Mil CIV 2 Tips for the transitioning military helicopter pilot
By Marc Stanley
THE SKILLBRIDGE PROGRAM T
he Department of Defense SkillBridge program provides transitioning service members and veterans with the
opportunity to gain the valuable skills and experience needed for a successful transition into the civilian world.
With this program, military personnel can benefit from job training in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, health care, information technology, engineering, logistics management, aviation and many more. The program is an opportunity for service members to get precious civilian knowledge through industry training, apprenticeships or internships.
The SkillBridge program was designed to meet exclusive workforce requirements and match them with the skills and abilities of highly motivated military personnel at no cost. A program participant may be able to train at on-base facilities with SkillBridge industry partners, or may be authorized to train at industry partner sites at minimal or no cost.
The SkillBridge program provides service men and women with the opportunity to get valued civilian work experience during their final six
20 Nov/Dec 2023
months (180 days) of service. Joining the SkillBridge program will require authorization from the first O-4/field level commander in their chain of command. Service members may get up to 180 days to focus on industry training full-time with program industry partners.
For example, GE Aviation provides hands-on training and work experience for in-demand job roles, along with the opportunity for the service member to be evaluated for a position with GE once their commitment has expired.
Military SkillBridge participants are not entitled to receive compensation from GE Aviation while they continue to receive military compensation and benefits as active-duty members.
Most of the current aviation industry SkillBridge opportunities are focused on maintenance. The aviation technician/maintenance program is a nine-week, full-time program aimed at training and placing transitioning service members,
honorably discharged veterans,
and eligible military spouses into careers in aviation maintenance. In addition to the nine-week technical course, attendees will have access to a variety of career training
opportunities including mentoring, résumé writing, and industry partner orientation events.
Maintainers with no flight experience can use the DoD SkillBridge program in conjunction with GI Bill benefits to start flight training for a career as a helicopter or airline pilot.
At the end of their training, service members can gain a civilian certification and become employed in their desired field of aviation maintenance.
This program gives service members a chance to bridge the gap between military and civilian life with ease and success, and to cross that bridge with less stress.
About the author: Marc Stanley retired from the U.S. Army in 2015 after 26 years, and transitioned into civilian life to become a corporate pilot flying the AW139. Stanley currently works for Airbus Helicopters. He regularly teaches military-to-civilian transition classes at industry events, and volunteers with veterans outreach programs.
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