Grand Forks Air Force Base offers SkillBridge program to address region’s workforce shortage – Grand Forks Herald

GRAND FORKS — Area employers facing workforce shortages are encouraged to take advantage of the SkillBridge program offered by Grand Forks Air Force Base, according to an announcement from the base.

Each year, approximately 200,000 members of the U.S. Armed Forces, stationed at more than 140 military installations in the United States and abroad, complete their service and transition to civilian careers or higher education. About 250 people leave GFAFB each year, according to the base’s public affairs office.

Employers can take advantage of this pool of service members who are nearing the end of their service in the U.S. Air Force and who are interested in training programs provided by businesses and other organizations in the field.

SkillBridge, a program sponsored by the federal Department of Defense, is a way to provide service members with potential career opportunities and facilitate their reintegration into civilian life.

The program aims to introduce military personnel to opportunities to gain valuable civilian work experience in the “real world” through industry-specific training, apprenticeships or internships offered by businesses and other organizations.

At GFAFB, airmen who are “retiring or on a second tour in Grand Forks typically consider staying here while looking at work and housing options,” said Leah Green, GFAFB communications director.

According to GFAFB, the SkillBridge program provides industry partners with “early access to the extensive experience, skills and unmatched work ethic that military members bring to the workforce.” “Employers are designing SkillBridge programs to meet their specific workforce needs, matching those needs with the skills and abilities of highly motivated service members. … SkillBridge partners across the country can take advantage of virtual, online or distance learning and training.”

By partnering with SkillBridge, employers can meet their specific workforce needs at no cost. A service member’s salary and benefits are covered by the Department of Defense for up to the last 180 days of service. This time, military personnel may be given the option to focus solely on training on a full-time basis with approved industry partners after those in their chain of command authorize and approve it.

For employers, SkillBridge is an opportunity to access and utilize the world’s most highly skilled and motivated workforce, GFAFB said. The employer provides sought-after work experience while having the opportunity to assess the serviceman’s suitability for further employment.

Military installation commanders may provide opportunities for industry partners to use in their SkillBridge programs, and military personnel may be permitted to train at industry partner locations.

SkillBridge works like a traditional internship program, but employers must market their programs effectively. to attract separating military personnel, said Bradford Zielske, Education Officer at GFAFB.

“Several service providers have contacted me by phone regarding the lack of participants in their SkillBridge programs,” Zielske said. “In each case, the provider’s website did not provide accurate information about their SkillBridge program.

“One site referred to the provider’s headquarters being located in several states rather than the location of the actual training and potential employment opportunities in North Dakota.”

Zielske encourages local industry partners to create a dedicated SkillBridge job page that service members can easily find and post it on the SkillBridge industry and employer website.

Starting this month, the Department of Defense has moved to restructured, formalized application periods for military personnel and is hosting regular webinars to assist industry partners. Interested employers can learn more about the program and register for free webinars; they can go to

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Employers interested in participating in the program can receive assistance with the application process through webinars hosted by the Department of Defense. Registration is now open for the Information Session on the New Partner Application Process, which will take place at 2-3pm on Wednesday, October 30; another meeting is scheduled for 14-15 hours on November 13.

The fall registration period is open and runs through December 1st. The spring registration period will be available from February 1st to April 1st.

According to GFAFB, the program’s partners include not only local businesses and organizations, but also employers such as Amazon, John Deere, Lockheed Martin, UnitedHealth Group, the U.S. Veterans Administration and hundreds of others.

As of last August, the Defense Department reported that 4,700 employers were enrolled in the program nationwide, Green said. The number of local registered employers is not available, but “(we) encourage interested employers to have a SkillBridge section with the exact location in the employment section of their website.”