Columbus Technical College Opens Workforce Center Near Fort Benning
Columbus Technical College opened the Col. Ralph Puckett Workforce Development Center on July 31, with 15 SkillBridge programs scheduled to begin Aug. 10 for transitioning service members and other Columbus-area residents.
Columbus Technical College opened the Col. Ralph Puckett Workforce Development Center in Columbus on July 31, creating a new workforce hub near Fort Benning for transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses, military families and other local residents.
The center’s first 15 approved SkillBridge programs are scheduled to begin Aug. 10. The programs are intended to provide industry-recognized credentials, hands-on preparation and connections to employers in fields including transportation, logistics, manufacturing, skilled trades, health care, public safety, information technology and professional services.
Location, hours and contact information
The Puckett Center is at 2329 Fort Benning Road, Columbus, Georgia 31903. Columbus Technical College lists its hours as Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
People seeking enrollment or program information can call 706-905-8473 or email puckettcenter@columbustech.edu. The college also lists a separate Fort Benning office at the Soldier for Life Building, ACES, Building 9230, Room 1331, 8150 Marne Road.
How SkillBridge works
According to Columbus CEO, the SkillBridge program allows eligible active-duty service members in their final 180 days of active duty to complete civilian career training while continuing to receive military pay and benefits.
Columbus Technical College describes the Puckett Center as a technical-college-based pathway focused on portable credentials rather than training for only one employer. That can include preparation in areas such as commercial driving, welding, electrical work, logistics, cybersecurity and health care.
Eligibility, enrollment requirements and availability can vary by program. Employer partnerships provide connections and pathways, but they do not guarantee a job offer for every participant.
The 15 programs scheduled for Aug. 10
Columbus CEO reported that the first group of programs is scheduled to include:
- Transportation and logistics: Commercial Driver’s License and Logistics Management Specialist.
- Skilled trades and manufacturing: Basic Machinist, Industrial Electrician, Basic Electrical Technician, Basic Shielded Metal Arc Welder, and Gas Metal/Tungsten Arc Welder.
- Health care and public safety: Emergency Medical Technician and Medical Coding Specialist.
- Technology and professional services: Cybersecurity Fundamentals, Network Technician, AWS Cloud Solutions Specialist, Generative AI Technician, Java Programmer and Paralegal.
The Aug. 10 start remains scheduled or planned. Readers should confirm the current timetable and enrollment status with Columbus Technical College before making arrangements.
Employer connections in Columbus
Columbus Technical College lists employer and community partners connected to the center’s workforce-development efforts.
Columbus Water Works is listed as a partner for talent development involving commercial driving, industrial electrical systems, utilities operations, maintenance and infrastructure support. The Columbus Housing Authority is connected to pathways involving HVAC and facilities maintenance. Panasonic Energy is listed in connection with advanced manufacturing, mechatronics, industrial automation and precision production systems.
V2X-Fort Benning is listed for workforce development involving commercial driving, logistics operations, supply-chain coordination and installation support services. Other listed partners include Georgia Power, First Command Financial, Alexander Electric, Heckler & Koch, Kysor Warren and TIYA Services.
The college’s descriptions indicate that these partnerships are intended to align training with regional workforce needs and connect qualified participants or graduates with employers. They should not be read as guarantees of employment.
Who can seek help
The center is designed around military-connected populations, including active-duty service members preparing to leave the military, veterans, military spouses and military families. Columbus Technical College also says the center serves the broader Columbus community.
Those groups may not face identical eligibility or enrollment rules. Active-duty SkillBridge participants must meet the program’s military eligibility requirements, while veterans, spouses and other residents should ask the college which programs and support services are available to them.
Columbus’ Job Training Division provides separate workforce services for eligible residents, including career counseling, training assessment, occupational skills training, internships and placement assistance. The city’s workforce office is not identified as the operator of the Puckett Center, but it offers another local starting point for residents seeking workforce assistance.
Next steps
Residents and military-connected job seekers should contact Columbus Technical College to confirm program availability, SkillBridge eligibility, enrollment steps, credential requirements and possible financial-aid support. The center’s listed contact information is 706-905-8473 and puckettcenter@columbustech.edu.
Sources
- The Puckett Center — Columbus Technical College
- Columbus Technical College Launches 15 Department of War-Approved SkillBridge Programs at New Puckett Center
- Job Training — Columbus Consolidated Government
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