Career Accelerator' expands to Navy and Marine Bases throughout the nation

Following successful pilot programs of Adecco Career Accelerator in Quantico, Va. and Jacksonville, Fl., the Department of the Navy and Adecco are rolling out the service to Navy and Marine Corps bases throughout the United States.

The national rollout is occurring in three phases, with the first phase beginning in July and the last phase completed by the end of 2002. Through Adecco Career Accelerator, military spouses receive career counseling and training from Adecco recruiters who place these spouses in available positions at Adecco's client locations, at no cost to either the military or the spouses.

It is widely acknowledged that spouse employment affects retention. As Anita Blair, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Personnel Programs, explains, "As necessitated by military obligations, spouses frequently move from one part of the country to another. This presents challenges to spouses who want or need a job or who are trying to build a career. Adecco Career Accelerator helps military spouses take command of their careers. The program is a big step forward in employment assistance for military spouses. Adecco Career Accelerator works hand in hand with on-base employment assistance programs provided by the Navy and Marine Corps."

Adecco, the world's largest staffing company, places people in a wide range of positions, from clerical, administrative, data entry, and financial through call center, engineering, IT, and light industrial, so spouses who want to take command of their careers may explore a variety of options.

Maxine Composto, Career Accelerator Facilitator at Quantico Marine Base, says, "The pilot programs at Quantico and Jacksonville have been deemed a success by the Department of the Navy and Adecco. Adecco has proven its ability to assess skills, provide training, and match a person with a position that utilizes his or her skills. Opening the program to other Navy and Marine bases enables more spouses to ``enlist' with Adecco, build their careers as temporary workers with a very successful staffing company, and retain vacation and other benefits as they change locations."

Julio Arrieta, CEO of Adecco USA, says, "We are honored that Adecco Career Accelerator has won the confidence of the Department of the Navy, and that they are committed to expanding the program to bases throughout the United States. We firmly believe in supporting military spouses by helping them find rewarding employment. Adecco has an integrated network of almost 1,500 offices in the US, so most Navy and Marine bases are located near an Adecco office. With this national rollout, the majority of Department of the Navy spouses can receive training and placement assistance from a nearby Adecco office."

One of the many spouses Adecco has found placements for is Katrina Foreman, whose husband is based in Quantico. As Foreman says, "I knew when I married my husband that we'd move every three years or so. When you have a company like Adecco introducing you to their clients, it cuts the red tape. Prospective employers always want to know you have the credentials for the job. Adecco does all that work for you. It's a comfort to know that I can stay with Adecco and get a job virtually anywhere we go."

The first phase of the rollout is taking place at the following Navy bases: Lemoore, CA; Ventura County, CA; Everett, WA; Pensacola, FL; Kings Bay, GA; Mayport, FL; Pearl Harbor, HI; Annapolis, MD; and New Orleans, LA. It is also taking place at the following Marine bases: Camp Pendleton, CA; San Diego, CA; Kansas City, MO; Arlington, VA; and Kaneohe Bay, HI.