Latest news with #SkillBridge
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pentagon Encourages Troops to Join Immigration Enforcement, Border Security Job Training Program
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the military to take steps to encourage troops to consider being part of the agencies that handle immigration enforcement and border security though a new policy unveiled Thursday. In a memo made public Thursday, Hegseth ordered the Pentagon to "prioritize and broadly advertise" opportunities troops who are nearing separation or retirement from the military have with either Customs and Border Protection or Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of its SkillBridge program. SkillBridge is a program that is intended to allow troops to take part in real-world job experience while in their final 180 days of military service. The idea behind the program is that it enables a smoother transition to civilian life and allows troops to be more competitive in their chosen industries or fields. Read Next: Army Officials Pushed Back on Pop-Up MAGA Shop Ahead of Fort Bragg Trump Speech "Recognizing the importance of leveraging talent and furthering our commitment to work with DHS [Department of Homeland Security], the department is expanding opportunities for transitioning service members to support southern border activities," Hegseth wrote in his memo, which was signed two weeks ago. While troops have long had access to SkillBridge opportunities with CBP and ICE, the new policy would give those agencies greater emphasis, and commanders are encouraged to approve requests to work with either agency "to the maximum extent possible." SkillBridge is a training program with no explicit promise of a job after a service member gets out of the military, but there is also a broad understanding that it is meant to act as a gateway to a position with the chosen company or agency. A defense official told on Thursday that the current training opportunities with DHS include jobs like paralegal, program management and intelligence research specialists. The official added that none of the training opportunities includes law enforcement at this time. Top Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell called the move "an exceptional opportunity to ensure the best of America can continue to serve and defend their country." The move is just the latest push that Hegseth has made to enable the military to more closely support the Trump administration's growing emphasis on security on the southern border and deportations of people they claim to be in the country illegally. Nearly two weeks ago, Parnell also announced that Hegseth signed a memo that allowed Pentagon civilians to be detailed to the Department of Homeland Security -- the agency that oversees both CBP and ICE -- to better support "border security efforts, as well as interior immigration enforcement." The defense official said that, while the civilian effort is still being worked out with DHS, the military branches can begin prioritizing troops taking advantage of SkillBridge immediately. The memos are now two moves the Trump administration has made to more closely integrate the military with law enforcement as a way to expedite the widespread removal of immigrants on American soil, a move deemed alarming by legal and military experts. Mark Nevitt, an associate professor at Emory University School of Law, said it was "odd" that Hegseth would put this memo out and that it raises a multitude of questions as it relates to integrating the military with immigration enforcement. "What capacity are they working through SkillBridge?" Nevitt said to in an interview Thursday. "Hopefully, there's some sort of deep, deep, deep thought being put into that. And if the military member is still on an active-duty status, you would hope that they're very limited in what they're doing with SkillBridge other than more observing." The announced deployments of the National Guard and Marines to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents amid protests in Los Angeles this week mark another mixture of those two agencies. Active-duty military forces are not allowed to conduct law enforcement activities under the Posse Comitatus Act, but the Trump administration has worked to push those legal boundaries. Although Guardsmen in Los Angeles have been pictured doing traditional law enforcement-related tasks, like carrying riot shields and securing perimeters behind police tape, U.S. Northern Command has claimed on social media that troops "are not conducting civilian law enforcement activities." Nevitt said another recent trend is that National Guard units, such as those in Texas and Florida, have partnered under "287g" Immigration and Customs Enforcement agreements, which allow them to perform certain immigration officer-type actions while under state orders. "SkillBridge is part of this larger integration, and there's just a strong, strong desire in this administration to use every tool at their disposal to enforce immigration law," Nevitt said. Related: Hegseth Suggests LA-Style Troop Deployments Could Happen Anywhere in US 'if Necessary'
Business Wire
16-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
JK Moving Services Ranked 4 th Among the Best Places to Work in the DC Region by the Washington Business Journal
