Are you a Service member nearing separation? Get contacts at your local installation that can provide details on civilian job training opportunities for transitioning Service members.
Provide Training
Are you an organization or company that offers training? Get more highly trained and skilled future employees by providing training to transitioning Service members.
Help Others
Are you a leader at a military installation? Get DoD SkillBridge training opportunities at your base and answer location-specific questions on the DoD SkillBridge forum.
About
More details about DoD SkillBridge for Service Members and Training Providers.
DoD SkillBridge
Overview
Civilian Job Training
For Service Members
Access Prospective Employees
For Companies
Multimedia
Videos and News Articles
Framework Requirements
DoD Instruction 1322.29
Eligibility
General Requirements
Training Locations
Find an approved training location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions most asked by service members.
Do Service members have to pay for the training opportunity?
A provider must offer enrollment at no or minimal cost to the Service members.
Questions most asked by training providers
What are the key conditions for training providers to offer a DoD SkillBridge program?
Service member has a high probability of post-service employment. Companies must be approved to offer training.
Questions most asked by service members
What if the service member extends his/her enlistment?
The service member must terminate enrollment in a training program.
Disclaimer of Endorsement:
Reference herein to any specific companies and organizations, including their programs, products, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
Disclaimer of Hyperlinks:
The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities, the United States Department of Defense does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. All links are provided consistent with the mission of this Web site.
Please let us know about existing external links which you believe are inappropriate and about specific additional external links which you believe ought to be included.
DoD SkillBridge Overview
Linking Transitioning Service Members with Civilian Training Opportunities
Such training can take place starting up to six months prior to a Service member's separation. Additionally, the training must offer a high probability of employment and be provided to the Service member at little or no cost.
Through DoD SkillBridge, tremendous potential exists for Service members, companies, trade unions, and others for leveraging this new DoD authority.
DoD SkillBridge in Action
A number of companies and training providers have already set up or are setting up DoD SkillBridge training programs. Companies already participating range from Fortune 500 companies and public utilities, as well as a variety of labor unions and other groups. The programs established by these companies and organizations are helping Service members transition to new civilian careers.
For instance, one union affiliated with the national building trades offers Service members high-quality skills training and jobs in the pipe trades. More than 1000 Service members have participated in this specialized training program for welding and pipefitting skills without any costs to the government or the Service members. These training programs are available to Service members at several installations and will soon be available at several others.
Meanwhile, a leading IT company hosts training academies at several military installations, preparing service members for careers in the high-demand IT field. As the company's vice president recently stated, "These young military people bring skills, work ethic, and this is the kind of employee the industry needs today."
Civilian Job Training
For Service Members
DoD SkillBridge training opportunities are available for transitioning Service members. A Service member must have completed at least 180 days on active duty and be expected to be discharged or released from active duty within 180 days of starting their job training. Moreover, Service members must receive approval to participate, and the training opportunity must meet certain conditions.
More than 300,000 Service members are expected to leave the military every year for the next few years. These Service members are highly trained and skilled. DoD SkillBridge allows participating businesses and other training providers to gain early access to these highly skilled Service members as prospective employees before those Service members become Veterans. Since Service members continue to receive their military pay and benefits while participating, the training provider does not pay the Service member to participate.
Each military Service may have further specific requirements and guidelines for their service members. See the Service-specific links below.
The DoD SkillBridge framework is based on two driving principles:
The military Services will allow eligible Service members to participate in industry training instead of performing military duties during the closing months of their careers
Industry training providers will offer training at little or no cost to eligible Service members on or near the installations where they are stationed for the closing months of their military careers
These principles define the key dimensions of the DoD SkillBridge framework: a) both training providers and Service members will need to be approved for DoD SkillBridge participation by the commanders at military installations that are cooperating with DoD SkillBridge; and, b) DoD SkillBridge training opportunities will be offered to specified numbers of eligible participants, at specified locations, for specified periods of time.
DoD SkillBridge implements DoD Instruction 1322.29, issued in early 2014, entitled "Job Training, Employment Skills Training, Apprenticeships, and Internships (JTEST-AI) for Eligible Service." The military Services are following this guidance and the Service-specific guidance documents issued to date can be accessed below:
The service member must have completed at least 180 continuous days on active duty in the armed forces and is expected to be discharged or released from active duty within 180 days of starting the training opportunity.
The approval authority will put in place personnel accountability procedures as part of the condition of approval consistent with DoD and Military Department policies.
The approval authority may terminate the service member’s participation in a training opportunity based on mission requirements, whereupon the service member must report to their unit of assignment.
Participation is voluntary and service member initiated.
Participating Service members are not eligible to receive from the training provider wages, training stipends, or any other form of financial compensation for the time that the Service members spend participating in the training.
For Training Providers
The training must offer the service member a high probability of employment.
The training must be provided to the service member at little or no cost.
The training must provide skills that are required to successfully perform occupations in the civilian workforce.
The training provider must not create a conflict of interest for the Service member.
Participating Service members are not eligible to receive from the training provider wages, training stipends, or any other form of financial compensation for the time that the Service members spend participating in the training.
Social Media
Find more information on our discussion board and social media
About
The DoD SkillBridge initiative promotes the civilian job training authority available for transitioning military Service members.
Service members meeting certain qualifications can participate in civilian job and employment training, including apprenticeships and internships.
DoD SkillBridge Community
Discourse provides the details needed to find training near you
Twitter
Follow us on Twitter @DoDSkillBridge
Disclaimer of Endorsement:
Reference herein to any specific companies and organizations, including their programs, products, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
Disclaimer of Hyperlinks:
The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities, the United States Department of Defense does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. All links are provided consistent with the mission of this Web site.
Please let us know about existing external links which you believe are inappropriate and about specific additional external links which you believe ought to be included.