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  • 1.  bridging the gap

    Posted 10-24-2022 15:24
    Hello Everyone,

    Its great to finally have this forum for veterans in the FM industry.  I am a Army retiree of 22 years and currently working for JLL as a Relocation Project Manager/Planner at the USAA home office in San Antonio, TX.  I am currently a member of the San Antonio and Austin IFMA chapters and a recipient of the 2021 and 2022 IFMA Foundation Scholarship.  For me being a recently transitioned veteran, a lot of those who retire or get out are not really sure what they want to do once their service comes to an end.  The military does not only pay for undergraduate and master degrees while you are in service with tuition assistance, which is a $4000 grant separate from the GI Bill, you can also use the same funding to pay for credentials and certifications such as the PMP, LEED Green Associate and the CFM exam itself.  I was a 12Z, a combat engineering senior sergeant.  This is a credential that non-commissioned officers can earn during their time in the service utilizing their managerial experience.   The way these classes are funded is through the ArmyIgniED.com portal.  This is used for Soldiers that want to sign up for college courses or want to sign up for credentialing.  ProFM has their course available on this platform as formal classroom training before requesting to take the CFM exam to be funded by the Army, however, the FMP is not available option.  These education options as well as employment outreach through each bases Transition Assistance Program (TAP) office can help fill many gaps within the FM field with professionals with similar experience needed.

    ArmyIgniED website: https://armyignited.com/app/
    Army COOL website: https://www.cool.osd.mil/army/moc/index.html?moc=12z&tab=cred

    V/R,

    Jason Downing, PMP, FMP, ProFM
    JLL | Relocation Project Management
    9800 Fredricksburg Rd.
    San Antonio, TX 78240
    M +1 210-216-5339
    jason.downing1@jll.com

     





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    Jason Downing PMP, FMP, ProFM, LSSGB
    Relocation Project Manager/Planner
    JLL (USAA account)
    San Antonio
    2102165339
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  • 2.  RE: bridging the gap

    Posted 10-24-2022 18:01
    Good stuff Jason!

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    Jeff Womack
    Lead, Facilities and Project Management Support
    AGEISS
    Schertz
    210-702-1368
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: bridging the gap

    Posted 10-26-2022 16:53
    Jason,

    I was nice meeting you at WWP. Thank for supplying some additional resources that Vets can use for training and credentials. These are the things the community needs to help the Vets to transition into the FM profession. To community will start keeping a list of the resources top tap for support.

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    Byron Edwards SFP, FMP
    Facility Manager / Building Management Specialist
    Western Area Power Administration/U.S. Department Of Energy
    Lakewood
    720-962-7176
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: bridging the gap

    Posted 11-23-2022 15:22
    Jason, I think that while service members are in they really don't see the value in the FM career field (that was the case for me). For the most part, the career field is an extra duty. I was also a CE. Started off as HVAC and moved around as maintenance manager, project manager, and program manager. The CFM is offered in the cool programs, just there is no attention on it. The PMP has a ton of attention, and I will never understand why as the body of knowledge doesn't really add up to a project managers day-to-day. The CFM is almost a direct reflection. Take care!

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    Bobby P. McCrary, CFM, FMP, SFP
    Corporate Facilities Operations Manager
    Cargill Protein Headquarters
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    Original Message