The manufacturing industry faces a challenge.

According to a joint talent study conducted by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, it is predicted that 3.8 million new manufacturing employees could be needed between 2024 and 2033. However, due to a lack of skills and applicants, 1.9 million (over 50%) of these positions will likely remain vacant.

Business leaders across the nation are asking the same question: What can be done to fill in the gaps?

ManpowerGroup, a global workforce solutions company, and Rockwell Automation, a leader in industrial automation and digital transformation, are dedicating time and energy to strengthening the manufacturing industry. These Milwaukee-based corporations partnered in 2017 to launch the Academy of Advanced Manufacturing (AAM).

AAM is a 12-week program designed to upskill and redeploy U.S. veterans into critical manufacturing roles. The program curriculum combines technical classroom training and hands-on lab experience with professional development at ManpowerGroup’s state-of-the-art facilities in Milwaukee and Cleveland. AAM is free of charge to veterans, and housing, meals, stipend and tools are provided.

“The partnership was born out of a shared commitment to closing the skills gap in advanced manufacturing. Both organizations recognized the untapped potential of U.S. military veterans—individuals with strong technical training, leadership experience and the ability to perform under pressure,” said Tony Lawrence, AAM Program Manager. “By combining Rockwell’s industry expertise with ManpowerGroup’s workforce solutions and veteran outreach capabilities, we created a program that helps veterans transition into high-demand roles in automation and controls.”

According to Lawrence, the program runs three cohorts annually, accommodating up to 36 candidates per cohort. Upon program completion, participants are certified by Rockwell Automation as Instrumentation, Automation and Controls Technicians (IACT). Each participant is also provided with opportunities to interview and be placed with partnering manufacturing clients. Today, there are over 210 trained and certified veterans, with more than 80% in career-advancing roles.

The program curriculum is continuously evaluated and developed based on input from the students, instructors and employers.

“Partnering with Rockwell Automation gives us access to real-time insight into emerging trends in industrial automation. We continually update hardware, software and lab exercises to reflect what graduates will encounter in the field. This feedback loop allows us to stay agile and responsive, incorporating new modules as needed and removing outdated content to maintain a cutting-edge program,” said Lawrence.

“AAM has changed the trajectory of my life and my family’s life. I decided to take a leap of faith that would change my life forever. It was the best decision I ever made. I am now a Controls Engineer Supervisor at a Fortune 500 company. AAM gave me the springboard I needed to jump into the civilian sector, and to build a life not only for myself, but for my wife and my sons.”

Ryan Clouse, AAM Graduate

“What’s the catch? Things started making sense. I treated it like boot camp, taking it seriously and putting forth my best effort. I now work for a Fortune 500 company based in New York, and love doing what I do. Just like most things in this life, you get out of it what you put into it, but the AAM program gives you a little extra for your efforts.”

Joshua Reid, AAM Graduate

“It’s a wonderful program that both refreshed my knowledge of things I knew from my military training and led me to acquire brand new skills crucial to my current role. These skills are also future-proof and will still be relevant to any role I have in the future. AAM stands out from other training programs out there. It is FREE and veterans do not need to use their GI Bill like so many other programs. To those considering AAM, just do it, you have nothing to lose!”

Michael Murray, US Navy Fire Controlman

“This is an incredible program to launch your career to the next level. This program allows you to experience the actual equipment you will be working with throughout your career. It is a doorway into a new career. I am excited to get started with my employer and can’t wait to work my way up.”

Romauld Pinheiro, US Army Air Defense Battle Management Operator

“AAM is a great way to transfer from the military into the civilian sector. I am looking forward to being successful in my new role and whatever the next adventure holds for me in the future.”

John Yeager, US Marine Corps Airframe Mechanic

“The experience I had working on vehicles and troubleshooting personal computers contributed to my success in AAM. For me, AAM is the start of a new opportunity, the future is going to be automation driven. The program offers job security. It has given me the skills and knowledge to one day earn an engineering degree.”

Michael Martin, US Army CBRN Specialist

“AAM gave me the knowledge to start my journey in automation. As a prior Fire Controlman in the Navy, we dealt with input/output, but had a lot of barriers with “black boxes”. Coming out of AAM, we learned what drove those “black boxes” and how to interpret the prints. Since being at Goodyear, we have continued learning and building the confidence to learn industrial applications. There is a lot to learn, even after the class, but it gives you the basic tools to go in and use what you have learned to help the team. Dive in, be part of the team and continue to learn.”

Mark Prain, US Navy Fire Controlman

 

Learn more about AAM here.