SkillBridge Smart Filter

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation program. 12-week fellowship placing service members with Fortune 500 partners. Largest and best-known multi-employer SkillBridge program.

The 800-pound gorilla. Apply 6+ months out — cohorts fill fast. They pair you with one specific employer; the match matters more than the brand-name.

Syracuse University Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Industry-specific certifications + employer placement. Free.

Best for credential-stacking — pick a certification track (PMP, SHRM, IT Security+, etc.) and use the program to get certified before you separate.

Premier transition program for U.S. Special Operations community. Executive-style cohorts at top-tier MBA program locations.

SOF only. Don't apply if you're not eligible — they'll spot it. If you are eligible, THF is widely considered the gold-standard SOF transition program.

Intensive 17-week tech training program. Tracks include Software Development, Cloud Application Development, Server & Cloud Administration, and Cybersecurity Administration.

The benchmark tech program. Microsoft hire rate is real but not guaranteed — you're interviewing with partner companies too. Get your security+ before applying.

Amazon offers dozens of SkillBridge programs across AWS, retail operations, logistics, security, and corporate. Each has its own duration and requirements.

AWS programs (especially AWS Solutions Architect) are highly sought; retail logistics roles are easier to enter. Pick the program that matches the team you want to land at — internal hiring is teams-based.

Internships across Google's engineering, product, customer engineering, and operations roles. Highly selective.

Google interviews are Google interviews — they're not bending the bar for veterans. If you don't have CS coursework or self-study, target the non-engineering Google paths first.

Free community + free training resources + employer connections specifically for veterans entering cybersecurity. Not a single program — a network.

Not a traditional SkillBridge placement, but the Slack and mentor network is one of the most useful free resources for vets transitioning into cyber. Join 6+ months before separation.

SANS-led training program for veterans entering cyber. Includes paid GIAC certification exams. Multiple tracks (defense, offensive, cloud, ICS).

Pricey value if you can land it — SANS courses run $7,000+ apiece. This program comps that. Apply 9+ months out; cohorts are competitive.

Multiple Boeing SkillBridge programs across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, IT, and program management.

Boeing's 737 MAX/Starliner reputation has affected morale internally — ask your future team about their specific program before accepting.

Engineering, program management, cyber, and operations roles across Lockheed's major business areas (Aeronautics, RMS, Space, MFC).

The F-35 program is the biggest hiring engine. If you have a clearance, this is one of the smoothest active-clearance-to-defense-contractor transitions.

GD operates as multiple business units (GDIT, Mission Systems, Land Systems, Electric Boat, NASSCO). Each has its own SkillBridge process.

Apply to the specific GD business unit you want — they hire independently. GDIT is the biggest for cleared IT roles; Electric Boat for submarine engineering.

Engineering, intelligence analysis, cyber, health analytics, and federal civilian services roles.

Big intel community contractor. If you're cleared (TS/SCI or higher) and want to stay in the IC orbit, Leidos is one of the easiest landings.

Management and tech consulting with heavy government contract presence. SkillBridge fellows often roll into cleared client engagements.

Consulting culture is a real adjustment — billable hours, client politics, up-or-out. Great learning curve and pay, but it isn't the military.

Financial services exclusively for the military community. Multiple SkillBridge tracks in claims, banking, IT, and corporate.

High vet density inside USAA means easier cultural transition. Pay isn't Wall Street — it's Texas finance — but the work-life balance is real.

8-week SkillBridge fellowship in NYC. Highly selective. Targets veterans pivoting into finance, particularly investment banking or markets.

GPA, GMAT, and a clear pivot story matter. If you're an O-3 leaving 5 years AD with a state-school degree, your odds are real but you need to prep aggressively.

Network engineering, cybersecurity, and sales engineering tracks. Includes CCNA/CCNP certification pathway.

If you can get CCNA before SkillBridge starts, you walk in already employable. Without it, the program teaches it — but slower.

Network operations, cybersecurity, technical sales, and corporate functions.

