UMBC Training Centers Reskills 100 US Army Civilian Employees Into Technical Careers
The US Army Communications Electronics Command (CECOM) faced a critical need to fill technical positions in software engineering, cybersecurity and more. Instead of focusing on recruiting new employees, which can be a lengthy and expensive process, CECOM directed resources toward reskilling current civilian employees into the necessary technical positions.
UMBC Training Centers partnered with CECOM to develop and deliver comprehensive reskilling pathways that successfully transformed approximately 100 DA civilians into skilled technical professionals over a two-year period.
Project Background
- Client: US Army Communications Electronics Command (CECOM) / Software Engineering Center (SEC)
- Contract: CECOM Reskilling Pathways (D15PA00004)
- Duration: FY 2019 – FY 2021
- Value: $1.4 million
- Locations: Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD and Fort Lee, VA
“Great course. It helped me get a better understanding of many things that are involved in Systems Engineering.” Principles of Systems Engineering – Software Systems Integration Track
The Challenge
CECOM recognized a growing skills gap in critical technical areas within their workforce. The organization needed to quickly and effectively reskill existing Department of the Army civilians to fill essential roles in:
- Software engineering
- Database administration
- System administration
- Software systems integration
- Cybersecurity (Vulnerability Assessment Analysts and Information Systems Security Officers)
CECOM’s need reflected a broader industry trend – 68% of companies invest in reskilling/upskilling training to handle changes within the organization. The challenge was about creating structured pathways that could transform civilians with diverse backgrounds into competent technical professionals capable of meeting the Army’s evolving technological needs – and doing so in a cost-effective manner compared to external hiring.
“It gave me a better understanding of my new position. Even though I am not directly an IT person, it has helped me understand how CM fits into cybersecurity.” Cyber 101- Cyber Track
Our Solution
UMBC Training Centers collaborated directly with subject matter experts from CECOM/SEC to design 10 distinct reskilling pathways, each between 7-11 courses, resulting in 56 different courses across all tracks. Each pathway was carefully crafted with a mixture of COTS and custom-developed curriculum and included the following tracks:
- Java Programming
- JavaScript Programming
- C/C++ Programming
- C#/.NET Programming
- C/Cyber
- Oracle Database Administration
- MSSQL Database Administration
- Linux System Administration
- Windows System Administration
- Cybersecurity
“Dennis was a fantastic teacher! I truly appreciated his method of sharing his screen while actively working the code and providing insightful lectures. He answered all of our questions in detail while simultaneously showing us real time the coding procedures. He is obviously very well qualified and I felt very comfortable with him as an instructor for this course. Dennis never made me uncomfortable about my lack of knowledge…” ASP.NET – C#/.NET Track
Implementation and Delivery
The program launched in July 2019 with an initial ad hoc approach to curriculum development and cohort training. Between July 2019 and August 2020, we delivered 59 courses as part of this comprehensive reskilling initiative.
Contract Evolution:
The project’s early success led to a significant procurement change in March 2020. What began as individual course development and delivery actions was restructured under a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) through the Department of Interior, providing CECOM with more streamlined access to our services through FY2021.
“Because Jason was previously a developer in numerous languages and environments, his instruction has the credibility of real-world experience that many pure academics lack, and is an excellent instructor who works around challenges (technical or otherwise) in the classroom very well.” Modern Software Development – Programming Tracks
Results and Impact
The reskilling pathways program achieved remarkable success:
- Scale: Successfully reskilled approximately 100 Department of the Army civilians
- Scope: Seven of the eleven developed pathways were fully delivered
- Timeline: Rapid deployment bringing new technical capabilities to CECOM during CY20 and CY21
Cost Efficiency
The program demonstrated significant cost advantages compared to external hiring alternatives. Industry research from ILX Group shows that organizations choosing to upskill rather than replace employees can save between 70-92% on average.
For CECOM’s approximately 100 reskilled civilians, this approach likely generated substantial cost savings. The $1.4M investment in comprehensive reskilling pathways compared favorably to the alternative costs of external recruitment, which would have included recruitment fees (typically 15% of salary), onboarding costs, and the productivity loss during extended hiring timelines.
Key Success Factors
- Close Collaboration: Direct partnership with CECOM/SEC subject matter experts ensured curriculum relevance and quality
- Customized Approach: Tailored content development rather than relying solely on generic training materials
- Flexible Delivery Model: Adapted to changing organizational needs and procurement requirements
- Continuous Improvement: Regular updates and refinements based on ongoing feedback
- Comprehensive Pathways: Each track provided complete skill development from foundational concepts to advanced applications
- Cost-Effective Strategy: Leveraged the economic advantages of reskilling over external hiring, with research showing 70-92% cost savings compared to replacement hiring
“I learned a lot of the ISSO roles and responsibilities.” Cyber 003a Information Systems Security for ISSOs – Cyber Track
Conclusion
The US Army CECOM Civilian Reskilling Pathways project represents a successful model for large-scale workforce transformation that delivered both strategic and economic value. UMBC Training Centers’ collaboration with CECOM demonstrated how targeted reskilling can rapidly enhance organizational capabilities while achieving significant cost savings—validating industry research showing 70-92% savings compared to external hiring.
The program’s evolution from ad hoc training to a formalized BPA structure highlighted the importance of scalable procurement mechanisms, while close collaboration with subject matter experts ensured training relevance and effectiveness. By successfully reskilling approximately 100 DA civilians across multiple technical disciplines, the initiative aligned with broader workforce trends and demonstrated that strategic investment in existing talent can meet evolving organizational needs more effectively than traditional hiring approaches.
Reskill Your Employees With UMBC Training Centers
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