As a military hub, it is important that Northeast Florida veterans and their families feel supported during their transition out of military service. The following local and national resources help veterans leverage their skills and experiences as they pursue their career and educational goals. These resources also support trailing spouses who may be searching for an employment opportunity following relocation to a new duty station.
DOD SkillBridge
The DOD SkillBridge program allows service members to work and learn in civilian career areas during their last 180 days of service. SkillBridge participants still receive their military compensation and benefits while gaining invaluable experience in the workforce. Many industry partners in Northeast Florida offer training, internships or apprenticeships for local service members. Utilize Earn Up’s internship search tool to find available DOD SkillBridge opportunities.
ACE Military Guide
Many military trainings, courses and occupations are eligible to be transferred as post-secondary credits. The American Council in Education (ACE) reviews military training and experiences and awards equivalent college credits for those experiences. The ACE Military Guide outlines more than 25,000 courses and 3,600 occupations and the corresponding credit that is available. This chart from the Florida Department of Education notes institutions in the state university system that accept ACE military credits, including the University of North Florida.
Post-9/11 GI Bill
The GI Bill offers immense benefits for veterans who want to continue their education. Those who qualify for the maximum benefit will have tuition and fees fully covered for public, in-state institutions. Additionally, veterans utilizing the GI Bill may receive a housing allowance, a stipend for supplies and books and a one-time payment to help them move. The GI Bill also applies to veterans seeking one-the-job training or apprenticeships. Furthermore, some veterans are qualified to transfer their unused GI Bill benefits to their spouse or dependent children.
Discovering Your Path
There are many great career pathways available in the region. My Next Move is a helpful resource to determine next steps. Search for careers based on your military experience or interests and learn about the job outlook, common skills and necessary training for the role. Once you’ve identified careers in industries of interest, check out EarnUp.org to learn more about the employers right here in Northeast Florida in that industry, as well as average annual earnings.
CareerSource Northeast Florida can also help you find your fit in the civilian workforce. Along with career counseling, CareerSource provides no-cost, customized services that will help you in the job application process, such as resume writing and practice interviews. CareerSource Northeast Florida also hosts regular job fairs that focus on one or multiple, making it easy to gain exposure to various companies.
Getting the Job
Hiring Our Heroes is a nationwide effort to connect veterans, service members and military spouses to industry opportunities. They provide professional development, hiring events and six- or twelve-week fellowship programs to help veterans gain civilian work experience.
Many veterans craft long-lasting careers in the field of education after leaving military service. Heroes to Education provides continuous training and connections for veterans and their spouses who seek roles as teachers, administrators or other school-related jobs.
AI Ready Veteran equips veterans with in-demand skills that prepare them for the civilian workforce. Veterans’ training in precision and decision-making easily translates into the world of Generative AI. As the technology industry and AI continue to evolve, having the ability to use and understand AI gives veterans an advantage in any career pathway.
Military Spouse Resources
Spouses or significant others often relocate alongside their military partner, resulting in frequent job changes. Resources such as Hiring Our Heroes and AI Ready Veteran provide resources for military spouses. Operation New Uniform is another great resource for veterans and spouses. This Jacksonville-based nonprofit offers classes for service members and their spouses as they transition into new careers.
The Jacksonville region is proud to be the home of a large veteran community. There is a higher concentration of veterans in our labor force than anywhere in the state of Florida. Utilizing these resources, as well as others found on the Earn Up website, will assist in these connections leading to tremendous opportunity.
