Top 10 Military Internship Programs

One of the main struggles Veterans face after leaving the military is translating their experience from military to civilian terms. The way to overcome this problem is with military veteran internships. Internships are proven recruiting tools, giving veterans the ability to adapt to the corporate environment.

Internships come in different sizes and structures. They can run from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the company and the nature of the job. They are paid or unpaid and may extend educational credits or resume experience.

Many internships are created for upskilling and reskilling purposes. Internships are usually in high demand and today we’ll explore several internship programs for veterans. Some of them you may know and others you may not have known about. First, let’s talk about the instruction that makes having an internship possible.

Job Training, Employment Skills Training, Apprenticeships, and Internships (JTEST-AI) for Eligible Service Members

DoDI 1322.29 or JTEST-AI allows you to gain valuable experience and make connections while on active duty. The policy states:

“An eligible Service member must complete at least 180 continuous days on active duty and is expected to be discharged or released from active duty, within 180 days of starting the JTEST-AI.”

Review the detailed instruction, and you’ll notice that any service member within 180 days of leaving the military can seek a full-time, unpaid internship with an employer for up to 6 months.

Now, let’s get to what you’ve been waiting for, the veteran internship programs!

1. Operation Warfighter Program (OWF)

Operation Warfighter (OWF) is a temporary assignment/internship program developed by the Department of Defense for service members convalescing at military treatment facilities. The program provides recuperating service members with meaningful activity outside of the hospital environment and offers a formal transition back to the military or civilian workforce.

This program is an excellent opportunity for service members on medical hold to build their resumes, explore employment interests, develop job skills, and gain valuable federal government work experience at one of 24 federal agencies that will help them prepare for their adjustment to the workplace. This internship program matches qualified wounded, ill, and injured service members with federal internships to gain valuable work experience during their recovery and rehabilitation. Participants continue to receive their active-duty salary throughout their training.

Participants must be American citizens on active duty in the military (including the National Guard and Reserves). They must also fulfill the security clearance requirements set by the office where they intend to work.

To be considered for an internship through the Operation Warfighter Initiative, please submit your resume and a brief description of the type of temporary assignment you are seeking to owf@hq.dhs.gov.

For more information on other internships for wounded warriors, check out the Defense Intelligence Agency’s career page.

2. Department of Veterans Affairs, Non-Paid Work Experience Program (NPWE)

Veterans Affairs (VA) Non-Paid Work Experience (NPWE) internships provide eligible veterans and service members with at least 20% service-connected disabilities who independently apply for and participate in the VA’s Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program.

Program participants receive a small monthly stipend from the VA. The VR&E program provides 48 months of educational entitlement to participating veterans, enabling most NPWE veterans to complete their bachelor’s or master’s degrees, which aids their transition into federal agencies.

NPWE participants work full-time schedules for 6 to 12 months after completing the Background Investigation (BI) process. They receive provisional security clearances, depending on the level of access required for these internships.

Temporary clearances can take three months or fewer to complete. A full BI is initiated once the provisional clearance has been granted and can take an additional three to four months to complete. If the internship requires a full BI, program offices must wait for its completion before the internship can begin.

3. LA County Veterans’ Internship Program (VIP)

The LA County Veterans’ Internship Program provides paid internships for qualified Veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States. The internships afford veterans with on‑the‑job training and work experience to compete for permanent positions within the county effectively. No experience is required to participate in this program.

Depending on the job, Veterans can be hired for a 12 to 24-month on‑the‑job training program in the specialties below:

• Administrative Support
• Crafts Support
• Heavy Maintenance and Operational Support
• Information Technology Support
• Office and Clerical Support
• Technical Support

Eligible VIP applicants include Veterans who have been discharged or released from the Armed Forces of the United States under honorable conditions. Discharged veterans must possess a valid DD214 Certificate of Discharge or Separation from Active Duty or other official documents issued by the branch of service.

For further information, please contact Los Angeles County at 213-974-2382 or via email at veteraninterns@hr.lacounty.gov.

