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Supporting Military Hiring: Learn About Our Training With Industry Program

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Each year, National Hire a Veteran Day falls on July 25th. At Armed Forces Bank, we know how dedicated, versatile and highly trained our U.S. service members are, and we know they make strong candidates for a variety of civilian jobs. Some have even said: “The best way to honor a service member is to hire one.”

In honor of National Hire a Veteran Day, we wanted to share information about one of our partnership programs: Training with Industry, or TWI. We’ll also introduce our two students in this year’s program.


The Training With Industry Program

The Training with Industry program is a yearlong training program with Armed Forces Bank (AFB) for one Officer and one Non-Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army Finance and Comptroller Corps. In addition to training with every AFB department, TWI students must complete a robust 10-month self-study program with the American Bankers Association and complete a Capstone project approved by the Army and AFB leadership.

Graduates of this program serve as the principal advisor to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Financial Management Command (USAFMCOM), and tactical level commanders on all banking operations and are the primary liaison and technical advisors between financial institutions, commanders, federal agencies, and trade associations. The experience and knowledge gained during this training program are invaluable to the U.S. Army Finance and Comptroller Corps and ensure proficiency in multiple core competencies.

Before students report, the AFB leadership is in communication with the USAFMCOM leaders reviewing the training objectives and calendar for the reporting students. Once the students report, they are introduced to the AFB executive leaders and immediately start the year with new employee training just like any other newcomer to the AFB team.

The rotational training through all the bank areas is in conjunction with the self-study portion of the training and students are expected to work independently and achieve all assigned training objectives. When students rotate through the bank sections, they also get hands-on experience with multiple tasks banks must complete in order to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.

This portion is essential to the success of the training objectives and ensures future success when students graduate and report to their utilization tour in the Army. The capstone project approval process is deliberate and transparent with students having the opportunity to have input. The capstone project must be nested with AFB and the Army’s training objectives for the program.


Profile: SFC Shantese “Ja’Nae” Ratledge
Ja’Nae Ratledge was born in Greenville, NC. She spent most of her childhood traveling, as she was within a military family. She was homeschooled and graduated at the age 16; she then went on to her first year of college at Southern University in TN.

Ja’Nae enlisted in the Army in May 2005 as a Finance Technician. She attended basic training at Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, SC. She has been stationed twice at Joint Base Lewis McChord in WA, Ft. Sill OK, Scofield Barracks, HI, Ft. Bliss TX, and was assigned as a Drill Sergeant at Ft. Jackson SC with four overseas deployments.

Her military training, certifications and civilian education include, but are not limited to, the Advanced Joint Professional Military Education Course, Senior Leader’s Course, Master Resiliency Training Course, Advance Leaders Course, Drill Sergeant School, Basic Instructor Training Course, Basic Leaders Course, Equal Opportunity Course and the Victim Advocate/Sexual Harassment and Assault Responders Course.

Ja’Nae holds an Associate of Science in Business and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, along with a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance. She is also a member of the highest, most prestigious club in the Army as a Sergeant Audie Murphy member.

During her 16 years of Financial Services with the Department of Defense, Ja’Nae has served in roles as a Senior Finance Pay Analyst, Financial Debt Management and Audit Control Representative, Financial Customer Service Representative, Disbursing Officer, Disbursing Cashier and a Senior Budget Analyst. Her job duties have included, but are not limited to, Platoon Sergeant, Victim Advocate, SHARP Representative, Resiliency Trainer, Acting First Sergeant, Acting Brigade Command Sergeant Major and Drill Sergeant.

Ja’Nae has been a single parent her entire career to a beautiful daughter who is 12, named Jazmyn. They currently reside in Kansas City, MO, venturing into the Training with Industry Program. Her short-term goal is to earn her Six Sigma Certification along with the Professional Organization Leadership Certification with an emphasis on Executive Women in Leadership. Her long-term goal is to earn the rank of Master Sergeant and retire from the military at 20 years.

In Ja’Nae’s own words:
“It has been a complete honor to have participated in The Training with Industry (TWI) program which was established in response to identified training gaps experienced Army-Wide. It provided me with the ability to apply advanced managerial skills with the Armed Forces Bank (AFB) operations as I move on to my next assignment as a Banking/Disbursing Officer for the European Region. This training cannot be replicated anywhere else and really has empowered me to relate the learned functions of the banking industry to my job and responsibilities. I want to thank Renee Fairchild, SFC Benson Njoroge (2019-2020 TWI Student), and all the members following behind the legacy of Gary Dickinson to support our military community, its members, and the TWI students.”


Profile: CPT Jose Rivera
Jose is a native of Bayamon, P.R. He enlisted in the U.S. Army August 2004 and completed Basic Combat Training in Fort Benning, GA from Nov 2014 to January 2005. He completed Advanced Individual Training in Fort Sam Houston, TX and received the MOS of 68D (Surgical Specialist). He held several medical positions before being selected to attend Officer Candidate School in August 2012 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Finance Corps November 2012.

His assignments include: Chief, Commercial Vendor Services, 4th FMSU, Fort Bliss, TX; Deputy Disbursing Officer, 4th F MSU, Fort Bliss, TX; FMSU Executive Officer, 4th FMSU, Fort Bliss, TX; Brigade S8, 1st Armored Division Sustainment Brigade, Fort Bliss, TX; Executive Officer, Bravo Company 1-34 Infantry Regiment, Fort Jackson, SC; Commander, Bravo Company 2-39 Infantry Regiment, Fort Jackson, SC; Brigade Comptroller, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, Fort Hood, TX.

Jose’s military education includes the Warrior Leader Course, Officer Candidate School, Finance Basic Officer Leader Course, Resource Management Tactical Course, Disbursing Operations, Fiscal Law, Cadre Training Course, TRADOC Company Commander and First Sergeant Course and Resource Management Operational Budget Course, and Financial Management Captains’ Career Course. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Management and a MBA in Managerial Accounting from Trident University. CPT Rivera is also a Certified Defense Financial Manager with Acquisition Specialty. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3OLC), Army Achievement Medal (4OLC), Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (2), National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (CS), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Developmental Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

Jose is married to Maryanglie Rivera and has three children: Nayleam, Eduard, and Jose. He will return to the Army and assume the duties of Army Banking Officer with the U.S. Army Financial Management Command, Indianapolis, IN.


Past Graduates of the TWI Program

The impact of the TWI program continues to resonate throughout graduates’ careers. As you can see with the graduate list below, graduates continue to perform at the highest levels with every follow-on assignment they receive post TWI.

2002 Mr. Tony Taylor – Director E-Commerce and Banking USAFMCOM
2006 LTC(P) Cody Koerwitz – Chief, Contingency Operations Branch at The Joint Staff
2009 LTC Christopher Wurst – 1st Special Forces Command Comptroller
2010 LTC John Schulke – Military Aid to the Assistance Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller)
2013 MAJ Ishak Owusu – Chief, Accounting 266 Financial Management Support Center
2017 MAJ Jennifer Evans – U.S. Army Banking Officer USAFMCOM


Armed Forces Bank Is Committed to Military Families

At Armed Forces Bank, we want to be more than just your financial bank. We are committed to serving U.S. military families in any way we can. Not only do we honor our service members through programs such as TWI, but we also support initiatives for hiring military spouses.

Learn more about Armed Forces Bank’s commitment to our military families.


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