Young learners excel at broadband bootcamp, earn industry certifications

CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion received a $1.73 million “Creating Connections” grant to help train workers for the installation and ongoing maintenance of broadband infrastructure in Levy County and 10 other rural counties as part of the federal Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs program.

Fee-free bootcamps take place at the College of Central Florida ’s Jack Wilkinson Levy County campus in Chiefland later this month and in June, and are planned for August and December, as well. But during the first week in April, members of the current Phoenix Rising YouthBuild class were invited to take part in the one-week program at the 14th Street career center.

And according to their instructor, Tom Rauch of BDI DataLynk , they all moved to the head of the class.

“I was actually very impressed. You know you got some folks who are extremely young for the industry – 17,18, 19-years old – but their focus was outstanding.”

Rauch, a Fiber Optics Association (FOA)-certified master instructor, spent 30 years with Verizon Communications,?Inc. before retiring as Manager of Network Operations.

In addition to developing fiber optics and rural broadband in the region, Rauch said that the training, is “crucial for career opportunities and personal growth.”

“The pay is great to begin with,” he said. “We’re running fiber all over to all the rural areas. ?There’s government money, local money, investment money from businesses because everybody needs faster internet, everybody needs the 21st century technology.”

Throughout the week, students could earn stackable certifications as fiber optics technician, specialist in testing, and specialist in splicing. All told, the certifications would cost $2,785 without the grant support.

Lacy Snow, 20, said she got involved in YouthBuild Global because she wanted to be recognized and to better herself. In terms of the broadband infrastructure training, she said “It was a good opportunity because I’m very good with being hands on…And it doesn’t even matter if you’re male or female.”

Jose Cintron, 18, one of the three class valedictorians, agreed with Snow that YouthBuild and the bootcamp offered a “great opportunity.”

“I didn’t think I’d pass all three tests, but I did, and it feels great,” he said. “I would tell others to go in with confidence. I mean it’s all laid out for you. All you need to do is work hard and you’ll get the job done.”

Juan Dykes, Jr., another class valedictorian, moved to the area from Miami. He said that, ‘honestly, first coming into it, I was a little nervous ... I didn’t think I was going to do as well as I did. So, when I passed the first test, I thought it was maybe a fluke. But then after actually gaining all three, and all my test scores being over 90%, I was just happy to say that I’ve made it that far.”

Asked if he’d come back to work with a future YouthBuild classes, Rauch, -- who quickly loaded up after class on Friday to drive to Brooklyn over the weekend for another bootcamp – said he’s “looking forward to it.”

“I absolutely would love to come back again and again…What you guys do here is great.”

The “Creating Connections” project will provide fiber-optic access for approximately 70,000 residents and businesses in Levy, Dixie, Gilchrist, Suwanee, Union, Lafayette, Hamilton, Taylor, Madison, Jefferson, and Columbia Counties located in Northwest Florida.

Residents of Levy, Dixie, Gilchrist and other eligible counties who are interested in enrolling in the bootcamps in Chiefland or learning more should about the program should call 800-434-JOBS, ext. 4206 or email [email protected].