I just finished registering our company with the Department of Defense SkillBridge program. Each branch of service is different in how they handle it. So far I’ve contacted the Navy and Sailors can now come work for me for up to 6 months while active duty and receiving full pay and benefits from the Navy. They work unpaid by me but learn on the job. After the program I can offer them a job if they meet my criteria. All they need to do now is have an approved special request chit from their command. Pretty cool.
The process is you fill out the MOU (already written you just fill in some blanks) which requires very little from you. You submit the MOU and the help desk will ask you a few questions via email. Then the DOD will sign the MOU. You then receive the option to register on their interactive map and the contact info for each branches SkillBridge representative to find out how they handle it.
I’m active military now, If I didn’t wash and I had a buddy who’s owned a pressure washing business and I could leave my job and go wash them houses with him while still getting paid active duty pay and not use up any leave time, I will take it in a heartbeat. I don’t care if my buddy paid me or not lol
Active service government employees working for free but making money for a guy on a program developed by another government employee all paid for by the taxpayer?
I guess the guys get some experience so when they leave the military they can do the same thing.
The self licking icecream program lol
It’s a program they can choose to enter into in multiple industries. You’re not wrong but if you’ve served it’s an opportunity for new skills paid for by the military. Not every sailor leaves the service with a good plan or will take advantage of free college.
You’re entitled to think whatever you want but finding quality employees is an issue.
I would’ve loved this when I was about to get out, there was this long period of crap while outprocessing. I even worked at the squad snack stand thing, ran errands, etc. because my squadron deployed and there was nowhere to go. Taking those people and getting them out there is really cool, I’m bookmarking this so I can do it too when I get big enough. Thanks!
Also, for reference, when I got out I wound up working at Wendy’s, Dish network, etc. before going back to school. You tend to be pretty lost.
You can put yourself on the interactive map, also you can send the branch representatives an information flyer to be included in the separation classes that are mandatory for all military members so they can find out about your company. For me I’m directly passing my information to active duty contacts as well.
Another bonus is it’s a smoother transition to civilian life with your same level of pay versus an abrupt stop in pay, a possible move, and job change all at once.
Don’t take this the wrong way, because maybe I don’t understand it.
So basically the tax payer pays your employees labor? What happens if an active duty man or woman does not work or go to school? Do they lose active pay?
If they don’t adhere to the terms of the program you set before hand it would end. They would have to go back to their command.
If the employer contacted the command then the command would handle it how they saw fit.
Basically they’re getting paid regardless so as discussed it’s a program they can apply for in various industries.
Some members pursue college when they get out using their GI Bill, some have jobs lined up, but a large and surprising number have zero plan and no jobs lined up. This program offers them a chance to transition with pay. It’s up to the company to accept them and their parent command to release them.
Bottom line: tax payers pay for it because the military is paid for by taxes. I could list a 100 other programs offered to active duty and veterans that would make your head spin.
I’m not doing this to stack my company with free labor. I’m doing it because I’ve led many sailors with no plan and no future. I’d like to do my part to prevent them from continuing down that path by participating in the program.
I can tell you this, tax money paid for me to sweep concrete …in the middle of the desert. It paid for me to also sell little debbies and hotdogs to people messing around and not working while separating. This program is a MUCH better use of that money, for sure.
It’s paid training in a field they might want to work in. The government could develope more agencies or units (whatever they are called) to train military in civilian jobs or they can save time and money and just have you do it. The government wastes bucket loads of money on nonsense. This one I cam deal with. I’m sure it’s ripe with idiots abusing but what isn’t.
I can’t understand why our defence force in Australia contracts out all maintenance on bases when they could just get their own guys to do it and learn a trade/s along the way.
Is it the same in the U.S?
I haven’t served in awhile, so maybe get one of the more recent veterans to say. All I know is that we had some maintenance performed by contractors. We couldn’t touch their work…big no no. Most did a decent job, some, well, they got gov pay and did gov work. The real crap jobs, well, we did those. I hear the air force has people clean their “housing” for them, too nice to be called barracks.