STERLING, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- JK Moving Services, a global moving, storage, relocation, and logistics enterprise, was named a Best Place to Work in the greater DC region by the Washington Business Journal. The company was again included on the list of 75 great local employers, ranking 4 th in the extra-large employer's category. JK Moving ranked 4th in the DC region as a Best Place to Work among extra large employers. 'We are honored to be included on the Business Journal's list of Best Places to Work list again. Being ranked so high compared to such large companies speaks to the value we place on attracting and retaining great employees,' said JK Moving Services CEO Chuck Kuhn. 'We focus on creating an outstanding workplace for JK—and its sister companies including CapRelo. Great employees ensure that our customers receive the best service.' For the 19th year, the Washington Business Journal compiled the region's 75 highest-ranking companies on its annual Best Places to Work survey. JK Moving Services ranked 4th among extra-large employers, up from 7th place last year. Companies are compared to others that have a similar number of locally based employees. Those that were recognized scored highest among hundreds of employers that participated in an employee engagement survey. Best Places to Work results are quantitative, based on survey responses from employees. Each company scored highly by workers for leadership, culture, benefits and more. JK offers competitive compensation, and for CDL-A long distance drivers, even provides guaranteed annual income, starting at $100,000. The company has great training and ongoing career development; a formal Wellness Program; a generous safe harbor 401(k) and company-paid profit-sharing program; tuition reimbursement; and paid time off. It also provides an Employee Assistance Program; comprehensive medical, dental vision, and ancillary benefit coverages; bonus incentives; and employee volunteer opportunities—including with the JK Community Farm, a nonprofit farm supported by JK Moving that grows and donates fresh produce and protein to the area's food insecure. In addition, JK is committed to hiring those who have served the nation. The company participates in the SkillBridge Program, which gives active-duty military members who will soon transition into civilian life a chance to gain valuable work experience through specific industry training and development. SkillBridge permits service members to use the last 180 days of their service to train and learn with an industry partner while continuing to receive military compensation and benefits. The company was awarded both a Military Friendly ® Employer and Military Friendly ® Spouse Employer designation. JK, along with its sister companies CapRelo and JK Land Holdings, employs nearly 1,200 people—a majority of whom live in the Washington, DC metropolitan region. The company has won numerous awards, including being recognized in prior years by the Washington Business Journal as a Best Place to Work and Top Corporate Philanthropist. ABOUT JK MOVING SERVICES For more than 40 years, JK Moving Services – the largest independently owned and operated moving company in North America – has provided local, long distance, and global relocation services to a variety of commercial, residential, and government clients. Headquartered in Sterling, Virginia and voted Independent Mover of the Year by the American Trucking Association, the company maintains a full-time, professionally trained staff of relocation and move management experts committed to providing the highest level of customer care.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
JK Moving Services Ranked 4th Among the Best Places to Work in the DC Region by the Washington Business Journal
STERLING, Va., May 16, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--JK Moving Services, a global moving, storage, relocation, and logistics enterprise, was named a Best Place to Work in the greater DC region by the Washington Business Journal. The company was again included on the list of 75 great local employers, ranking 4th in the extra-large employer's category. "We are honored to be included on the Business Journal's list of Best Places to Work list again. Being ranked so high compared to such large companies speaks to the value we place on attracting and retaining great employees," said JK Moving Services CEO Chuck Kuhn. "We focus on creating an outstanding workplace for JK—and its sister companies including CapRelo. Great employees ensure that our customers receive the best service." For the 19th year, the Washington Business Journal compiled the region's 75 highest-ranking companies on its annual Best Places to Work survey. JK Moving Services ranked 4th among extra-large employers, up from 7th place last year. Companies are compared to others that have a similar number of locally based employees. Those that were recognized scored highest among hundreds of employers that participated in an employee engagement survey. Best Places to Work results are quantitative, based on survey responses from employees. Each company scored highly by workers for leadership, culture, benefits and more. JK offers competitive compensation, and for CDL-A long distance drivers, even provides guaranteed annual income, starting at $100,000. The company has great training and ongoing career development; a formal Wellness Program; a generous safe harbor 401(k) and company-paid profit-sharing program; tuition reimbursement; and paid time off. It also provides an Employee Assistance Program; comprehensive medical, dental vision, and ancillary benefit coverages; bonus incentives; and employee volunteer opportunities—including with the JK Community Farm, a nonprofit farm supported by JK Moving that grows and donates fresh produce and protein to the area's food insecure. In addition, JK is committed to hiring those who have served the nation. The company participates in the SkillBridge Program, which gives active-duty military members who will soon transition into civilian life a chance to gain valuable work experience through specific industry training and development. SkillBridge permits service members to use the