WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In the 12 months since Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) announced a five-year, $2.5 million grant for the expansion of Wounded Warrior Project™ (WWP) transition training initiatives, hundreds of returning wounded veterans have benefited from information technology and cyber training in more locations across the country.

WWP is a not-for-profit organization that aims to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded warriors in the nation's history. Raytheon's commitment directly supports the expansion of WWP education programs, including the Transition Training Academy (TTA) for information technology (IT) training and Warriors to Work employment assistance services.

"The Transition Training Academy has boasted its best year to date," said WWP TTA Director Rick Willis of results achieved since Veterans Day 2010 when Raytheon announced its commitment to WWP. Since then, WWP has expanded its footprint of training locations from four centers in three states to eight centers in seven states, and has facilitated course completion and graduation of a record 539 students from the TTA program over the past year. These veterans and caregivers have acquired contemporary IT skills through an introductory computer technology course, and many have advanced through a computer repair certification course as well as a new certificate course in computer security.

"Raytheon is proud to support Wounded Warrior Project's mission to ensure these valued veterans have the opportunity to develop new skills that can lead to success in the next phase of their lives," said Raytheon Chairman and CEO William H. Swanson. "This Veterans Day, and every day, we thank our brave men and women in uniform who have served, and are serving, for their contributions to safeguarding our nation's security."

Many TTA program graduates have been reassigned to civilian IT jobs within the military, obtained job placement in the private sector, or opened their own businesses. While the majority of TTA graduates are still on active duty or receiving medical care, WWP is actively working with each veteran or caregiver to match them with career opportunities when he or she is ready.

Through the Raytheon grant, the TTA program plans to open two new centers in the coming year, and add a certificate training course in computer networking.

WWP Transition Training Academy and Warriors to Work

WWP delivers services to help build long-term financial and job stability for members of the armed services. These include:

• Transition Training Academy empowers candidates to learn new career skills with real-world application for a greater chance of securing future employment. Graduates have the opportunity to gain civilian employment after leaving the service, or return to an IT-related military occupational specialty.
• Warriors to Work is a program that connects wounded service members with the support and resources they need to build a career in the civilian workforce, including counseling and services that match soldiers' skills with appropriate employers.

About Wounded Warrior Project

The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project™ (WWP) is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Its purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured men and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2010 sales of $25 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 89 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 72,000 people worldwide. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @raytheon.

Media Contacts
Raytheon Company
Kristyn Lao
781.522.5126
corporatepr@raytheon.com
InkHouse
Scott Montminy
781.966.4100
raytheonpr@inkhouse.net

SOURCE Raytheon Company