COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Col. Ralph Puckett Workforce Development Center at 2329 Fort Benning Rd provides career training, education and employment resources for veterans, service members, military families and the broader Columbus community. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to Columbus Technical College. With Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11, it is one local place for people exploring training, credentials and workforce opportunities.

The Puckett Center held a ribbon-cutting July 31, 2026. It operates as an extension of Columbus Tech aligned with the Technical College System of Georgia, according to Choose Columbus. Its listed services include SkillBridge programs, adult education, military spouse support and a Veterans Job Portal.

Where is the Puckett Center and what are its hours?

The center is at 2329 Fort Benning Rd, Columbus, GA 31903. Its published hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, according to the college's website, viewed Nov. 3, 2026. The listed phone number is 706-225-0544, and the email is [email protected].

Those are regular weekday hours, not a special Veterans Day schedule. The information reviewed does not say whether the center will be open Wednesday, Nov. 11. Anyone planning a visit that day should call to confirm.

Who can use the Puckett Center?

Columbus Tech says the center serves veterans, service members, military families and the broader Columbus community. Choose Columbus says it places a special emphasis on transitioning service members, military spouses and veterans. The focus is on moving from military service into civilian careers, education and employment.

Eligibility for individual programs is not fully explained in the information reviewed. The center says the broader community is served, but the materials do not say whether every program accepts civilian applicants. Prospective participants can contact the center to ask which services fit their situation.

The military focus matters in Columbus because of Fort Benning. WTVM reported in August 2025 that more than 2,000 soldiers transition out of Army service at Fort Benning each year. The Puckett Center is a local resource for people weighing education and work options after that transition.

What career training and education services are offered?

The college's website lists Accelerated SkillBridge Programs, the SkillBridge Program, the Talent Alignment Program and Adult Education. It also lists a Programs section, Military Spouse Support, a Veteran Service Officer, Community Partners, a Veterans Job Portal, Certifications and Financial Aid information. The page does not say which services are available now.

The page names several example credentials in a section about technical college SkillBridge programs: commercial driver's licenses, welding certifications, HVAC licensure, cybersecurity certifications, logistics credentials and healthcare certifications. The information reviewed does not say that every credential is available now or how long each program lasts. Readers should ask the center for current offerings.

WRBL's July 31 grand-opening report described labs for welding, mechatronics robotics, advanced manufacturing for industrial programming and health sciences. WRBL also reported options to earn a high school diploma. WRBL said fall classes were to begin Monday, Aug. 10.

Is training at the Puckett Center free?

The published information supports a specific cost statement for service members in SkillBridge, but not a claim that all Puckett Center programs are free. Columbus Tech says that under Department of War policy, service members do not incur program-related costs while participating in SkillBridge. That should not be read as applying to other programs or participants.

The materials do not give tuition amounts for people outside SkillBridge. They do not state program costs for veterans, military spouses or civilians beyond the SkillBridge provision. Financial Aid information is listed among the center's resources, but the page does not say who qualifies.

Anyone comparing options should ask the center for current tuition, fee and financial aid details before enrolling. The distinction between SkillBridge and other training matters when weighing cost. This story does not state a price for any program.

How does the center connect veterans with jobs?

The Puckett Center is part of the Georgia Veterans Education Career Transition Resource Center network, known as VECTR. Choose Columbus reported Aug. 31, 2026, that the center was named part of the network. The network is a gateway for veterans re-entering postsecondary education and the workforce, and its main center in Warner Robins was established by the state.

According to Choose Columbus, VECTR services in Columbus are provided through the Puckett Center. Those services include education, benefits counseling, employment, job training, entrepreneurship and links to community services. The center's website also lists a Veterans Job Portal.

Employer partnerships are another piece. WRBL reported 13 employer partners at the July 31 opening, and Corey Woods, the center's chief operating officer, was quoted as saying, "We have 13 employer partners and every day we're growing, that number grows." That number reflects the opening, and the current total and any job placement results are not established by the sources reviewed.

Who was Col. Ralph Puckett and why is the center named for him?

The center carries the name of the late Col. Ralph Puckett Jr. WTVM described Puckett as a Medal of Honor recipient and a Colonel, and as honorary Colonel of the 75th Ranger Regiment. The name ties the Columbus facility to a figure the community recognizes.

Puckett's wife, Jean Puckett, spoke about him at the July 31 grand opening, according to WRBL. She said, "He would be very excited because it was always about reaching out to people and giving them a hand up." That quote is as reported by WRBL.

Columbus Tech also holds a Purple Heart College designation from the State of Georgia, according to the center's page. It is part of the college's stated connection to military-connected education. The designation is the college's, not the center's alone.

Is there another Columbus Tech office at Fort Benning?

Columbus Tech has a separate Fort Benning office in the Soldier for Life Building, ACES, Building 9230, Room 1331, 8150 Marne Road, Fort Benning, GA 31905. According to the college, it is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Its phone number is 706-649-1914, and its email is [email protected].

Those hours differ from the Puckett Center's schedule, as do the address and contact details. Students seeking military-connected services can use the published contacts to find the right location. The main college is at 928 Manchester Expressway, Columbus, GA 31904, and its phone number is 706-649-1800.

What to know before visiting

• Address: 2329 Fort Benning Rd, Columbus, GA 31903
• Regular hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Contact: 706-225-0544 or [email protected]
• Programs: SkillBridge, adult education, military spouse support, employment resources and career training
• Costs: The stated SkillBridge provision applies to participating service members; other program costs are not specified
• Veterans Day: Nov. 11 hours have not been verified
• Website: columbustech.edu/puckettcenter