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Department of Labor and Workforce Development
 
Employment and Training Services

DOD SkillBridge Program

DOD SkillBridge gives an opportunity for retiring and transitioning service members to gain valuable civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180 days of military service prior to release from Active Duty.

SkillBridge connects service members with industry partners and real-world job experiences that are designed to aid the service member in finding meaningful and gainful employment after discharge. The duration of a SkillBridge program must not be more than 180 days and must occur during a participating service member's last 180 days on active duty in accordance with guidance described in DOD Instruction 1322.29.

The DOD covers military pay and benefits during a service member's time in a SkillBridge program, providing an invaluable experience for the service member and the Industry Partner.

Go to the SkillBridge Locations Map to learn about existing opportunities. Note: When searching by location on the SkillBridge Locations Map for opportunities in Alaska please make sure to search by "Alaska" or by "AK" due to the search tool being case sensitive.

Military Members

Retiring and transitioning service members interested in participating in SkillBridge should contact their installation SkillBridge point of contact; the SkillBridge POC may be in the transition assistance office, education office, or other installation support office. Additional information about how to start the process and your services specific guidance for applying to SkillBridge may be found in the Resources page of the SkillBridge website and the SkillBridge Program Brochure.

NOTE: Each of the Services have differing application requirements and processes.

Employers

Below are steps and tips for employers interested in becoming a DOD SkillBridge Approved Partner. Note: The AK DOLWD Business Connections Team can assist employers with the SkillBridge application process, they can be contacted at (907) 269-4777 or anchorage.employers@alaska.gov.

Pre-Application Process:

  1. The employer should review the DOD SkillBridge Industry Partner website.
    1. Tip: Attend the New Partner Application Process Information Session.
  2. Create the Program Job Description and Training Plan covering the requirements listed on the Training Plan Required Elements document.
    1. Tip: Start with one program, after approved as a partner the employer can add more programs. Also, the DOL&WD Business Connection team can assist with creating a training plan and provide easy to use templates.
  3. Review Application Questions before applying.
    1. Tip: Employers should know exactly how they want to answer each question and type up all fillable answers in a word document before applying. The application system may time out, so it's best to have the answers ready in advance.

Submitting the Application:

  1. To initiate the SkillBridge Partner application, the employers should go to the Contact Us section of the DOD SkillBridge Website. Select "Apply to be a SkillBridge Partner," fill out the form, and click Submit.
  2. The employer will then receive a confirmation email and a "SkillBridge Industry Employer Contact Form Submission" email which will have the link to complete the application. Click on that link and fill out the application.
    1. Tip: Once the application is started, don't use the back button. Also, the save progress feature doesn't always work so plan on completing the application in one sitting.

What's Next:

  1. Upon completion of the application, the application will be reviewed by DOD for final approval. The review process can take 4-6 weeks.
  2. If approved, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) will be sent to the employer for signatures. Once the MOU is signed, the employer will be listed as an Authorized DOD SkillBridge Partner on the SkillBridge webpage (on the next scheduled system update). The employer will also receive access to the DOD SkillBridge Content Management System (CMS) so they can view and update information pertaining to their organization, program(s) and opportunity(s).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Answers to SkillBridge FAQs can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page of the SkillBridge website.

Contact Us

For employers who would like assistance in creating a DOD SkillBridge training plan and with their overall application, please contact James McKoy , the Local Veterans' Employment Representative (LVER). For general SkillBridge questions, please contact Nakita Mongar, the Statewide Veteran Coordinator.