What is SkillBridge?
SkillBridge provides transitioning service members with civilian job training, internships, and apprenticeships during their last 180 days of service. You work with approved industry partners while continuing to receive full military pay and benefits.
The program is authorized under 10 U.S.C. § 1143(e) and implemented through DoDI 1322.29. The FY2025 NDAA made the program mandatory for all military departments to offer.
SkillBridge is not an entitlement — commander approval is required. Approximately 25,000 service members participate annually through 6,344+ partner organizations.
Eligibility Requirements
Duration Limits by Branch & Rank
Maximum program days. All branches now use rank-based tiers.
| Rank Group | Air Force | Space Force | Army | Navy | Marines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 to E-5 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 180 | 120 |
| E-6 to E-7 | 90 | 120 | 90 | 120 | 90 |
| E-8 | 60* | 120 | 60 | 120 | 90 |
| E-9 | 60 | 90 | 60 | 120 | 90 |
| O-1 to O-3 | 120 | 120 | 90 | 120 | 90 |
| O-4 | 90 | 120 | 60 | 120 | 90 |
| O-5 | 60 | 90 | 60 | 90† | 90† |
| O-6+ | ETP‡ | 90 | 60 | 90† | 90† |
* AF E-8 grouped with E-9 under Category III (60 days max)
† Navy O-5+ and Marines O-5+ require General Officer / OPNAV N13 approval; cannot result in a gapped billet
‡ AF O-6 (Colonel): Not eligible without an approved Exception to Policy (ETP) for rare circumstances (AFI 36-2671)
What You Continue to Receive
What You Cannot Receive
Per DoDI 1322.29, you are not eligible to receive wages, stipends, or any other financial compensation from the SkillBridge employer during participation. You are essentially working for the employer at no cost to them — which is why companies participate.
Find Approved Programs
Browse 9,200+ positions through 6,344 partner organizations. Search by location, industry, and keyword.
Open SkillBridge Program FinderOfficial DoD SkillBridge portal — skillbridge.osd.mil
Information on this page reflects current SkillBridge policies as of April 2026. Branch-specific policies change frequently. Always verify eligibility, duration limits, and approval requirements with your unit's Education & Training Office, TAP counselor, or official branch-specific resources before applying.
About this entitlement
What you need to know — straight from the regulation
What SkillBridge is
The DoD SkillBridge program is authorized under 10 U.S.C. § 1143(e) and allows transitioning service members in the last 180 days of service to participate in civilian job training, apprenticeship, or internship opportunities while remaining on active duty, drawing full military pay and benefits. The umbrella policy is DoDI 1322.29; each service implements the program under its own instruction.
10 U.S.C. § 1143(e) · DoDI 1322.29 · DoD SkillBridge program
Service-specific implementation
Eligibility, application procedures, duration limits, and approval chains vary by service. Air Force and Space Force SkillBridge are administered under AFI 36-2671 and SPFI 36-2672; Army under AR 600-81; Navy under NAVADMIN 064/23; Marine Corps under MARADMIN 280/24; the Coast Guard runs its own program. Members must meet the service-specific eligibility and have commander approval; participation does not change a member's separation date or final pay entitlements.
AFI 36-2671 · SPFI 36-2672 · AR 600-81 · NAVADMIN 064/23 · MARADMIN 280/24
What SkillBridge does not change
During SkillBridge the service member remains on active duty. Pay, allowances, and benefits continue as usual. The SkillBridge employer cannot pay the service member and does not create an employment relationship. Per GAO-24-107352 (GAO review of the program), eligibility and approval are tightly governed at the branch level; members should confirm local requirements before applying.
GAO-24-107352 · DoDI 1322.29 · branch instructions
Source & references
- Primary source
- 10 U.S.C. § 1143(e); DoDI 1322.29; GAO-24-107352; branch instructions — view official publication
- Regulatory reference
- 10 U.S.C. § 1143(e) · DoDI 1322.29 · AFI 36-2671 · SPFI 36-2672 · AR 600-81 · NAVADMIN 064/23 · MARADMIN 280/24
- Effective date
- Policies current as of APR 2026
- DoD SkillBridge program site
- https://skillbridge.osd.mil/
Military Toolkit is not affiliated with the Department of Defense, DFAS, DTMO, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or any government agency. Rates and rules on this page are pulled directly from the publications cited above. Always verify with your finance office, TMO, or the official rate page before making financial or planning decisions.