 3D Veterans.
Tameka Hearn (left) and Ben Fennen (right) with their fi rst 3D-printed part.
to the collaborative nature of understanding the needs of industry. Through these bootcamps, industry certifi cates will be developed that will be utilized by educational institutions as offerings for their programs. This will ensure a continuous talent pipeline is available to those organizations who have workforce needs.
February 2017 |
AdvancedManufacturing.org 95
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
