Microsoft plans to expand its IT training program to military spouses, an official said.

The Microsoft Software and Systems Academy is a 16-week, accelerated learning program that provides job skills education on IT technologies that can help active-duty service members transition into competitive IT careers.

Classes now are held on three military installations — Fort Hood, Texas; Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; and Camp Pendleton, California. Microsoft works with those installations' command, education and training centers, along with authorized academic partners, to provide the training.

A Microsoft announcement on expansion of the program is expected to come in June or July, said Thomas Dawkins, a senior business manager for Microsoft.

In six to 12 months, the company plans to make the training available to spouses as well, Dawkins said. The training may be on a campus near an installation or on the installation itself, he said.

"We do a lot of work to mold the program to support the needs of the base," Dawkins said.

The program can support about 50 students at Hood and Lewis-McChord, and about 30 at Camp Pendleton, for each 16-week cycle, Dawkins said.

Those who complete the course with passing scores are guaranteed a job interview for a full-time job at Microsoft or one of its participating Microsoft Certified partners.

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