DoD SkillBridge Program

Apr 16, 10 am ET | HR Town Hall: SkillBridge -  Hear from the Department of Defense (DoD) and Bureau of Reclamation about the SkillBridge Program. Watch the recording on Microsoft Stream and view the slides from this virtual session.

Each year over 200,000 service members transition out of the military. This map provides some useful state-specific data reflecting the total number of personnel who are projected to separate from a given state.

The Department of Defense (DOD) manages the DOD SkillBridge Program, an opportunity for active-duty Service Members to gain valuable civilian work experience with DOI during their last 180 days of service. DOD SkillBridge connects service members with private and public sector organizations that offer internship opportunities for transitioning Service Members to build their resumes, explore employment interests, develop job skills, and gain valuable Federal government work experience that will help them prepare for their adjustment to the workplace.

Effective April 23, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) instituted a 

(MOU) and became an approved DOD SkillBridge Industry Partner. Interior welcomes SkillBridge participants for separating service members. There are various internship opportunities throughout the Department in a variety of fields.

Disclaimer: SkillBridge Intern participants are not entitled to a permanent job offer at the conclusion of the SkillBridge opportunity simply by virtue of completing the SkillBridge Intern program. Veterans entitled to Veteran preference that meet the criteria for non-competitive hiring authorities and qualifications for the specific vacancy may be offered a non-competitive job offer upon completion of the internship.

For Transitioning Service Members:

• Review the DoD SkillBridge Program Brochure for more information.
• Be sure to check out The Military Skills Translator.
• Any rank, enlisted or officer, may apply for SkillBridge internships at DOI.
• SkillBridge permits Service members to use up to the last 180 days of Service to train and learn with DOI.
• Separating Service members must obtain approval from their current unit and be American citizens who are on active duty in the military.
• Service members must also fulfill the security clearance requirements set by the DOI bureau/office where they intend to work.
• During SkillBridge participation, Service members continue to receive military compensation and remain covered by their military benefits.
• Release for SkillBridge is always mission-dependent and your unit Commander must authorize participation prior to entering into any agreement with DOI.
• Interested Service members can view open internship opportunities at Interior on DOD’s Authorized SkillBridge Organizations site.  If there is an active opportunity, a DOI representative will contact you.
• Interested Service members can also complete the DoD SkillBridge Interested Service Member Form. A SkillBridge representative will contact you as soon as possible.

More Information:

• DoD SkillBridge Frequently Asked Questions
• For additional resources, visit https://skillbridge.osd.mil/resources.htm.
• All other DoD SkillBridge inquiries should be submitted through the DoD SkillBridge Contact Us form.