FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Transitioning from military service to civilian life is a significant step for soldiers. While their time in the Army equips them with invaluable skills and experiences, navigating the civilian job market can present unique challenges. Recognizing this, the U.S. Army has established comprehensive Army Career Skills Programs (CSP) designed to bridge this gap, ensuring soldiers are well-prepared for successful civilian careers.
The Army Career Skills Program (CSP) is a proactive initiative that offers transitioning service members a golden opportunity to gain practical, real-world experience in high-demand civilian sectors. This program encompasses employment-skills training, on-the-job training, pre-apprenticeships, and internships. Crucially, soldiers enrolled in CSP retain their military pay and allowances, providing financial stability while they acquire new skills and explore career paths.
Walt Harris, Transition Services Manager at Fort Leonard Wood’s Transition Assistance Program, emphasizes the program’s effectiveness. “They can intern with industry across the United States to help them find employment and be able to provide for their families after transitioning from the Army,” Harris stated. He also highlighted the impressive 85 percent hire rate for service members completing the CSP at Fort Leonard Wood, underscoring the program’s success in facilitating successful transitions. “They can’t receive any compensation from the organization (while enrolled in the CSP), but they continue to keep their Army benefits — the only thing we ask industry to do is to teach them a skill.”
Sgt. 1st Class Curt Johnson, enrolled in the Army’s Career Skills Program, interns at Mission and Installation Contracting Command-Fort Leonard Wood, gaining valuable contracting experience for his post-military career.
Soldiers become eligible to participate in the Army Career Skills Program up to 180 days before their Expiration-Term of Service (ETS). The program boasts 234 established internship opportunities across diverse industries and skill sets. Furthermore, CSP encourages individual initiative, allowing service members to propose internships with organizations of their choice, anywhere in the United States. According to Harris, “A service member can identify an organization — no matter where it is — as long as someone from (that organization’s human resources department) is willing to sponsor them as an intern, they can intern with that organization.” This flexibility ensures that soldiers can pursue opportunities aligned with their specific career aspirations.
Exploring SkillBridge: Another Pathway to Civilian Skills
For soldiers who may not find a suitable fit within the CSP’s existing opportunities or prefer to explore a broader range of options, the Department of Defense offers a complementary program known as SkillBridge. Fort Leonard Wood’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) experts are well-versed in both CSP and SkillBridge, providing comprehensive support to transitioning soldiers.
“If you can’t find the right fit with CSP, the DOD’s version has even more opportunities available,” Harris explained. “There’s something for every skill set.” SkillBridge expands the horizon of available training and internship opportunities, ensuring that soldiers have access to a wide spectrum of resources to match their diverse skills and interests.
Connecting Soldiers with Employment Resources
The Transition Assistance Program at Fort Leonard Wood goes beyond federal programs, actively partnering with state-level workforce development initiatives. Their collaboration with Missouri’s workforce development experts and Heroes Connect provides soldiers with access to a vast network of veteran-friendly employers within Missouri. Heroes Connect, a dedicated database, lists over 13,000 Missouri-based employers actively seeking to hire transitioning service members.
“So, if service members want to stay in the state of Missouri, the resources are available for them,” Harris noted, highlighting the robust support system in place for soldiers seeking local employment opportunities.
Financial Support During Transition: Army Emergency Relief
Financial stability is a key concern for transitioning soldiers. Army Emergency Relief (AER) collaborates closely with TAP to provide crucial financial assistance in the form of grants. Pattie McDonald, AER specialist at Fort Leonard Wood, detailed the support available for CSP participants. Soldiers enrolling in CSP internships within a 50-mile radius of Fort Leonard Wood are eligible for a $500 grant, while those undertaking internships beyond 50 miles can receive $1,000. This financial aid helps alleviate some of the financial burdens associated with transitioning and pursuing civilian career training.
Soldier Spotlight: Sgt. 1st Class Curt Johnson’s CSP Experience
Sgt. 1st Class Curt Johnson, a Soldier with a distinguished career as an Army Engineer and small group leader at the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence NCO Academy, is currently enrolled in the Army Career Skills Program as he prepares for his retirement. Johnson chose an internship with Mission and Installation Contracting Command-Fort Leonard Wood, focusing on contracting – a field he selected due to its emphasis on continuous professional development.
Johnson’s goal is to transition into a Department of Defense civilian role after his retirement. He emphasizes the value of CSP in facilitating a smoother transition to a different work environment. “The environment, the climate, culture, it’s all different,” Johnson observed. “There’s just a different structure and way of doing things. Being able to get in here early and start learning the mannerisms, the vocabulary, has been helpful.”
He further highlights the inherent strengths that soldiers bring to civilian workplaces. “Progressing toward a better end state — that’s your military mindset,” Johnson explained. “If a corporation is looking for an individual to progress a company, an organization, a task, a goal — these are very goal-orientated people, who can achieve said task and won’t hesitate to reach out and find the best possible way to do it.”
Rick Switzer, Johnson’s colleague at MICC-Fort Leonard Wood, attests to Johnson’s positive impact, stating that he “epitomizes the can-do attitude that all senior NCOs should have.” Switzer further added, “While (Johnson) has never worked in the contracting field, he has taken on the task and excelled. He has helped the organization in many ways, bringing knowledge and thinking outside the box.”
Johnson advises fellow transitioning service members to proactively research available opportunities and to leverage the expertise of TAP specialists, who “will help you every step of the way.” His final piece of advice is to embrace new challenges: “Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone,” he encourages. “It’s probably your greatest weakness because you don’t know how far you can excel outside of it if you never step out.”
Take the Next Step in Your Civilian Career
The Army Career Skills Program and related resources offer invaluable support for soldiers transitioning to civilian life. By providing skills training, internship opportunities, financial aid, and dedicated guidance, these programs empower soldiers to embark on successful post-military careers.
For more information about the Army Career Skills Program or other transition resources at Fort Leonard Wood, service members are encouraged to contact the Transition Assistance Program at 573-596-0719. Take charge of your future and explore the pathways to civilian career success available through the Army’s commitment to its soldiers.
