Skillbridge Active Duty Program

About the program:

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, in partnership with Conservation Legacy: Conservation Corps of North Carolina (CCNC), offers professional development training and workforce development opportunities in the fields of natural and cultural resource conservation and public lands management. In collaboration with the SkillBridge program of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Transition Assistance Programs (TAPs), the Active Duty Conservation Corps will engage active duty military in the last 180 days of the service as they transition to civilian life.

The Active Duty Conservation Corps program is designed to provide participants with the basic skills needed to launch into a career with the USDA Forest Service or other land management organizations. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in multiple resource areas including: backcountry patrolling, geospatial information systems and data, habitat management, historic preservation, recreation management, timber management, trail maintenance and construction, visitor engagement, wildland firefighting, disaster recovery, and much more. Based on the Croatan and Uwharrie National Forests in North Carolina (NFsNC) and CCNC training sites, participants will have the opportunity to earn certifications in Wilderness First Aid, S-212 Wildfire Chainsaw, Type II Wilderness Firefighter, Forest Service Operators License’s Training, and on-the-job training in fields of interest/specialty. Risk management & safety will be emphasized throughout the program.

Who is eligible to participate?

Service members from any military installation can participate during their last 180 days of service. Members continue their existing salary and benefits through Department of Defense during participation.

Where does the CCNC USFS Skillbridge Program run?

The program is in partnership with the National Forests of North Carolina. The primary forest partner for the program is the Croatan National Forest. While participants can come from any military installation, additional support may occur from local bases of North Carolina.

When does the program occur?

January 27th, 2025 through May 16th, 2025.

What does the program provide to participants?

Training includes:

Wilderness First Aid and CPR Certification
S212 Chainsaw Certification
S130 & S190 Firefighter Training
Redcard Certification
Additional Training and Preparedness for US Federal Agency Employment Opportunities

Additional Resources for participants:

All necessary gear and equipment including tools, ppe, and fire equipment provided by program.
Housing support provided at local bases.

For more information about future sessions please reach out to Diquan Edmonds at dedmonds@conservationlegacy.org.