last 180 days of their service to train and learn with an industry partner while continuing to receive military compensation and benefits. The company was awarded both a Military Friendly® Employer and Military Friendly® Spouse Employer designation. JK, along with its sister companies CapRelo and JK Land Holdings, employs nearly 1,200 people—a majority of whom live in the Washington, DC metropolitan region. The company has won numerous awards, including being recognized in prior years by the Washington Business Journal as a Best Place to Work and Top Corporate Philanthropist. ABOUT JK MOVING SERVICES For more than 40 years, JK Moving Services – the largest independently owned and operated moving company in North America – has provided local, long distance, and global relocation services to a variety of commercial, residential, and government clients. Headquartered in Sterling, Virginia and voted Independent Mover of the Year by the American Trucking Association, the company maintains a full-time, professionally trained staff of relocation and move management experts committed to providing the highest level of customer care. View source version on Contacts Shawn Flaherty, 703-554-3609 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Barksdale Air Force Base Career Summit
BOSSIER PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — Calling all job seekers, Barksdale Air Force Base is hosting a career summit with more than 25 employers, workshops, and much more. 'This in-person event will connect military community job seekers with American businesses that are hiring for opportunities in industries such as Defense Contracting, Project Management, Aviation/Aerospace, and Cyber/IT,' details hosts Hiring Our Heroes (HOH). The HOH Career Summits is open to service members, military spouses, veterans, military caregivers, transitioning service members and veterans who are ready to work. Battle of the Badges: Bossier Fire v. Police boxing fundraizer They say that applicants will have the opportunity to meet and network with regional and national employers at this professional development and hiring event. According to the website, the 'job seeker workshops' are held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The workshop topics include understanding compensation and negotiation, SkillBridge and training opportunities, and preparing for interviews. Registration is encouraged. HOH's Hiring Fair from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m., located at the Club Buff, 155 Rickenbacker AveBarksdale AFB. For updates on the job summit, follow Barksdale M&FRC. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Army reduces transition job-training time, prioritizing junior troops
The Army recently updated rules for soldier participation in training and apprenticeship programs in their final six months of service, cutting down time windows for some in order to prioritize junior service members and maintain unit readiness. The changes, released in a military personnel message on Thursday, splits ranks into three categories with an associated number of days left on contract before they can use the Army Career Skills Program, Department of Defense SkillBridge and other internship programs. For category I, or ranks E1 to E5, soldiers may spend up to 120 days in the training before they end their service with the approval of a field grade commander. Category II, or ranks E6-E7, WO1-CW3 and O1-O3, may participate in up to 90 days of training before the end of their contract with the approval of the first O6 commander in their chain of command. Marines cut time for career transition program, citing readiness Category III includes ranks E8 and above, CW4 and above and O4 and above. Those in category III may use 60 days with the approval of the first general officer in their chain of command. The goal, Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Orlandon Howard told Army Times in an emailed statement, is to prioritize junior enlisted needs for the program and continue to support all soldiers seeking out such programs while limiting the impact on unit readiness that end-of-contract training may create. 'The Army recognizes the value of the Career Skills Program, SkillBridge, and individual internship programs for Soldiers transitioning from the military to civilian life,' Howard said. 'These changes concentrate the programs' benefits where they're needed most while limiting the impact on readiness.' Previously, the Army allowed any rank to be eligible for such training for 120 days and required only the approval of the first field grade commander. Last year, the Marine Corps cut time in the program for exiting jarheads. The new standard allows Marines up to the rank of E5 to begin the program at the 120-day mark, while all ranks above sergeant may spend up to 90 days in the program, Marine Corps Times reported. In 2023, Army Times reported that two key senators said the military was 'falling short' in preparing troops for their transition to civilian work. Military transition classes are 'falling short,' lawmakers warn The comments by Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, and Kevin Craimer, R-N.D., echoed concerns in a Government Accountability Office report. The report noted much of the transition assistance program was too superficial and that 70% of transitioning troops did not begin the Transition Assistance Program until they were under a year left in their contract, despite the program requiring such TAP training be completed prior to the last year of service. An estimated 200,000 troops leave U.S. military service annually, Army Times previously reported. Research has shown that veterans face their highest risk of mental health problems and suicide within the first year of separation.
