NORTH BAY -- A 'career caravan' will be making a stop at North Bay's Royal Canadian Legion Branch 599 to assist veterans who served our country and train them for new jobs in software and cyber-security.

The Coding For Veterans Career Caravan will begin its mission to bring troops from deployment to employment, even in the face of COVID-19.

The primary goal is to harness the skills and experiences of veterans and train them for second careers as software and cyber-security professionals at salaries immediately near $100,000 annually.

It’s estimated 182,000 skilled software and cyber-security positions will go unfilled in the next few years.

The caravan is COVID-19 compliant, meaning veterans will be able to secure career advice in person while following safety protocols set out by public health.

“They served us all with dedication and sacrifice during their military career and now we are providing them an opportunity to help fill the urgent skill shortage in the IT sector, which is causing a critical drag on the Canadian economy,” said Coding For Veterans CEO Jeff Musson.

Coding For Veterans is an intensive eight month course offered in partnership with the University of Ottawa that provides the graduating military veterans with job-ready training and certification.

“We are providing the military veterans with the tools required for a career in IT," said Coding For Veterans Executive Director Pat Shaw.

“We have tech companies, defence contractors, and government agencies interested in filling their talent requirements with graduates from our program."

Every year, approximately 7,000 men and women leave the Canadian Forces.

They’re often perceived as only having the training for security work or policing.

But, Coding For Veterans has done extensive research to determine that military personnel are especially suited to work in software and cyber-security.

The Coding For Veterans tour will stop at most major military installations and training centres in Ontario ahead of Remembrance Day 2020.

It will be making a stop at North Bay's Royal Canadian Legion Branch 599 on Oct. 23 from 9a.m.-3p.m.

The caravan plans to deploy in Ottawa for the special Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 11.