Every day at Fort Leonard Wood, dedicated soldiers and civilians work tirelessly to shape civilians into soldiers, the backbone of the U.S. Army. As these new recruits embark on their military journeys, another group of soldiers is preparing to transition back to civilian life, concluding their dedicated service. This transition, while a new chapter, can be daunting for many. Recognizing this, the Army offers a robust support system in the form of the Career Skills Program (CSP), designed to equip these transitioning soldiers with valuable skills and bridge them to fulfilling civilian careers.
The Army’s Career Skills Program (CSP) stands as a beacon of opportunity for soldiers preparing to leave service. This program provides a pathway for transitioning service members to engage in crucial employment-focused training, encompassing on-the-job experiences, pre-apprenticeships, and internships. These opportunities are carefully selected to align with high-demand and highly-skilled civilian sectors, significantly increasing the likelihood of successful employment post-military service. Crucially, soldiers participating in the CSP continue to receive their regular military pay and allowances, ensuring financial stability during this pivotal period. This vital information was shared by Walt Harris, Transition Services Manager at Fort Leonard Wood’s Transition Assistance Program.
“The Career Skills Program allows soldiers to intern with industries across the nation, enhancing their prospects of securing employment and providing for their families after their Army service concludes,” Harris explained. He proudly noted the program’s impressive success rate, with 85 percent of Fort Leonard Wood service members completing the CSP successfully transitioning into civilian jobs. A key aspect of the CSP is that while soldiers gain invaluable industry experience, they do not receive direct compensation from the host organization. Instead, the focus remains on skill development, with the program requesting industry partners to impart job-relevant skills to the transitioning soldiers.
Soldiers can begin their CSP journey up to 180 days before their Expiration-Term of Service (ETS). Currently, the program boasts 234 established internship opportunities spanning diverse career fields and skill sets. However, the CSP is also flexible and encourages soldiers to propose individual internship ideas. “If a soldier identifies a specific organization they wish to intern with, regardless of location, and the organization’s HR department is willing to sponsor them, that internship can be facilitated,” Harris clarified.
For soldiers who may not find a suitable program within the CSP’s existing offerings, or who wish to explore a wider array of options, the Department of Defense (DOD) provides an alternative: SkillBridge. Fort Leonard Wood’s TAP experts are readily available to assist soldiers in navigating and accessing SkillBridge opportunities. “If the CSP doesn’t have the perfect fit, the DOD’s SkillBridge program expands the possibilities even further,” Harris stated. “There truly is something for every skill set imaginable within these programs.”
To further bolster employment prospects, the TAP team collaborates with workforce development specialists from the state of Missouri. This partnership includes leveraging resources like Heroes Connect, a Missouri-based database connecting transitioning service members with over 13,000 veteran-friendly employers actively seeking to hire individuals with military backgrounds. “For service members aiming to remain in Missouri, ample resources are readily available to support their job search,” Harris assured.
Financial concerns are a common worry for transitioning soldiers. To address this, Army Emergency Relief (AER) works closely with TAP, offering financial aid in the form of grants. Pattie McDonald, an AER specialist at Fort Leonard Wood, highlighted this support: Soldiers enrolling in a CSP internship within 50 miles of Fort Leonard Wood are eligible for a $500 grant, while those undertaking internships exceeding 50 miles receive $1,000.
Sgt. 1st Class Curt Johnson, an Army engineer transitioning via the Career Skills Program, interns at Fort Leonard Wood contracting, gaining civilian workforce skills.
Sgt. 1st Class Curt Johnson, a soldier currently benefiting from the CSP at Fort Leonard Wood, exemplifies the program’s positive impact. Preparing for his retirement in May, Johnson, originally an Army Engineer and most recently a small group leader at the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence NCO Academy, is interning with Mission and Installation Contracting Command-Fort Leonard Wood (MICC-FLW). MICC-FLW provides crucial contracting solutions for the installation. Johnson chose contracting due to its emphasis on continuous professional development and learning opportunities.
Johnson’s aspirations include becoming a DOD civilian employee after his retirement. He emphasizes a significant advantage of the CSP: a gradual and supportive integration into a different professional environment. “The civilian work environment, culture, and communication styles are distinct from the military,” Johnson observed. “The CSP’s early immersion allows for valuable acclimatization, learning professional norms and civilian workplace vocabulary.”
He further pointed out that the inherent goal-oriented nature of military personnel makes them highly desirable candidates in the civilian workforce. “The military mindset is fundamentally about achieving objectives and striving for improvement,” Johnson stated. “Corporations seeking individuals who are driven, results-oriented, and capable of strategic problem-solving will find these qualities readily present in transitioning service members.”
Rick Switzer, one of Johnson’s colleagues at MICC-Fort Leonard Wood, praised Johnson’s contributions, stating he “epitomizes the proactive, can-do attitude characteristic of effective senior NCOs.” Switzer added, “Despite lacking prior contracting experience, Johnson has enthusiastically embraced the challenges and excelled. His fresh perspectives and knowledge have already proven invaluable to our organization.”
Johnson’s advice to fellow transitioning service members is to proactively research available opportunities and leverage the expertise of TAP specialists, who “will provide comprehensive support throughout the entire process.” He concluded with a powerful message: “Don’t hesitate to step outside your comfort zone. Your perceived limitations may be your biggest obstacle to discovering your full potential in the civilian world.”
For soldiers seeking further information about the Career Skills Program or other transition resources at Fort Leonard Wood, they are encouraged to contact 573-596-0719.
