Military Connected Learners
For veterans, reservists, and military families, the transition from service to civilian life comes with unique challenges. WHEF invests in solutions that make education more accessible and completion more achievable.
Assisting Mississippi’s military community in transferring their skills to civilian careers is critical to reaching the state’s Ascent to 55% goal. Military-connected learners—including reservists, ROTC cadets, veterans, and their families—bring discipline, leadership, and problem-solving skills developed through service. But too often, they face barriers when translating those strengths into civilian education and career pathways.
At WHEF, we support military-connected learners by partnering with organizations and programs dedicated to serving them. Through targeted grants, strategic collaborations, and statewide initiatives, we help ensure that those who have served—or are preparing to serve—can access education beyond high school and connect with opportunities that match their skills. By investing in these learners, we are also investing in Mississippi’s workforce and future prosperity.
5th Squad
“In 2023, WHEF awarded a $50,000 grant 5th Squad, a Mississippi-based nonprofit serving veterans. In partnership with Work for Warriors Mississippi and the Mississippi National Guard, 5th Squad launched a pilot program to help reservists and ROTC cadets transition their military training into clear civilian career and education pathways.
The program funded ACT® WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certification™ (NCRC®) testing for 500 cadets and reservists. This nationally recognized credential measures skills required for jobs across industries and provides employers with a reliable way to match talent to opportunity. Soldiers earning the credential can also receive up to 9 hours of college credit towards a degree.
Career counselors also worked directly with certified reservists and cadets to connect them with employers or postsecondary programs that could enhance their employability. This work demonstrates how targeted support can bridge the gap between Mississippi employers’ needs and the valuable skills young soldiers gain through training and service.
The results:
481 soldiers tested
454 certifications earned (94%)
Participants connected with state & national employers
“I supervise 90-100 soldiers, and I’ve completed the NCRC myself. If you don’t know where you stand in the civilian workforce, this platform will give you the extra confidence you need to pursue a career. We have a lot of young soldiers who haven’t gone to college. This certification is something backing them, telling them, ‘You can do this.’”
—Lindsey Adams First Sergeant Lindsey Adams from the 1387th Quartermaster Company