To: Board of County Commissioners
From: Anita Galajda, HR Director
title
RE: Approval of an agreement between Genesee County and the U.S. Department of War to provide for the Skillbridge Program
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approve DOW MOU for participation in Skillbridge Program
BACKGROUND:
The Dept of War’s Skillbridge Program allows soon to be discharged active service members to find job/internship placement within the last six months of their enlistment.
DISCUSSION:
If approved as a participant in the Skillbridge Program, the attached MOU would need to be signed. This would allow us to post full-time and internship positions on their website. The program allows for job placement during their last six months of enlistment. The enlisted will continue to be paid by the DOW until their enlistment ends. The idea is to help outgoing service members obtain jobs or job skills in civilian life to assist in the transition out of the military.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
An additional tool for recruiting. We would be posting on the DOW site and managing interviewing, onboarding, etc. as we do now for open positions.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
Budget neutral or savings for labor costs as the DOW continues to pay the service member while enlisted.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
N/A - although I hope they are able to participate in the program which would involve training new staff/interns.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
Same as needed for current onboarding of staff. Also planning on their participation in the program.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
The Skillbridge Program expands our inclusive, collaborative efforts by establishing an avenue focused on a segment of our community that is often overlooked. Participation can also impact our long term financial stability by harnessing the skills developed during enlistment and bringing developed leaders to our departments and offices.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Human Resources and Labor Relations Director to authorize entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between Genesee County and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, U.S. Department of Defense, said MOU being necessary for Genesee County to participate in the Skillbridge Program whereby outgoing military service members can apply for full-time internship positions during the last six months of their enlistment to provide jobs or job skills in civilian life at no cost to the County, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documents being on file with the official records of the March 11, 2026 meeting of the Governmental Operations Committee of this Board), and the Chairperson of this Board is authorized to execute the MOU on behalf of Genesee County.