SkillBridge Program Guide: How to Get Approved for a Civilian Internship
DoD SkillBridge lets service members work civilian internships during their last 180 days of service — full pay, full benefits. Here's how to get approved.
SkillBridge lets active-duty service members work a full-time civilian internship during their final 180 days of service — you keep military pay and benefits while the employer trains you.
Eligibility
- Within 180 days of separation.
- Command approval (this is the hard part).
- Honorable service track.
How to get command approval
- Bring a completed DD-2648 and the DoD SkillBridge MOA on the employer's letterhead.
- Show that your billet can be back-filled.
- Frame it as a retention win for the service — most SkillBridge grads become recruiting stories.
Where to find opportunities
The official SkillBridge locator has 3,000+ approved employers, but the highest-quality slots come from direct outreach to companies you actually want to work for.
The conversion rate
Over 90% of SkillBridge interns receive a full-time offer from their host company. Treat it like a 12-week interview.
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