MCLEAN, Va.–Jul. 28, 2014— Through its employee volunteer service program Exelis Action Corps, aerospace and defense company Exelis (NYSE: XLS) has partnered with Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY), a single source of leadership and talent consulting services, and Points of Light, the world’s largest nonprofit focused on volunteer service, to host the third cohort of the Leveraging Military Leadership Program (LMLP). This free program helps new veterans apply their leadership experience to civilian positions.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, more than one million military service members are projected to leave the military in the coming years. The LMLP teaches veterans how to strengthen their personal, interpersonal and executive communication skills, clearly articulate their unique value, and chart their professional journey based on a strong career strategy.
"We are proud to host this program because it is truly unique. There are many workshops that focus on transition in general, but our workshop focuses on the talents of an individual specifically," said Erica Jeffries, Exelis chief inclusions and diversity officer. "Leaving the military is a life change; we help veterans figure out how to develop a clear career strategy while navigating through their new civilian professional life."
Applications for the third session will be accepted online through Aug. 27. The program will begin in early October and will likely include veterans from nearly all branches of service with military experience ranging from staff non-commissioned officers to senior officer ranks. The participants will benefit from a team of global leadership experts from Exelis and Korn Ferry who will lead three days of onsite instruction, group exercises and lectures. This in-residence portion of the program, which takes place from Friday, Nov. 14 through Sunday, Nov. 16 inHerndon, Virginia, will be followed by four months of focused offsite, online, and integrated learning components, as well as individual coaching – the same research-based leadership development services offered by Korn Ferryto Boards, CEOs and senior executives at leading global organizations.
"We are so pleased to launch our third cohort of the Leveraging Military Leadership Program," said Noah Rabinowitz, Senior Partner and Global Lead for Executive Leadership Development at Korn Ferry. "The previous groups have made tremendous progress in their military to civilian transitions and we are confident the same will apply to this new group."
One veteran who graduated from the first class session of the program held earlier this year shared how he benefited from participating in the leadership development and training program.
"The engaging, hands-on education helped me discover the connection between my deepest values and workplace skill sets. Together we worked on building my brand through an understanding of what I uniquely had to offer to the marketplace," said retired Air Force Col. Orlando Sanchez Jr., who recently began his new career with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. "Not only that, but the personal coaching and direct support enabled me to walk smoothly through the interview, negotiation, and transition to my next career. I wish every transitioning military veteran had the opportunity to work with the Exelis and Korn Ferry team of dedicated professionals leading this program."
The Leveraging Military Leadership Program will convene multiple times each year, and the next cohort will launch in 2015.