Federal Manager's Daily Report

DoD has told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee that it supports S-1218, to enable other agencies to participate in the department’s SkillBridge initiative for military personnel transitioning to civilian life.

Under the program, transitioning service members can participate in civilian job and employment training, including apprenticeships and internships beginning up to six months before leaving the military. Under the bill, OPM and DoD would set policies to have other agencies participate in the initiative as trainers and employers.

The Pentagon said that since the program was created under a 2013 law, transitioning service members “have received jobs in dozens of industries, from corporate finance to advanced manufacturing, information technology, and cyber security. Just as businesses have greatly benefitted from the program and the talents our highly trained service members bring, so too will federal agencies.

“The expansion to federal agencies as eligible employers and trainers under the program will provide a true win-win for both the federal government and transitioning service members,” a statement said.

It also said the bill would “better enable the department to execute recruitment and outreach activities such as the Hiring Heroes Program, along with career readiness programs, which have been developed to assist transitioning service members and veterans in their search of employment.”