Are you aware that the military has a program that allows transitioning service members to serve in your organization for 180 days to gain experience and training? Did you know that it is cost-free? While your organization benefits from these valuable internships, you are assisting active-duty service members in developing the skills needed for a successful transition from military service to civilian employment.

Does this sound too good to be true? Well, it is not. The Department of Defense (DoD) provides significant opportunities for veterans who are transitioning from military service to civilian employment through the DOD SkillBridge Program that allows service members the opportunity to participate in employment skills training (EST), on-the-job training (OTJ), pre-apprenticeships, and internships in high-demand industries and career fields. These statistics present a significant opportunity for higher education institutions to participate and partner with service branches to support transitioning veterans now and in the future.

Currently, there is a significantly low number of higher education institutions registered as participating partners for the DoD SkillBridge Program. Higher education institutions can provide significant opportunities for transitioning veterans through this program while internally benefiting from the skills of trained, experienced, and committed individuals. Due to educational requirements for many positions in higher education, it may be difficult for academic institutions to initially identify placement opportunities. While there are various prerequisites for teaching positions, administrators should be aware that, as of 2020, over 40% of military officers and some of the enlisted population held advanced or higher degrees. With over 200,000 service members departing the military each year, this is a large population from which schools can draw qualified talent to fulfill short-term needs while providing the training necessary to obtain long-term civilian employment. Additionally, there may be administrative positions or industrial jobs on your campus that are ideal for transitioning individuals with experience, so it is important to look beyond faculty roles or positions.

Individual service members who have participated in the DoD SkillBridge program report positive experiences and assistance in preparation for transitioning from military service to civilian employment. Interviews with numerous fellow veterans that have taken part in the program revealed firsthand accounts of onboarding, integration, and exit from the program's industry partners and employers.

The professional interactions were positive and provided them with the confidence and capabilities to quickly gain employment following their internships. Upon arrival at their host organizations, most veteran interns were greeted by an assigned sponsor to help them physically navigate their new spaces and orient them to the organization. Others took part in OTJ and were personally welcomed to the company by the CEO and given an overview of the organization before being paired with a fellow employee.

For all interns, weekly progress meetings were conducted to assess each participant's strengths and weaknesses in completing assigned tasks, and recommendations were provided to correct any noted deficiencies. Meaningful tasks were always assigned and directly contributed to organizational objectives, which bolstered the interns' understanding and belief in the DoD SkillBridge Program's effectiveness. Following their time in the program, each member was able to secure employment at their desired organization within 30 days of submitting their job applications. While the DoD SkillBridge Program is designed to accommodate transitioning service members, some industry partners have gone the extra mile to provide military spouses opportunities to participate, viewing the family as part of the veteran network through inclusion.

Employers across the United States are raving about the invaluable benefits that this program is providing as transitioning veterans enter their workforces and help them achieve organizational goals and objectives. As companies continue to learn about this program, authorized partnerships are increasing with the current number of partner organizations and employers reaching over 2,000. That's 2,000 companies available to over 200,000 transitioning veterans each year, providing ample opportunity for other companies to enter the program and benefit almost immediately.

J.B. Hunt, a fortune 500 company for the past decade, is one of the largest freight transportation providers in North America. J.B. Hunt began its partnership with the DoD SkillBridge Program in September 2020 and has quickly established itself as a premier employment opportunity for transitioning veterans. Specifically, the company is currently receiving almost 1.4K inquiries per year and only advertises openings for locations that present a high probability of placement and hiring following the internship.

An interview with Eric Airola, senior manager of military & veteran relations, revealed that J.B. Hunt has experienced tremendous value from the DoD SkillBridge program. Veteran interns benefit the company by providing immeasurable work experience, leadership capabilities, and overall adaptability that is derived from their military service. For this reason, most interns receive training and immersion within various management functions, such as transportation management, human resources, maintenance, risk management, and other leader-centric areas. Additionally, many of the veterans who intern with the DoD SkillBridge program, and are hired full-time by J.B. Hunt, experience quicker than normal advancement within the organization.

Today, J.B. Hunt's partnership with the DoD SkillBridge Program has far exceeded expectations. After only 14 months since onboarding their first intern, they have employed over 100 veterans training within various positions and locations. Sixty percent represent E-4 and above who have separated and 40 percent representing retirees from all branches of the military.

Most impressive, J.B. Hunt has achieved a significant 65 percent hire rate and is well within reach of attaining its goal of actively hiring 70 percent of veteran interns from the DoD SkillBridge program.

Eric Airola stated, "This is a true win-win situation. The company benefits tremendously by bringing in veteran interns, and the veteran gets hands-on training and immersion into the field of work they desire following the end of their military service."

In a world where few win-win opportunities exist, this is one that really helps every party involved in the process. As industries across the U.S. establish their partnerships with the DoD SkillBridge Program, their brand value will improve as their dedication to America's faithful veterans will position them to advance toward meeting organizational objectives and support those who have served this nation.

Higher education institutions that want to serve transitioning veterans, while helping their university or college grow and expand, should not miss the opportunity to leverage the DoD SkillBridge Program. The experience and abilities that veterans bring to the table are unique and passing up on the chance at hiring these individuals can be a big miss for higher education. So, don't miss the opportunity to find committed professionals that will help your college or university reach its goals. Go to the DoD SkillBridge Program site to become a partner in honoring and serving transitioning veterans who wish to join your team. Your veteran intern is anxiously awaiting your arrival. Be there or be square!

Article Topics

Job Search Advice Military Friendly Institutions Serving Military in HigherEd Women Veterans Working as a Veteran in HigherEd Workplace Inclusion

Republish this article for free. We want to make it easier for you to share knowledge and creativity, and encourage you to reuse our articles under a Creative Commons license.