4. Wells Fargo Veteran Employment Transition (VET) Program

Wells Fargo ensures military Veterans have a community to support their transition from the military to a career in finance with its Veteran Employment Transition Program. As part of the 8+ week Spring or Fall internship program, you will gain access to unique training, networking, and professional development opportunities that will help you develop a deeper understanding of the professional abilities needed to be successful as a Wells Fargo employee.

The VET program is offered twice a year, with the Spring class starting early April and the Fall class in September. Each cohort begins with an intensive virtual training and orientation session led by professional instructors and senior Wells Fargo team members.

You’ll network with your peers and Wells Fargo leaders while you develop your skills and knowledge of the company’s financial products and services. Then, you’ll join a team where you will receive on-the-job training, mentorship, and development opportunities that include:

• On-the-job experience: Working as part of a team within your business group, you will learn how to perform the daily tasks and see how our actions serve our internal and external customers as a contributor, listener, and observer.

• Professional support: You will be matched with a mentor who will be your resource and coach, available to answer your questions, help you through challenging situations, and give you feedback throughout the internship.

• Leadership insights: Wells Fargo’s leaders will provide insight on trends across the industry, our expectations, and how to make the most of your internship experience.

• Networking: Whether engaged in a veteran cohort experience, working with your team, or learning about strategies from managers, the networking potential through your experience is excellent.

Wells Fargo’s internship is remote, allowing veterans to participate across the United States. All ranks are encouraged to apply as we are hiring at multiple levels.

Applicants for this program must be off active duty no later than April (except terminal leave and/or traditional Guard or Reserve status, which are eligible). If you are chosen as a final candidate, you must attend the virtual final round hiring event to be considered for the program.

For more information, please visit Wells Fargo’s military page.

5. Goldman Sachs Veterans Integration Programs

Goldman Sachs offers two veterans integration programs.

The EMEA Veterans Integration program at Goldman Sachs offers an 8-week paid internship to veterans interested in financial markets. Eligibility requirements include the following:

• Minimum of one-year military service
• Must have exited full-time military service by 7th February 2022
• Must not have entered full time paid employment since leaving the service
• Must be eligible to work in the UK
• Interest in financial markets
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

The America’s Veterans Integration Program (VIP) provides candidates the opportunity to hone their skills, connect with mentors, and discover the range of options available to them as a transitioning veteran. This one-year, specially curated experience will contain two core stages – professional development and skill enhancement. Eligibility requirements include:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum one year of military service
• Military separation date between January 2019 and December 2022
• Open to both enlisted and commissioned personnel

6. Oracle Veteran Internship Program

Oracle has developed a comprehensive paid internship program that provides IT, technical consulting, finance, HR, sales, and marketing training. This quarter-long internship allows Veterans to transition into life at Oracle while gaining hands-on training.

The internship is a 40 hour per week position paying $25 per hour. Preferred education and experience include:

• BA/BS degree and/or 1-2 years relevant military, technical, or business experience
• Minimum 1-2 years successful leadership experience managing virtual teams
• Technical knowledge, quality of work, high motivation, and proven interpersonal/cross disciplines and troubleshooting skills

Ready to intern at Oracle? Click here to apply now at Oracle.

7. Hiring Our Heroes Internships

Hiring Our Heroes’ internship programs range from six to twelve weeks and connect service members, military spouses, and military caregivers with companies that provide experiential opportunities with the goal of hiring. Programs include:

• Corporate Fellowship Program
• Military Spouse Fellowship Program
• Caregiver Fellowship Program

The corporate fellowship program includes an innovative 12-week program that provides transitioning service members with professional training and hands-on experience in the civilian workforce. The professional development at their participating corporations with the other cohort fellows prepares candidates for a smooth transition into meaningful civilian careers. 90% of fellows receive a job offer after/during their fellowships.

8. Hire Military

HireMilitary is a cloud-based platform that supports Service Members throughout the life cycle. By partnering with trusted non-profits, sharing information, and leveraging technology, they can connect service members of all ranks with employers for:

• DoD SkillBridge (Career Skills Program) training or internships
• Employment opportunities via the job board and mobile apps
• Tech-enabled hiring events held on military bases

You can get an internship for up to 6 months through this platform. Are you interested in internships from HireMilitary? Click here to visit the HireMilitary internship job board to see a wide range of internships across the nation!