Strong landing for 25-series Army or 33xxx Navy IT/comms ratings. The post-Time-Warner internal reorgs are still echoing — ask about org stability.

Store leadership, supply chain, IT, and merchandising roles. Walmart hires more veterans than any private-sector employer.

Walmart store manager pay is genuinely six figures and they hire a TON of veterans into that pipeline. Corporate roles compete with Amazon/Target — pay-wise they're comparable.

Direct-entry apprenticeship into union construction trades (electrical, plumbing, ironworking, operating engineers, etc.).

Underrated path. Union apprenticeships are 4-5 years but lead to $80-150K journeyman wages with pensions. Real skill, real pay, no white-collar BS.

Multiple SkillBridge tracks across nursing, technician roles, healthcare administration, and clinical support.

If you're a 68W with field experience, HCA will treat your skills as real. Civilian RN licensing is still its own path — SkillBridge can be a bridge into it but isn't the licensure itself.

Pilots, maintenance, operations, ramp, and corporate roles.

Delta has been the most aggressive about hiring military pilots. The downstream contract is real money — but you're a probationary FO for 12-18 months at lower-than-expected starting pay.

Engineering, operations, supply chain, and corporate functions. Strong fit for technical military backgrounds.

Nuclear Navy MMs and ETs are gold here — your reactor background translates directly to refinery operations.

Forward-deployed engineering, deployment strategy, and analyst roles. Heavy DoD/IC client work — veterans get pulled into mission-aligned positions.

Palantir hires veterans aggressively because the client work IS veteran work. TS/SCI helps a lot.

Engineering, infrastructure, technical program management, and corporate roles at Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp).

Meta's veteran-hiring has gone in and out of focus through tech cycles. Currently active but quieter than peak.

Engineering, operations, retail leadership, and corporate functions. Smaller SkillBridge footprint than other big-tech but real.

Apple's veteran pipeline is small but the conversion-to-FTE rates are strong when invited. Don't expect a Hiring Our Heroes-style structured program.

Salesforce CRM training + certification track for veterans. Heavy emphasis on admin/dev certifications.

Free Salesforce certifications are real currency in the broader tech ecosystem. Many non-tech vets pivot into 6-figure admin/consulting roles via this path.

Multiple SkillBridge programs across investment banking, technology, retail banking, and operations.

JPM is one of the more aggressive vet hirers. The operations and tech tracks are more accessible than investment banking.

Banking, IT, member services, and corporate roles. Largest credit union in the US — heavy military-community focus.

NFCU exists for the military community — culture is highly veteran-friendly. Pay is below big-bank averages but work-life balance is real.

Operations, supply chain, logistics, IT, and aircraft maintenance roles.

FedEx hires aviation maintenance vets heavily; logistics MOSs (88M, 88H, Navy LS) translate well to ground ops.

Operations leadership, logistics, IT, and supply chain roles.

UPS operations-supervisor pipeline pays well and treats vets as natural hires. Driving slots are unionized (Teamsters) with strong pay/benefits.

Pilots, mechanics, dispatch, operations.

AA pilot hiring tracks demand cycles — currently strong. Probationary FO pay is lower than expected; long-term compensation is excellent.

Pilots, mechanics, operations, corporate.

United's Aviate program is a structured pilot pathway including for non-military aviators. Military pilots get expedited consideration.

Engineering, program management, manufacturing, and corporate roles. Includes Pratt & Whitney engine programs.

Patriot/AMRAAM program work is heavily veteran. If you have a clearance and missile-defense background, this is a smooth landing.

Engineering, cyber, intelligence systems, and corporate functions.

B-21 and ICBM program work is hiring aggressively. Cyber roles compete with the rest of the defense sector for cleared talent.

Healthcare admin, IT, operations, and clinical roles across UHG (Optum, UnitedHealthcare).

UHG is one of the largest US employers — veteran-hiring is at scale. Medics, 70-series Army HHC vets, and Navy hospital corpsmen all translate.