The transition from military service to civilian life is a significant turning point for soldiers. Recognizing the challenges inherent in this shift, the U.S. Army established the Career Skills Program (CSP) in 2015. This initiative allows retiring and separating soldiers to engage in valuable skills training during their transition period, enhancing their prospects for civilian employment. Focusing on crucial areas like pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, internships, and job shadowing, CSP provides soldiers with practical experience during their final 180 days of service.
Retired Lt. Gen. Raymond Mason, Director of Army Emergency Relief (AER), highlights the realities of military-to-civilian transition. “Readjusting to civilian life after years in the military can be difficult,” he stated, citing statistics that 26% of all veterans and 47% of post-9/11 veterans report such difficulties. Despite these hurdles, the Army is committed to supporting soldiers throughout their careers and into their post-service lives. AER proudly supports this mission, aiming to ease the transition process for service members as they embark on new career paths with various Army Career Skills Program Companies.
Soldiers participating in an Army Career Skills Program training session, preparing for civilian careers with company partnerships and Army Emergency Relief support.
AER’s Commitment to Soldier Transition
Demonstrating its deep commitment to soldiers, Army Emergency Relief has allocated $3 million in grants specifically to support soldiers participating in the Career Skills Program. This financial support underscores AER’s dedication to the Army’s top priority: its people. Effective December 1, 2021, AER authorized assistance for soldiers involved in the U.S. Army’s Career Skills Program across all global installations.
The assistance provided by AER is structured to meet varied needs. Grants are available up to $500 for soldiers participating in local CSPs within the continental United States (CONUS). For those attending non-local CONUS CSPs, the grant amount increases to $1,000. Soldiers traveling from outside CONUS to participate in a CONUS CSP are eligible for grants up to $1,500.
These AER grants are designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with CSP participation. Eligible expenses covered by AER assistance include:
- Travel costs, encompassing airfare and fuel
- Essential uniforms or business attire
- Tools and necessary CSP training supplies
- Lodging expenses
- Utility costs
- Food provisions
“As the Army’s official nonprofit, we are honored to support Soldiers as they transition to civilian careers,” Mason affirmed. He emphasized the significant impact of this commitment, noting that “our new CSP commitment can assist over 3,000 Soldiers in pursuing their next career steps, often in collaboration with army career skills program companies.” These companies play a vital role by offering training and employment opportunities that align with the skills soldiers gain through the CSP.
Applying for AER Support
Soldiers seeking to apply for a grant or desiring more information about AER support should reach out to their local AER officer. In situations where a local office is inaccessible or located more than 50 miles away, soldiers can contact AER headquarters directly at [email protected].
For soldiers stationed at U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii, the Army Emergency Relief Office is situated within Army Community Service, Bldg. 690, 310 Brannon Rd., Schofield Barracks. They can be contacted at (808) 787-4227 for direct assistance and guidance on leveraging the Career Skills Program and available financial aid to facilitate a smooth transition into civilian employment with the support of army career skills program companies.
