Leaving the Army and entering civilian life is a significant change. For many, the structured environment of military service shifts to the often less defined world of civilian employment. This transition, while full of potential, can feel daunting. Fortunately, the U.S. Army offers a robust support system to help soldiers navigate this crucial period: the Army Career Skills Program (CSP). This program is designed to equip transitioning service members with valuable skills and experience, paving the way for successful civilian careers.
The Army Career Skills Program (CSP) is a proactive initiative that provides soldiers with opportunities to gain civilian work experience through employment skills training, on-the-job training, pre-apprenticeships, and internships. These opportunities are available across various high-demand and skilled industries. A significant advantage of the CSP is that soldiers participate while still receiving their regular Army pay and allowances. Walt Harris, Transition Services Manager at Fort Leonard Wood’s Transition Assistance Program, highlights 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.” The success rate speaks for itself, with an impressive 85 percent hire rate for service members completing the CSP at Fort Leonard Wood. Importantly, while participating in the CSP, soldiers cannot receive financial compensation from the host organization, ensuring the focus remains on skill development and experience.
Sgt. 1st Class Curt Johnson, a transitioning Army NCO, engages in an internship at Fort Leonard Wood as part of the Army Career Skills Program, illustrating military personnel career transition and skill development.
Soldiers become eligible for the Career Skills Program up to 180 days before their Expiration-Term of Service (ETS). Currently, the program boasts 234 established internship opportunities with a diverse range of employers and industries. However, the CSP is also flexible and encourages soldiers to propose individual internship opportunities. 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 that align with their specific career goals and interests, regardless of location or industry.
For soldiers who don’t find a suitable fit within the CSP’s existing options or prefer not to arrange their own internship, the Department of Defense offers a complementary program called SkillBridge. Fort Leonard Wood’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) experts are also proficient in assisting soldiers with SkillBridge applications and finding opportunities. Harris explains, “If you can’t find the right fit with CSP, the DOD’s version has even more opportunities available. There’s something for every skill set.” This dual-program approach ensures a wide spectrum of options for transitioning service members, catering to diverse skills and career aspirations within the Army Career Transition Program framework.
Recognizing the importance of local employment opportunities, the TAP team collaborates with workforce development specialists from the state of Missouri. This partnership provides access to resources like Heroes Connect, a database featuring over 13,000 veteran-friendly employers in Missouri 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 emphasizes. This local focus is invaluable for soldiers wishing to remain in Missouri post-service, connecting them directly with regional employment opportunities.
Financial concerns are often at the forefront of a transitioning soldier’s mind. To alleviate these worries, Army Emergency Relief (AER) works in conjunction with TAP to offer financial aid in the form of grants. Pattie McDonald, an AER specialist at Fort Leonard Wood, details the support available: Army personnel enrolling in CSP can receive a $500 grant for internships within 50 miles of Fort Leonard Wood and a $1,000 grant for internships exceeding that distance. This financial assistance can significantly ease the logistical and financial burdens associated with participating in an internship during the transition period.
Sgt. 1st Class Curt Johnson, a soldier nearing retirement after serving as an Army Engineer and small group leader at the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence NCO Academy, exemplifies the benefits of the CSP. Currently interning with Mission and Installation Contracting Command-Fort Leonard Wood, Johnson chose contracting due to its emphasis on continuous learning and professional development. His aim is to transition into a Department of Defense civilian role after retirement. Johnson points out a key advantage of the CSP: “Being able to get in here early and start learning the mannerisms, the vocabulary, has been helpful.” The program provides a valuable acclimatization period, bridging the gap between military and civilian workplace cultures.
Johnson further emphasizes the inherent strengths that service members bring to civilian employers: “Progressing toward a better end state — that’s your military mindset… 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.” This goal-oriented approach, ingrained in military training, translates directly into valuable assets for civilian organizations. Rick Switzer, Johnson’s colleague at MICC-Fort Leonard Wood, affirms this, stating Johnson “epitomizes the can-do attitude that all senior NCOs should have” and has “helped the organization in many ways, bringing knowledge and thinking outside the box.”
Johnson’s advice to fellow transitioning service members is clear and encouraging: “Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. It’s probably your greatest weakness because you don’t know how far you can excel outside of it if you never step out.” He also recommends researching available opportunities and leveraging the expertise of TAP specialists, who “will help you every step of the way.”
For soldiers at Fort Leonard Wood seeking more information about the Career Skills Program and other transition resources, they can contact 573-596-0719. The Army Career Transition Program, including CSP and SkillBridge, represents a significant investment in the future success of its soldiers, ensuring a smoother and more prosperous transition to civilian life.
