Internships, Apprenticeships, and Rotational Programs

Some larger organizations, recognizing your lack of experience in these corporate functions, have designed internships or rotational programs that allow you exposure to several functions over the course of the program. This allows you to experience these functions first-hand and decide about your proper fit. Rotational programs tend to be geared towards Junior Military Officers (JMOs) or Non-Comissioned Officers (NCOs) with at least a Bachelor’s degree. Here are some examples of each (this is certainly not a complete list; please inquire as to whether a targeted employer may have a similar program):
- Internships
  - JP Morgan Chase Military & Veteran internships: http://careers.jpmorgan.com/careers/programs/military-us
  - Goldman Sachs Veterans Integration Program: http://www.goldmansachs.com/careers/experienced-professionals/veterans-integration-program/index.html
- Rotational programs
  - Bank of America JMOLP: http://militarytransition.bankofamerica.com/who-we-are/supporting-our-veterans
  - General Electric JOLP: http://www.ge.com/careers/culture/us-veterans/junior-officer-leadership-program
  - Kaiser Permanente JMO: http://kpcareers.org/article/military
Consider an apprenticeship. An apprenticeship combines on-the-job training and specialized classes to help workers enter highly skilled occupations. Workers earn a salary while gaining valuable skills. You can search for available apprenticeships here: https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/training/find-apprenticeships.aspx. The Federal government sponsors several:
- Post-9/11 GI Bill Apprenticeship Program (http://www.doleta.gov/oa/veterans.cfm), where eligible veterans receive a monthly housing allowance in addition to their apprenticeship wages
- The US Chamber of Commerce Foundation Fellows program, also known as the Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program (https://www.hiringourheroes.org/fellowships/)
- Army Career Skills Program, whose participating companies are unique to each post. Contact your local SFL-TAP center.
- VA benefits that cover costs associated with On-the-Job Training and Apprenticeships (https://www.vets.gov/education/work-learn/job-and-apprenticeship/)