Pensacola and Veterans Florida Expand SkillBridge Partnership
The City of Pensacola, Florida, has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with Veterans Florida to expand their SkillBridge partnership. The agreement is designed to create more opportunities for military servicemembers to gain civilian workforce experience as they transition to private-sector careers.
- The previous SkillBridge agreement was limited to placements within the City of Pensacola Police Department; the new memorandum opens opportunities across all city departments. - The Department of Defense SkillBridge program allows service members to use their last 180 days of service to train with an approved civilian employer, all while still receiving their military pay and benefits. - Veterans Florida is a state-created nonprofit that administers the program for the city; Florida was the first state in the nation to establish a statewide SkillBridge initiative in 2021. - Around 5,200 service members transition from the military in Northwest Florida annually, with data suggesting nearly half, or about 2,250 veterans, remain in the region, creating a significant talent pipeline. - The transitioning military population in the region is often highly experienced, with nearly 59% holding a bachelor's degree or higher and a majority being between the ages of 35 and 64. - Nationally, participation in the SkillBridge program has grown substantially, from approximately 4,600 service members in 2019 to more than 22,500 in fiscal year 2022. - The Department of Defense is the largest economic driver in the Greater Pensacola area, contributing over $7.8 billion in annual economic impact. - The Pensacola metro area is home to more than 35,000 military retirees, which is the second-largest concentration in the United States.
