ABSTRACT
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has a critical role in developing the nation’s civilian workforce. Approximately 200,000 service members transition from military to civilian life each year, with expertise across a diverse range of occupations. Successful military-to-civilian transition is a national imperative, impacting the United States’ overall competitiveness in the global economy. However, the country is not fully leveraging this workforce development pathway. This chapter describes the national importance of successful military-to-civilian transitions and explains the role of the DoD in America’s workforce development. In particular, this chapter highlights the education, training, skills, and on-the-job experiences, as well as post-military career preparation, that service members gain during military service, and how this translates into the civilian workforce. Specific recommendations to help employers recruit, hire, and retain this pipeline of talent are also provided.
