BUILDING CAREER PATHWAYS

Military service and a college degree should lead to successful, fulfilling careers and future leadership roles at work and in the community.

While the path to a career begins on campus, it requires more than just academic performance. Students must use their time on campus to explore their chosen career field, develop their professional skills, build a network, and take part in internship opportunities.

For students with a background in military service, the transition to civilian careers can seem all the more daunting. NVLF is addressing this challenge by building Career Pathway programs that serve both Military Community Advocates and the broader military-connected community on campuses.

Designed for specific industries, the Career Pathway programs will invest in a corps of Advocates aiming to join these fields. NVLF will support service scholarships and provide targeted programming, focusing on industry knowledge, career opportunities, professional networking, mentorship, and coaching to enhance their career prospects. Additionally, participating Advocates will recruit other military-connected students with similar career interests, strengthening the military-to-career pipeline.

The Career Pathways program was successfully piloted in Entrepreneurship at 11 universities in 2023-2024. Moving forward, priority career verticals could include STEM, health and wellness, advanced manufacturing and technology, public service and logistics.*

*Other Career Pathway programs may be established based on donor interest and support