The United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), located in Miami, Florida, is one of nine unified Combatant Commands (COCOMs) in the Department of Defense. It is responsible for providing contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation for Central and South America, the Caribbean, Cuba and the Bahamas, and their territorial waters; as well as for the force protection of U.S. military resources at these locations.

The Obstacle

 Their challenge stemmed from the DOD regulation 8570.1M Information Assurance Workforce Improvement Program, which requires their technicians to possess certification within a short time frame. Forty-five technicians throughout North, Central and South America all diverse in experience, age, and education –needed their certifications. Not to mention that the parameters for success were extremely narrow. One example of this was that the SOUTHCOM’s technicians were only available to accomplish the training in five days – including testing. 

The Academy was up for the challenge.

The curriculum was delivered onsite in a hotel conference room. Frank Martinez was the instructor, highly recognized in The Academy for continuous success delivering courses such as, CompTia training (A+, Network+, & Security+), MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCT, CEH, CHFI, ECSA, LPT, CISSP, PMP, among others. “Getting students to enjoy the class is not the hardest problem, it’s delivering a class so effective, that each student is able to pass their exam”, said Frank, a concern that wasn’t so easy for such a minute time frame.  The pressure was on, the effort ever so present, and time was just a fracture. The Academy’s IT department, Operations Staff, and the forty-five technicians waiting to be instructed from SOUTHCOM all had one strategy and focus in mind – success.  “The hardware with intranet delivered seamlessly – we do not have the luxury for a do-over” said Juan F. Sosa, one of SOUTHCOM’s field supervisors. The mobile testing center was assembled overnight, a task that was very tedious.

On August 25^th, 2008, The Academy accepted a challenge that would mark their history – whether the outcome was good or bad. 

In this case, there was no such thing.

That’s right, we said 100%.

Congratulations to The Academy Team, including Frank Martinez for this success, and many more to come.

Are you up for the challenge?