2 weeks Ago By Pamela Knudson
GRAND FORKS – Area employers who are facing workforce shortages are encouraged to take advantage of the SkillBridge program offered by Grand Forks Air Force Base, according to an announcement from the base. Each year, nearly 200,000 military members in the U.S.
Armed Forces, stationed in more than 140 military installations in the U.S. and overseas, complete their service and transition to civilian careers or pursue higher education.
About 250 leave service from GFAFB each year, according to the base’s public affairs office. ADVERTISEMENT Employers can draw from this pool of service members who are nearing the end of their commitment to the U.S.
Air Force and interested in workforce training programs provided by businesses and other organizations in this area. SkillBridge, a program sponsored by the federal Department of Defense, is a way to connect military service members with potential career opportunities and ease service members’ reintegration into civilian life. The program seeks to acquaint service-members with opportunities to gain valuable civilian, “real world” work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships or internships offered by businesses and other organizations.
At GFAFB, airmen who are "retiring or on their second tour at Grand Forks typically consider staying local by looking at job and housing options,” said Lea Greene, GFAFB public affairs chief. The SkillBridge program gives industry partners “early access to the extensive experience, skills and unmatched work ethos service-members bring to the workforce,” according to GFAFB’s announcement. “Employers craft SkillBridge programs to meet their specific workforce needs, matching those needs to the skills and abilities of highly motivated service-members.
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SkillBridge partners across the nation may take advantage of virtual, online or distance learning and training options.” By engaging with SkillBridge, employers can meet their specific workforce needs at no cost. The service member’s salary and benefits are covered by the Department of Defense for up to the final 180 days of service.
Service members can be granted this time to focus solely on training full-time with approved industry partners after those in their chain of command have authorized and approved it. For the employer, SkillBridge is an opportunity to access and leverage the world’s most highly trained and motivated workforce, the GFAFB announcement said. The employer provides in-demand work experience, while having the opportunity to evaluate the service-member’s suitability for future employment.
ADVERTISEMENT Military installation commanders can make on-base facilities available to industry partners for use in their SkillBridge programs, or service-members may be authorized to train at the industry partner’s location. SkillBridge operates like a traditional internship program, but employers must advertise their programs effectively to attract separating military members, said Bradford Zielske , education services officer at GFAFB. “I have had several providers contact me by phone regarding a lack of participants in their SkillBridge programs,” Zielske said.
“In each case, the provider’s website did not have accurate information about their SkillBridge program. “One site referenced the provider’s headquarters location, which was several states away, instead of the location of the actual training and potential employment opportunities in North Dakota.” Zielske encourages local industry partners to create a dedicated employment page for the SkillBridge program that military members can easily find, as well as placement on the SkillBridge industry and employers website.
Beginning this month, the Department of Defense has transitioned to restructured, formalized application periods for military members and is hosting routine webinars to assist industry partners. Interested employers can learn more about the program and register for free webinars; they can go to https://skillbridge.osd.
mil/industry-employers.htm . Employers who would like to participate in the program can receive help with the application process through webinars provided by the Department of Defense.
Registration is open for the New Partner Application Process Information Session, set for 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct.
30; another session is planned for 2-3 p.m. Nov.
13. ADVERTISEMENT The fall enrollment period is open and will run through Dec. 1.
The spring enrollment period will be available from Feb. 1 to April 1. The program partners include not only area businesses and organizations, but also employers such as Amazon, John Deere, Lockheed Martin, UnitedHealth Group, the U.
S. Veterans Administration and hundreds more, according to GFAFB’s release. As of this past August, the Department of Defense reported that 4,700 employers were registered in the program nationally, Greene said.
The number of local registered employers is not available, but "(we) encourage interested employers to have a SkillBridge section, with accurate locations visible, on the employment section of their website.".
