President Obama announced a new program that reflects his conviction that climate change poses one of the greatest threats to future generations.

The “Solar Ready Vets” program aims to train 75,000 workers, including veterans, to enter the solar industry by 2020. The Department of Energy will join the Pentagon to run the training program which will occur at 10 military bases across the country.

President Obama stated that the solar industry is adding jobs ten times faster than the rest of the economy and this program hopes to complement that growth by helping veterans enter the industry.

This training program will be free for military personnel. It is an intensive four to six week program where the participants will learn the skills to both install solar panels and electrical systems as well as do sales and interpret building codes.

“We’ve got to be relentless in our work to grow the economy and create good jobs,” Obama said, “and that’s why we have to redouble our efforts to make sure that we’re competitive, to make sure that we’re taking the steps that are needed for us to be successful.” – As reported by the Washington Post

Among the goals of the program is to help veterans transition from military life to the private sector which can be challenging for many.