9. Defense Ventures Programs at SHIFT

SHIFT is a San Francisco-based startup focused on career advancement for military talent. It consists of an 8-week or 12-week program with valuable professional networks and an inside track on job offers at their host companies.

The Defense Ventures Program at Shift lasts for 8 weeks and runs several industry immersion programs for the US military, designed for the DoD’s emerging innovators. Active Duty, Reserve, Guard, and DoD Civilians are encouraged to apply. Visit shift.org/dvp

The Trusted Capital Innovation Tours Program is a 12-month training where participants gain first-hand knowledge of emerging technology companies developing critical capabilities for defense applications. Placement within these key financial nodes is intended to provide a bridge between the DoD and the venture capital and private equity industries, fostering greater trust and cooperation during early-stage dual-use technology innovation.

For more information and to apply for SHIFTs programs, visit shift.org.

10. Discovery, Inc. Virtual Veterans Internship Program

Discovery’s Veterans Internship Program is designed to support an education curriculum, focusing on developing practical experience. Eligible applicants must be US military veterans who have been discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States. They must also be actively enrolled in a college or university program with a 3.0+ GPA. Must have legal right to work in the United States.

This paid, 12-week internship opportunity is designed to provide veterans with firsthand experience working in a global media company, translating the valuable skills they developed in the military to support a successful and rewarding career. Discovery’s internationally recognized intern program attracts the country’s boldest and brightest students for a paid, for-credit, real-world work experience in the entertainment and media industry.

Veterans will gain valuable industry knowledge through work shadowing, networking opportunities, and hands-on training through this program. This program hopes to serve as a vital source for building a qualified candidate pool to fill permanent positions at Discovery and across the entertainment industry.

Opportunities are available in the following departments:

• Accounting and Finance
• Ad Sales
• Business & Legal Affairs
• Communications & Public Relations
• Creative & Design
• Digital Media
• Engineering & Media Technology
• Human Resources
• Insights & Research
• Information Technology (IT)
• Marketing
• Process & Operations
• Production
• Social Media
• Talent Casting
• TV Development
• TV Programming & Scheduling

Qualifications at Discovery

• Must be a discharged US military veteran
• Must be currently enrolled in school (proof of enrollment will be required if selected for an internship)
• Must be a Junior, Senior, or Graduate student
• Must have at least a 3.0 GPA
• Must have the legal right to work in the United States.

Internships Help Veterans Upskill and Reskill

As mentioned earlier, internships aim to upskill and reskill veterans. What is upskilling and reskilling? I’m so glad you asked!

Although these terms are used interchangeably, they are different.  Keep in mind that no matter which process is used, the outcome is the same – a new skill is gained.

Let’s take a closer look at what they mean according to the Reskilling Toolkit by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM):

• Upskilling: Upskilling is training individuals in the same occupation but in a new way. This type of training is for those who need to learn new skills to improve their current performance without changing their position or career path. This is the most common trend used in today’s workforce.

• Reskilling: Reskilling is training for individuals who have shown they have the aptitude for learning a new occupation. This type of training is the process of learning new skills to start a different career path entering jobs or industries with labor shortages.

For more information on these buzzwords and how they apply to military internships, check out our article on upskilling and reskilling for veterans.

Find Your Internship or Fellowship Program

Still didn’t find what you need? Many servicemembers have successfully created their own internship program during the last few months of active duty. Just be sure to seek approval from your command and send paperwork to the proper authorities.

These programs can provide a great bridge from your military service to your next employment with approval. You’ll walk away from the Armed Forces with the confidence and skills you need for life as a working civilian!

We hope you’re enjoying Empire Resume’s military blog. Next week, we’ll be back with the information you need to transition into the civilian workforce successfully.

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Dr. Phillip Gold is President/CEO of Empire Resume and has vast experience writing resumes for both professionals and servicemembers transitioning from the military into civilian roles. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force and was responsible for leading nuclear missile security. Phillip is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and holds a BA in Communications from The Ohio State University, an MS in Instructional Technology, an MBA in Finance, and a Ph.D. in Finance.

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